The necessity of a cleaner India has become a national priority. The message has been spread to every corner of this great country. Everyone has heard it. The awareness campaign by the government has been successful beyond the wildest dreams of many who have yearned for a clean India for a while now.
Now is the time to cash in on the awareness this massive campaign has generated and convert it into tangible and sustainable benefits. Hopefully the increased awareness will lead to better civic consciousness. We have to utilize the better civic consciousness to facilitate better waste disposal. The time to build effective waste disposal systems has come. An essential link in the chain of infrastructure that is needed to keep our public spaces clean is the bin.
The bin is the essential starting point in the waste disposal chain. Variously called the dust bin, garbage bin, trash bin or can it is a receptacle for people to drop their litter. An effective trash bin is not just a simple fixture; for it to be useful it has serve its purpose effectively. An effective garbage bin needs good planning and forethought.
1. Usage: No bin is useful if it is not used. For a bin to be effective people have to use it. For that we need good civic sense. Although civic sense has been lacking in India for long time things might be changing for the better.
2. Design: Too often we see ugly dust bins in our country. Just because they contain refuse, litter bins need not be ugly. They should be designed to be aesthetically pleasing, to blend in with the surroundings and yet easily visible and clear in their purpose. They should be designed in such a way that they are easily emptied and cleaned. They should be durable.
3. Safety: A unique phenomenon in India is the theft of bins especially for scrap metal. The ubiquitous oil drum used in many countries for this purpose does not work in India as it is sure to be stolen, often by organized gangs. The bin has to be firmly anchored to the ground. The material used to construct the bin has to have low value. This does pose unique challenges.
4. Regular emptying: An overflowing bin is as useful as no bin at all. It is unsightly and counterproductive. There has to be a system to clean and empty the bins regularly. The frequency should be determined by both the rate at which the bin gets filled as well as the rate at which the garbage decays. If extensively used it should be emptied multiple times in a day. Even if used infrequently it should still be emptied at least once day a day in warm country like India before any biodegradable waste starts rotting.
5. Cleanliness: Just because a bin contains garbage does not mean it should be dirty. It should look clean from the outside. It should add character and beauty to the surroundings. It should be cleaned properly on a regular basis. Liners or bags might help in keeping the inside surface clean.
6.Adequacy: There should be enough bins for a certain area. The number and spacing should be determined by the number of people using the area, the type and amount of garbage generated and the habits of the people frequenting the area.
7.Maintenence: All things break down with regular use. Bins are no exception. They should be properly maintained with repair and replacement as needed.
8.Segregation: Segregation of waste at source makes it much easier to dispose of in the appropriate way. It adds value to the waste making it easier to process and recycle.Now in a country where the habit of using the bin is not common, it might be a challenge to make people segregate waste, but every effort should be made to educate people.
9. Responsibility: There has to be a system for regular servicing and maintenance of garbage bins. People in charge have to be accountable. The workers should be responsible. The local government body has to be responsible or a corporate entity should do it with stringent oversight.
If we can place, service and maintain an adequate number of bins at optimal spacing in all our public spaces, people would use them more regularly. This will lead to a cleaner India. Jai Hind.
Sunday, 14 December 2014
Sunday, 13 April 2014
Nurturing Civic Sense in India For a Cleaner Environment
The lack of civic sense in India is often lamented. The lack of civic sense leads to garbage strewn streets and visible ugliness in the Indian landscape both in the urban and rural settings. Concerned Indians look at their fellow citizens with frustration and helplessness. Foreigners who appreciate the positive aspects of Indian culture, react to this sheer lack of civic sense with surprise and despair. Others look at India with scorn and disdain. The vast majority of of our fellow Indians seem quite indifferent. The possible reasons for this perplexing lack of concern for the cleanliness of public spaces are many and have been explored by us in a previous posting.
