Temsu Jamir
Bangalore
Every good citizen has a heart to keep the city clean but still faces challenges to eliminate dirt and keep it clean. Some people or groups might think, "If we take the initiative to walk around the city and pick up litter on the roads and clean the river, will people make fun of us saying it won't last, or join us in this clean movement?" Or are we already discouraged before we begin, thinking that tomorrow people will continue making it dirty again? Does that feeling demotivate us?
Nagas are not dirty by nature and we are teachable. People may not bother at first, may not value your action at second, or may not follow your step at third, but still they are learning by sight and someday there will be an outcome of your action. People will eventually understand the importance of keeping it clean. Yes, there might be some people who are assigned to clean, but what the public can do is, even if we may not be involved in cleaning, we can do our part by not making it dirty.
We need to empower people on how to prevent dirt from accumulating in the first place. Observing an environmental cleanup day once a year becomes a mere ritual if we don't make conscious changes in our daily lives. Today we are aware of the dirt and grime around the city, but we have somehow got used to it and instead of fighting for cleanliness, we run away from the dirt, because we feel powerless before the system.
Most of us make excuses, thinking, "As long as my house and yard are clean, that's enough." However, this mindset needs to change. I may justify myself by saying, "I don't belong to this locality or colony so it's not my responsibility." We lack the courage to take on extra responsibility, fearing what others might think if we speak up.
The city should be a place where people can enjoy the experience of being there. Today people want to finish shopping as early as possible and go home as we don't feel the nice atmosphere of being in the city. The public needs to stop habits like spitting on walls, urinating in open public places, littering on roads, and dumping waste in the drainage. While bringing development to the city is the government's responsibility, keeping the city clean is everyone's responsibility.
Let's not expect tourists to educate us or initiate cleanliness; instead, let the younger generation lead by example. Let's come together from all walks of life, despite our cultural differences, to clean the city. We see youngsters from different institutions, organisations, and from the churches in Dimapur taking the initiative to clean and beautify the city from time to time, which is very heartwarming. Let's not stop it.
The city administration must establish external laws and discipline to uphold ethical standards because the public can follow according to your orders and guidelines. Schools and colleges should help students see the reality with the help of books. The church can play a vital role in educating people, as cleanliness is indeed next to Godliness.
Moreover, real hygiene begins in the family, so family values and education are crucial in instilling a sense of responsibility and cleanliness from a young age. It's always good to adopt good practices from other cultures, like Japan's emphasis on public hygiene. We are very hygienic people in our own homes, so let’s bring that same nature to the market and street. If we can clean Dimapur, the other districts will surely follow our lead.
Dimapur is the first place where tourists from the east, west, north, and south (NEWS) set their eyes, even before they move to the capital; therefore, we need to take ownership of our city's cleanliness and work together to make it a better and cleaner place.
If we Nagas set the standard for cleanliness, others living among us will follow. Let us lead by example.
The writer is a Christian counsellor currently based in Bangalore.
