By DR ARPITA SUBHADARSHINEE
“Ask not what your country can do for you — rather ask yourself what you can do for your country."- JOHN F KENEDDY
From our mesmerizing landscapes to our rich heritage, from unique culture and diverse history to joyful festivals, India is a gorgeous amalgamation of traditions, languages and people. Being a multi-cultural, multi-lingual and multi-religious society, India has seen a steady progress in various spheres over the last century after being free from the slavery of 200 years of British on 15th August 1947. India is currently celebrating its seventy-five years of independence where Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav is being observed to celebrate glorious history of its people, culture, and achievements.
India, the golden sparrow, always believed in “Unity in Diversity”. Dr A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, the former president had a vision for India 2020, in which he visualized India as one of the most advanced and developed countries of the world.
After 25 years from now, India will be celebrating its 100th anniversary of independence in 2047. This will be the landmark year to look at India through the prisms of development, growth, gender, equality, employment and peace.
India’s age old unique and incredible civilization speaks of unity is strength where the Hindus, Sikhs, Buddhists, Muslims, Jains, Christians, Jews, Parses etc., live together in harmony, trust, love and brotherhood. It takes it pride from its 1.3 billion citizens who can have different perspective about life, religion, economy, politics, and yet belong to one nation, Bharat.
India is a secular country which boasts about its constitution that guarantees all its citizens the freedom of faith, right to freedom of expression, right to speak different languages and livelihood. India’s great historical heritage signifies its dynamism and optimism.
India’s cultural strength and political unity makes it the world’s largest democracy. Belief in spirituality, conscience and tradition are the important virtues. The leaders of the Indian freedom struggle Mahatma Gandhi, Pt Jawaharlal Nehru, Mohammad Ali Jinnah, Maulana Abdul Kalam Azad and Sardar Vallabh Bhai Patel united made the fight for freedom a success.
“Generations to come will scarce believe that such a one as Gandhi ever in flesh and blood walked upon this earth” – Albert Einstein
Being the harbinger of Indian Independence in British ruled India, our beloved Bapu, the father of our nation was the man of action, a change maker who transcended through the clutches of race, religion and nations and emerged as the man of the millennium. His ideologies marched to become the voice of the 21st century. While living, he played a hero and after death, continues to be an inspiration for present generation.
With 2018 being the sesquicentennial (150th) year of Gandhiji’s birth anniversary and 2nd October being celebrated as Gandhi Jayanti and International Day of Non-violence, the time has come to pay a befitting tribute to the Gandhian way of living and revive his philosophies “Be the change you wish to see in this world” with which we Indians are brought up with. A personality with an incomparable charisma, wisdom, caliber and far ahead of his time teachings has become a yardstick around the world to understand India and its development.
When we strive towards 'Swachh Bharat’ or a clean hygienic India or When we talk of the health and well-being of the Indians, we remember Gandhiji. When we battle climate change and promote green, eco-friendly living, we invoke Gandhigiri.
Even after 75 years of the Independence of India, still more than half of the population of our country is deprived of the basic living conditions. As per the Census 2011, some million households do not have basic sanitation facilities like toilets,
“A clean body cannot reside in an unclean city, Cleanliness is next to godlines
“Swaraj can only be had by clean, brave people. If you become your own scavengers, you will make the surrounding clean”, said Gandhi, The father of 'Swachhata Abhiyan', inciting two simultaneous movements- the struggle for independence and removing untouchability.
“A clean India would be the best tribute India could pay to Mahatma Gandhi on his 150th birth anniversary in 2019,” honourable PM Shri Narendra Modi had once said when he launched the Swachh Bharat Mission at Rajpath in New Delhi and made a cleanliness pledge. This concept was concretized when on 2 October, 2014, the largest ever nationwide sanitation campaign, 'Swachh Bharat Abhiyan'- 'Clean India Mission' inspired by the Gandhian movement for sanitation was launched throughout length and breadth of the country as a national movement with a vision to achieve the reality of a ‘Clean India’ by 2nd October 2019 and provide sanitary toilets and basic sanitation to all.
The mantra of “NA GANDAGI KARENGE, NA KARNE DENGE” (neither litter nor let others litter) evoked a message of hope and massive change in the country’s outlook and citizen’s attitude. This laudable mission is inspired by patriotism and is beyond politics. It can only be achieved when 125 crore Indians come together and self realize the dream of Bapu for the protection of the environment, for our safety and for our healthy future.