Many behaviours contribute to unclean public spaces. Littering, dumping, spitting, public urination, open defecation and improper disposal of sewage water contribute to this ugliness. Some of these problems are more difficult to solve than others. They are all rooted in deep cultural attitudes and practices. These attitudes and mindsets have to change to alter public behaviour in order to create clean public spaces and maintain them.
There is no one way to achieve civic consciousness among the Indian public, because our country is so big and diverse. Many strategies need to be thought about. Not all will work in all settings.
1. Laws and Punishment:
For any civilized society a set of rules and laws are needed to codify acceptable behaviour. A land without laws is no better than the jungle and we are not animals. Thousands of years of human civilization have come about because people started observing certain societal norms. Eventually these unwritten codes became formalized as a set of laws by which every member of society abides by and non subscribers are forced to comply with by punitive measures. As societies evolve, so do the laws. The formulation of these laws is ostensibly to promote the common good. If clean public spaces are a common good, then a set of rules and laws have to be in place to achieve them. People who defy these rules should be warned and punished. From fines to incarceration, there are incremental punitive measures available to any society.
Punishment for civic misbehaviour leading to uncleanliness has been rarely seen in India. The rules are there but the authorities have always been lax in enforcing them. Part of the reason for this is that these rules do not reflect the expectations of society in general. In many ways India is a law abiding country and laws do work here. When it comes to major crimes such as murder, rape and robbery, our police forces are second to none in their prosecutorial zeal and our judiciary is quite capable of meting out fair justice. However when it comes to civic behaviour there is no commitment in enforcing the law nor in handing out adequate punishment.
Laws cannot work if the majority of people do not abide by it. In large countries such as India, the vast and varied population cannot be policed unless the majority cooperate. Smaller countries do achieve this as they are easier to police. A case in point is the small city state of Singapore. A stringent set of laws, strictly enforced have managed to create a beautiful, clean and modern city out of the mess that the British left behind at the time of independence.
Nevertheless laws are needed and they have to be enforced in India to shape civic behaviour. At the outset it would be difficult to make people comply, but as more and more people become compliant the policing will become progressively easier and cheaper. There has to be commitment from the government at the national, regional, state, district, state, town and village panchayat level to achieve this.
2. Awareness and Education:
One reason for the indifference people feel towards their surroundings is a lack of awareness. Some people just do not understand the ill effects of unclean public spaces. Once aware they might be more receptive to change. They are also oblivious to the existence of cleaner places elsewhere. But in the information age any Indian anywhere has to be aware of other places in the world unless they are living under a rock somewhere. Movies, television, the internet and the print media all have images of public spaces in other countries that people cannot fail to notice.
Clean up campaigns contribute to increased awareness. So do innovative campaigns via a variety of media. To change the adult mind the message has to be persistent and sustained. The media in India have a great responsibility in this regard. Journalists from both the traditional as well as social media should utilize their talents and resources to spread the message. It is part of their social responsibility. The government should be the prime driver but sadly in India governance has been a let down in this regard over many decades. Non governmental organizations and corporate entities should take this up. Celebrities should be involved. A cleaner India benefits all sectors of society.
Education is more in-depth and will bring more sustainable change in people's mind sets. It is a longterm effort and has to started early in life and continued for years. The target of course should be young children starting at a very early age. Schools should make it a part of the curriculum. The government should mandate it. Teachers should teach civic values with enthusiasm. Religious institutions should concentrate on inculcating a sense civic responsibility in children rather than propagating hatred towards other communities that share this great country.
3. Pride and Patriotism:
Genuine change in a society society will come about only when people believe in it. People have to embrace it and practise it on a daily basis. They have to value it. Only then can the change be sustainable and permanent.
Indians are a proud people. We take immense pride in our culture. We shamelessly flaunt our ancient civilization and its timeless wisdom. We strut and swagger when we think about our classical art forms, our literature, our many philosophies and traditions. We look at other cultures with scorn and derision. The same sense of pride has to be instilled in our population when it comes to the cleanliness and beauty of public spaces. Civic pride should be encouraged and valued.
