The benefits of clean public spaces are clear and widely accepted by the government and the public in India. Yet cleaning up public spaces in India remains a challenge. Many city corporations spend crores of rupees on initiatives that just do not seem to make a difference. There are are hundreds of grassroots organizations that regularly mobilize the general public to engage in clean up events that manage to get places clean for a short period of time, but the cleanliness does not seem to last long. The apparent futility of these efforts are frustrating to all.
For sustainable cleanliness we need a coming together of multiple factors. Proactive, concerted government action together with public cooperation and behavioural change has to take place simultaneously. To bring about this in a systematic manner we have to devise a plan that will facilitate the convergence of these factors. One is not going to succeed without the other. We need do devise a plan that will set in motion a sequence of change that will result in a clean public space that will remain so forever. We need a coordinated effort.
To ensure that this coordination and co-operation takes place in a predictable manner, it is best to approach this in phases that will facilitate this transition.The first phase should be a commitment phase, followed by an awareness phase, an induction phase and a maintenance phase.
The commitment phase is when, like-minded segments of society come together and realize the importance of the need for maintaining clean public spaces. This will involve governments at various levels, but most importantly the local civic body. Others will include, grassroots organizations, clubs, societies, religious organizations, businesses and members of the public. At this stage as wide a participation and consensus as possible should be encouraged. Leadership and vision are crucial. Some communities will have natural and visionary leaders, while others will not. Where there is no leadership it has to be nurtured. The basic infrastructure needed, the ongoing funds for maintenance, the mechanisms to be put in place, the source of funding and its sustainability as well as a timeline for implementation have to be decided upon.
This has to followed by an awareness phase where the general public gets involved and supports and demands cleaner public spaces. There will be segments of society which will never want to change. What is needed is not necessarily a majority even, but a critical mass of people that is inclusive, committed and reasonably vocal and visible. Clean up events, public campaigns, advertisements, door to door awareness campaigns, education at schools can all help in this phase. Community clean up days are part of this awareness phase. Well meaning groups of individuals cannot maintain clean public spaces without the co-operation of the administration and the general public.
The next phase should be an induction phase, where all the resources available to the community should brought to bear to get the place clean and proper maintenance mechanisms are put in place. This could follow a sustained ad campaign and a clean up event. The induction phase should be intense and can be costly. The funding resources for this phase should be adequately mobilized. More manpower than usually needed would be required. It would be wise to use more manpower than is actually needed. Although expensive the added expenditure for this phase would be short lived. It is crucial to get this phase right. If not successful the previous two phases will come to naught.
Following the induction phase a maintenance phase will follow which should be permanent and well thought out. Optimal manpower, infrastructure and mechanisms should be put in place and funding for these should be sustainable. Sustainability should be the key factor. A regular maintenance schedule for the infrastructure (from bins to drains) should be devised and implemented. Downstream processing and disposal of waste should be thought out in advance and adequate mechanisms with excess capacity should be built with longevity in mind. At the same time behavioural change has to be engineered and sustained. Gentle coaxing with advertisements and exemplary conduct by committed individuals and groups to punishments and penalties should be imposed. This is the time that punitive measures will be most effective. When the majority errs punitive actions would not have much effect. If fines and punishments are instituted prematurely they will only lead to resentment and hostility and will not contribute to mass behavioural change.
The barriers are many for this sequence of events to happen. Public apathy is a major hurdle that has to be overcome by awareness and education. Bureaucratic apathy is difficult to beat can be defeated by good political and administrative leadership. This needs courage and commitment on the part of the political leadership. Funding is always a barrier that has to effectively managed by mobilizing resources appropriately. Appropriate taxation and utilization of tax revenues have to be implemented. Corruption has to be minimized and eliminated. Public private partnership has to explored. If private entities are involved in the longterm upkeep, they need proper oversight and standards. Their effectiveness has to systematically audited and their workers rights protected. The tax paying public has to get value for its money.
The timeframe should be reasonable. Six months to a year is adequate fro most projects. If dragged out the campaign will lose its effectiveness and appeal.
Well thought out and and effectively implemented plans will result in clean public spaces which will benefit us all. They will result in better health, wealth and well being for the whole population. It is a goal we are all responsible for as citizens of this great country.