The Swachh Bharat Abhiyan is considered to be the most significant cleanliness campaign by the Government of India where the empowered youth from diverse backgrounds like food to fashion to finance joined. A temper of will, quality of imagination, predominance of courage, appetite for adventure makes this huge cohort of youth a vibrant, constructive force who can address global issues and create a more just, equitable and a peaceful world
They are the forerunners of assessment, awareness, action and advocacy for sustainable development. They are the main stakeholders, policy makers, powerful resource in handling responsibilities, revolutionizing fellow men and a catalyst for change.
Indians tasted freedom under the influence of Gandhiji but his dream of Clean India is still unfulfilled. He dreamt of an ideal casteless free Indian society connecting cleanliness, untouchability and health through Swaraj and Satyagraha. Even if we inculcate certain sanitary habits like hand washing, regular brushing of teeth and bathing from a younger age, we are not bothered about cleanliness of public places or institutions. So, Gandhi’s concern for public and private sanitation became an integral part of his mission.
“Sanitation is more important than Independence. I will not let anyone walk through my mind with their dirty feet.” - Gandhiji
Sanitation has been rated as the greatest medical milestone of the last century and half according to a poll carried out by the British Medical Journal. Mahatma Gandhi had realized that the prevalent poor state of sanitation in villages, untidy sight of pilgrimage places, the unhygienic bathing and washing habits, drinking water from same stream and particularly the lack of adequate toilets in the then largely rural India are the main reasons of ill health.
By the time India became independent, morbidity and mortality from epidemics like plague had fallen sharply but diseases like fever and gastro-enteric infections still took a heavy toll. He correctly pointed out that the standards of sanitation in a society are closely inter-related to the levels of hygiene and public health. He himself took to scavenging to keep lavatories clean and firmly emphasized that “A lavatory must be as clean as a drawing room.”
Lack of sanitation which includes lack of hygiene and causing filth and pollution, has not only vital economic consequences but also serious social consequences. Educating villagers about hygiene, sanitation and healthy diet was the only real medical service which could be achieved by the Government and active public participation. In fact, the Right to Sanitation must become a part of the right to life under Article 21 of the Constitution.
Following Bapu’s footprints, the mission aims to cover the following major parameters of sanitation:
Provide basic sanitation facilities to every Indian
To make all villages, Gram Panchayats, Districts, States and Union Territories in India, Open Defecation Free (ODF)
Eradicate manual scavenging system and convert the insanitary toilets into flushing toilets.
Toilets in every home and in public places like educational institutions, railway stations, bus stops, trains.
Proper waste management through scientific and hygienic disposal and recycling of municipal solid wastes.
Treatment of human wastes, wastewater and refuse, solid and liquid waste disposal systems
Bring behavioural changes regarding maintainence of personal hygiene and practice of healthy sanitation.
Legal ban against throwing plastics, garbage into a stream
Subsidy for construction of toilets
Awareness amongst rural areas regarding improvement in quality of life
The “logo” of Swachh Bharat Abhiyan signifies the vision of a bespectacled man from Gujarat who wanted to see a Clean India. It contains the spectacles of Gandhi with the bridge of the spectacle in the national tricolour illustrating that the entire nation gets united to achieve the vision of Gandhi for a clean India.
Gandhiji’s mantra of simple living and high thinking had a greatest contribution to sustainable development. He believed that with simple living, the resources of the planet earth can sustain us comfortably. But, the major gains in human health over the last 150 years could be jeopardized because of global warming, urbanization, lack of awareness, overpopulation, unsustainable consumption and depletion of natural resources. Urgent action is the need of the hour to protect the planet and health of mankind.
Sustainable development is an overarching paradigm of the United Nations. A “development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations.” envisaging a future agenda that balances the four pillars i.e. social, economic, cultural and environmental objectives. The UN Sustainable Development framework consisting of 17 Goals and 169 interlinked Targets within these Goals are framed in an ambitious, pragmatic and concrete way to renew and integrate efforts to meet the national and global aspirations in a defined time frame by 2030. The vision involves social spheres like gender equality, education and health, economic issues like growth, infrastructure and sustainable consumption, environment through climate change and peaceful partnerships for sustainable development. Sustainable development was just an expansion of Gandhi's simple mantra "The earth has enough for everyone's need but not for everyone's greed.”
Gandhiji described “Health” as body ease, a body free from disease which can carry out its normal activities without fatigue. He explained that a man is not the owner of his body for self satisfaction rather a guardian taking good care of it. So, it’s necessary to have knowledge about one’s body, follow the laws of health and prevent illness which has been brought about by our own ignorance and carelessness.
This program has expanded its horizons in order to promote safe water practices, opening of Pink toilets, Namami Ganga, Swachh Vidyalay, cleaning of rivers, Swachhata Pakhwada abhiyan. Implementation of these programs can only lead India becoming one of the cleanest countries in the world.