We are also a very patriotic people. We get goosebumps when patriotic songs are sung. We support our armed forces. We cherish our national symbols. We actively participate in politics and the democratic process. Patriotism is alive and well in our country. This love for the country has to be translated in to a zeal to do deeds for the betterment of the country. Keeping the country clean is a very patriotic act and this feeling has to be cultivated and encouraged.
By combining these different approaches, government bodies and other organizations can bring about the change in people's attitudes and behaviour that will lead to sustainable change. Our people are neither stupid nor lazy. With proper guidance they will change and acquire better civic sense. The day is not far off.
Many behaviours contribute to unclean public spaces. Littering, dumping, spitting, public urination, open defecation and improper disposal of sewage water contribute to this ugliness. Some of these problems are more difficult to solve than others. They are all rooted in deep cultural attitudes and practices. These attitudes and mindsets have to change to alter public behaviour in order to create clean public spaces and maintain them.
There is no one way to achieve civic consciousness among the Indian public, because our country is so big and diverse. Many strategies need to be thought about. Not all will work in all settings.
1. Laws and Punishment:
For any civilized society a set of rules and laws are needed to codify acceptable behaviour. A land without laws is no better than the jungle and we are not animals. Thousands of years of human civilization have come about because people started observing certain societal norms. Eventually these unwritten codes became formalized as a set of laws by which every member of society abides by and non subscribers are forced to comply with by punitive measures. As societies evolve, so do the laws. The formulation of these laws is ostensibly to promote the common good. If clean public spaces are a common good, then a set of rules and laws have to be in place to achieve them. People who defy these rules should be warned and punished. From fines to incarceration, there are incremental punitive measures available to any society.
Punishment for civic misbehaviour leading to uncleanliness has been rarely seen in India. The rules are there but the authorities have always been lax in enforcing them. Part of the reason for this is that these rules do not reflect the expectations of society in general. In many ways India is a law abiding country and laws do work here. When it comes to major crimes such as murder, rape and robbery, our police forces are second to none in their prosecutorial zeal and our judiciary is quite capable of meting out fair justice. However when it comes to civic behaviour there is no commitment in enforcing the law nor in handing out adequate punishment.
Laws cannot work if the majority of people do not abide by it. In large countries such as India, the vast and varied population cannot be policed unless the majority cooperate. Smaller countries do achieve this as they are easier to police. A case in point is the small city state of Singapore. A stringent set of laws, strictly enforced have managed to create a beautiful, clean and modern city out of the mess that the British left behind at the time of independence.
Nevertheless laws are needed and they have to be enforced in India to shape civic behaviour. At the outset it would be difficult to make people comply, but as more and more people become compliant the policing will become progressively easier and cheaper. There has to be commitment from the government at the national, regional, state, district, state, town and village panchayat level to achieve this.
2. Awareness and Education:
One reason for the indifference people feel towards their surroundings is a lack of awareness. Some people just do not understand the ill effects of unclean public spaces. Once aware they might be more receptive to change. They are also oblivious to the existence of cleaner places elsewhere. But in the information age any Indian anywhere has to be aware of other places in the world unless they are living under a rock somewhere. Movies, television, the internet and the print media all have images of public spaces in other countries that people cannot fail to notice.
Clean up campaigns contribute to increased awareness. So do innovative campaigns via a variety of media. To change the adult mind the message has to be persistent and sustained. The media in India have a great responsibility in this regard. Journalists from both the traditional as well as social media should utilize their talents and resources to spread the message. It is part of their social responsibility. The government should be the prime driver but sadly in India governance has been a let down in this regard over many decades. Non governmental organizations and corporate entities should take this up. Celebrities should be involved. A cleaner India benefits all sectors of society.
Education is more in-depth and will bring more sustainable change in people's mind sets. It is a longterm effort and has to started early in life and continued for years. The target of course should be young children starting at a very early age. Schools should make it a part of the curriculum. The government should mandate it. Teachers should teach civic values with enthusiasm. Religious institutions should concentrate on inculcating a sense civic responsibility in children rather than propagating hatred towards other communities that share this great country.