The dream of a ‘Green Prosperous India’ relies heavily on its empowered youth who are responsible social actors with the focus on “education for sustainability and not about sustainability”. Environmental green initiatives like “Each one, plant one”, environmental Camps such as CLEAN-India, Namami Ganga Plan and Ganga River Basin Management Plan and youth forums like Youth ki Awaz aim to reduce consumption and eliminate waste.
Organising events and intercollegiate competitions with posters, slogans and informative skits and promotion of such events in social media and Raahgiri with observation of Earth Day and Environment Day can engage the society. “Each One Teach One” program where each student imparts Disaster preparedness and eco friendly strategies to mitigate climate change to at least one individual of the society.
SMART TRANSPORTATION SOLUTIONS that would enable pollution free India.
Every citizen wants a good quality, cheap, fast and pollution free transportation.
The sustainable public transportation system by city buses, trams and metro rails should use CNG in their vehicles.
The public bicycle system that is easy to use yet very healthy should be encouraged.
A stringent rule should be made to use public transport at least 3/4 days a week.
Extra green credits and wages to employees using cycles or green bikes must be given.
Implementation of road, rail and air connectivity in the state
SMART WASTE MANAGEMENT
Every city generates a million of e-Waste like discarded TV, Computer, Smartphone, battery etc posing threat to human health.
Recycling and reusing in an ecofriendly way without harming our ecosystem should be establised.
Smart sorting techniques of Degradable, Recyclable n Totally Waste items to prevent time and cost.
Gas supply should be supplied in pipelines and not cylinders.
SUSTAINABLE ENERGY RESOURCES:
The state government has identified the natural resources. So it is necessary to implement successful programmes to harness the natural resources .
The local government should target for establishing solar panels in every household making solar energy as the chief source of energy.
Solar Power Panels should replace Mobile telecom towers run by Diesel Generators and must be made far from Hospitals, Schools etc
Power supply cables should be made underground avoiding accidents, minimising space and reducing costs of installation and making the city look spacious and Wire free.
“Sanitation is more important than independence.I will not let anyone walk through my mind with their dirty feet.” - Gandhiji
But is Swachh Bharat an initiative only for the government of India? Are we, the citizens, not responsible for the hygiene and cleanliness of our own country?
Every citizen should make certain promises to themselves for their contribution in this abhiyan.
• Keeping my house clean by using dustbins and planting trees around the house.
• Awareness regarding use of toilets for defecation
• Personal hygiene by hand washing
• Donating extra food without wasting it.
• Avoiding non biodegradable products or plastic.
• Don't encourage spitting.
• Avoid personal transport and use Public transportation.
• Teach Children about Cleanliness and Sanitation.
“We reached Mars. No PM or Minister went. It was our scientists who did it. So can’t we create a Clean India?” – Narendra Modi
• Awareness of people regarding modern techniques of elimination of wastes, management of E-Waste and steps to avoid environmental pollution through NGOs, eco friendly camps, youth forums and Raahgiri.
• Devote 100 hours per year (2 hours per week) to voluntary work for cleanliness following the path of Shri Narendra Modi and will ensure other people devote their 100 hours for cleanliness.
• Encourage my neighbours to use 'SWACHHATA' app, a GOI initiative and portals like The Digital India campaign, ‘mygov.in’ and Chai Pe Charcha for addressing the Civic-related issue using our smart phone.
• Bollywood’s initiative in the form of movie named “Toilet” highlighting the problems of rural women due to open defecation is highly appreciating.
If Mahatma Gandhi and Prime Minister can do, if Bill Gates and Mark Zuckerberg can join hands with India in this mission, why can’t we maintain cleanliness.
To connect cleanliness with the idea of freedom and people as the most visible element was the perfect solution. Gandhi’s thoughts and ideas have an impressive role in taking the human society forward towards the desired goal. The lifestyle and teachings of Mahatma Gandhi were so glorious that people around the globe paid respect to him. He inspired a million and became a legacy of greatness, idealness and nobility. Gandhian way seem to be the only solution to overcome the present crisis of the world.
We need to join hands so the spirit of unity invokes us and get involved in rebuilding the new India of our dreams. How we visualize India of 2047 will determine our revolutions we will adopt over the next twenty-five years making it a powerful and self reliant country.
TO SUMMARISE-
India where
Poverty and Illiteracy are history,
Education becomes the priority
Agriculture and Health work in symphony,
Women and Children live in harmony,
Wildlife, Heritage and Technology live with integrity
“Swach Bharath, Swasth Bharath, Shresht Bharath, Samrudh Bharath”
By DR ARPITA SUBHADARSHINEE
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