3. Pride and Patriotism:
Genuine change in a society society will come about only when people believe in it. People have to embrace it and practise it on a daily basis. They have to value it. Only then can the change be sustainable and permanent.
Indians are a proud people. We take immense pride in our culture. We shamelessly flaunt our ancient civilization and its timeless wisdom. We strut and swagger when we think about our classical art forms, our literature, our many philosophies and traditions. We look at other cultures with scorn and derision. The same sense of pride has to be instilled in our population when it comes to the cleanliness and beauty of public spaces. Civic pride should be encouraged and valued.
We are also a very patriotic people. We get goosebumps when patriotic songs are sung. We support our armed forces. We cherish our national symbols. We actively participate in politics and the democratic process. Patriotism is alive and well in our country. This love for the country has to be translated in to a zeal to do deeds for the betterment of the country. Keeping the country clean is a very patriotic act and this feeling has to be cultivated and encouraged.
By combining these different approaches, government bodies and other organizations can bring about the change in people's attitudes and behaviour that will lead to sustainable change. Our people are neither stupid nor lazy. With proper guidance they will change and acquire better civic sense. The day is not far off.
Wednesday, 25 December 2013
Waste Disposal in India : Segregation at Source versus Mixed Waste Disposal
Whenever the sorry state of waste disposal in India is brought up, the issue of source segregation of waste, invariably crops up as a great solution. Garbage in India is an eternal problem. It is strewn everywhere. It blows by the roadsides and chokes the waterways. It looks like it is uncontainable. Effective waste management will of course mitigate this. Waste management also has other benefits in addition to the aesthetic one; it can turn refuse into a resource. Waste to wealth and waste to energy are phrases often thrown around. Zero waste communities are possible we are often told. For effective recycling and reduction of waste that ends up in scarce landfill sites, segregation of waste at source is a must it seems.
The present state of waste disposal in India is in a poor state and almost non existent in many places. Waste disposal in many places means dumping all kinds of waste by the roadside, street corners, vacant lots belonging to others or the public, streams, river banks, lakes or any other place than ones own property. In many communities the local government bodies do the same. In once pristine natural sites or urban public spaces the mixed garbage rots and stinks in a pile. Stray dogs, goats, pigs and roaming cattle forage on it. The ragpickers and beggars come at night to rummage through the pile to find things that can be salvaged and sold. The biodegradable parts continue to rot and stink up the whole surroundings. The plastic, paper and wood is left and periodically somebody comes along and sets fire to it resulting in a smoking, smouldering pile and acrid fumes. The plastic of course flies all over and is the most colourfully visible part of this eyesore. More waste is then dumped on the smouldering ash pile and the whole cycle continues. In time, a big mound forms consisting of layers of rotting organic waste and ash interspersed with plastic, glass and metal. Roadsides become impossible to walk on. Waterways get narrowed, blocked and disappear. Shocking and unthinkable as it is to the outsider, it becomes part of life for the local population and they learn to live with it. The problem perpetuates indefinitely. Where waste collection exists it most often is not processed but dumped in a mixed fashion in large dumps which are not scientifically constructed landfills. There the roadside dump is magnified many times over and the same story is repeated on a larger scale.
Waste disposal as it is practised by many communities in India is not sustainable. It is slowly turning the country into a gigantic garbage dump bringing untold misery to countless millions. It is destroying our precious and sacred waterbodies and waterways. It is stunting our economic growth and that of our children. The status quo has to change. Newer systems that are regionally and culturally acceptable and appropriate should be adopted and developed. Systems that work should be protected and enhanced. For any system to succeed all sections of society and the government should cooperate and do so voluntarily and willingly. The government at every level should step up to its responsibility and do so in a proactive manner.
Any effective waste management system will certainly benefit from segregation of waste at source. Some would argue that source segregation is an integral and indispensable part of any modern waste disposal mechanism. They are probably right. The benefits are many.
Source segregation involves the sorting of waste at the residential or commercial level where different kinds of waste are collected separately and disposed of using recycling, composting and other means and very little waste is dumped at a landfill. It is practised in many communities around the world and some do a better job of it than others. When done properly it is a wonderful exercise. It reduces the need for large and ugly landfills and creates wealth and energy out of what otherwise would have ended up in a large unsightly dump somewhere to pollute the environment for a long period and sometimes irreparably so. It also involves the cooperation of the entire community or at least the majority of people to succeed. People will have to conscientiously and willingly spend the extra few minutes necessary to segregate the worse. With no direct benefit to the householder or businessperson it is sometimes difficult to motivate people to do it. It has to be something the person believes in and is willing to make a behavioural change to achieve it. It is not an impossible change and many societies in many countries have been able to achieve this. When the culture changes, people will find it difficult to throw a recyclable or biodegradable waste material in to the common bin. It becomes an innate behaviour to find the blue, green or whatever colour the appropriate container is coded as.
Segregation of waste also needs an effective collection and processing system. The segregated waste has to be collected and transported in a segregated fashion to a processing station or facility where it can be sent for further disposal. If a seamless mechanism is not in place the segregation at source would be futile. Quite often we find that the waste that is meticulously segregated by conscientious residents is often mixed again in the transfer process. At the microlevel it can possibly work, where in smaller communities people can make use of composting and recycling on an an individual or group basis to dispose of waste. However, in big urban centres where people are busy and space is limited, it is often not practical. Systems large and small have to be developed to transfer and process segregated waste for eventual disposal in an appropriate manner.
For source segregation to be effective we need a willing population, an efficient administration and visionary policy makers. In India we often find the first two wanting. The poor civic sense of the Indian public is legendary. To move a population, that has a hard time disposing of mixed waste in a civilized way, to source segregation could be a monumental task but certainly not impossible. This is a country where people litter everywhere; they throw garbage out through train windows and dump their household waste on street corners. Of course there are many instances where communities do segregate waste and success stories abound at a microlevel. If these take root and spread and more people voluntarily segregate their waste, they will certainly enhance any mass waste collection and processing system. However, short of draconian laws that are strictly enforced, this behavioural change is unlikely to come about at a mass level any time soon. Apathy of policy makers and bureaucratic inertia are also legendary in India. Corruption also complicates matters. Moreover policy advisors and thought leaders in India often tend to be dreamers far removed from reality. Our minds may not work with the same practical efficiency of the German or Japanese ones. Of course these are stereotypes, but stereotypes worth looking into.
As important as source segregation of waste is, so is the urgency to find solutions that are workable in the immediate future. Systems that rely solely on source segregation to work are desirable but deemed to fail if the necessary societal, politico-administrative pre-requirements are not in place. Mixed waste collection and disposal are often frowned upon because it is more difficult to process and environmentally unfriendly. It is difficult but not impossible to derive recyclable or compostable material from mixed waste and when done so, it tends to be expensive. The technology and mechanism to process mixed waste exists and is in practice in many communities around the world. When done well they do not pollute the surroundings and do not emit a stench. Although they will reduce the the amount of waste that will eventually reach a landfill they do so to a lesser extent than a system that involves some form of segregation. If not processed, mixed waste is deposed of in a landfill. Scientifically constructed landfills that are managed well and periodically capped, will keep garbage outside of cities and are an effective system. If designed well with effective drainage of the leachate so that it does not pollute the groundwater, it is a system that can work. The waste is contained and safe but does not really go away and stays around for eternity. For landfills to work they have to be constructed in a scientific manner and maintained. This requires large open spaces away from human habitation and huge capital expenditures. In India we do not have large open spaces away from cities and this problem is only going to get worse as our cities expand. The current situation in India is to dump the mixed and unsegregated waste anywhere and everywhere there is open space at sites that are not scientifically designed to contain the waste. They create massive eyesores. They result in groundwater and air pollution that affects the lives of the surrounding population. They breed mosquitoes that carry deadly diseases.The people who live nearby often rise up and protest against these sites. Their concern is genuine.
So what is the way forward? If the goal is to create communities where waste is segregated at source and disposed of properly, with effective recycling and composting mechanisms so that there is minimal need for landfills, we are far from the achievement of that goal. At the same time that we encourage source segregation and and inculcate this as a habit in the population, we need to devise mechanisms to dispose of mixed waste. We have to realize that there will always be mixed waste. Some people will never segregate their waste and it will be impossible to make them do it even with the most stringent laws and punishment. There are also situations where it would be difficult to put in place a mechanism for source segregation. We have to build systems that dispose of mixed waste effectively. We need waste processing centres that are built in such a way that they have minimum negative impact on the environment while extracting as much recyclable and compostable material as possible. Waste to energy processes that are not polluting will also play a role here. Processing mixed waste is inefficient and will be expensive and labour-intensive. If done well they can be a valuable source of employment for a segment of society. Ragpickers who risk their lives and health rummaging through potentially toxic waste, can be given safer and more reliable employment. Residual waste has to be disposed of in scientifically constructed landfills that are not polluting. If they are designed and built well, people will be more accepting of them. As source segregation takes hold over the next many years, the quantum of mixed waste will decrease and the need for mixed waste processing will diminish. So will the need for landfill sites.
If we do this right, we need short and long term strategies. The short term goal would be to manage the millions of tonnes of mixed waste generated daily in an efficient and effective way so that they do not end up on our roadsides and waterways causing irreparable damage to our cities and countryside. The processing and disposal of the mixed waste will be expensive, inefficient and not sustainable for the longterm. In a parallel fashion source segregation and processing of segregated waste should be encouraged and developed. Both strategies are important and are compatible. Neither can wait for the other. The systems that rely on source segregation will eventually replace the mixed waste systems and will lead to a clean India that we all desire so much. The time to act is now.
Jai Hind
The present state of waste disposal in India is in a poor state and almost non existent in many places. Waste disposal in many places means dumping all kinds of waste by the roadside, street corners, vacant lots belonging to others or the public, streams, river banks, lakes or any other place than ones own property. In many communities the local government bodies do the same. In once pristine natural sites or urban public spaces the mixed garbage rots and stinks in a pile. Stray dogs, goats, pigs and roaming cattle forage on it. The ragpickers and beggars come at night to rummage through the pile to find things that can be salvaged and sold. The biodegradable parts continue to rot and stink up the whole surroundings. The plastic, paper and wood is left and periodically somebody comes along and sets fire to it resulting in a smoking, smouldering pile and acrid fumes. The plastic of course flies all over and is the most colourfully visible part of this eyesore. More waste is then dumped on the smouldering ash pile and the whole cycle continues. In time, a big mound forms consisting of layers of rotting organic waste and ash interspersed with plastic, glass and metal. Roadsides become impossible to walk on. Waterways get narrowed, blocked and disappear. Shocking and unthinkable as it is to the outsider, it becomes part of life for the local population and they learn to live with it. The problem perpetuates indefinitely. Where waste collection exists it most often is not processed but dumped in a mixed fashion in large dumps which are not scientifically constructed landfills. There the roadside dump is magnified many times over and the same story is repeated on a larger scale.
Waste disposal as it is practised by many communities in India is not sustainable. It is slowly turning the country into a gigantic garbage dump bringing untold misery to countless millions. It is destroying our precious and sacred waterbodies and waterways. It is stunting our economic growth and that of our children. The status quo has to change. Newer systems that are regionally and culturally acceptable and appropriate should be adopted and developed. Systems that work should be protected and enhanced. For any system to succeed all sections of society and the government should cooperate and do so voluntarily and willingly. The government at every level should step up to its responsibility and do so in a proactive manner.
Any effective waste management system will certainly benefit from segregation of waste at source. Some would argue that source segregation is an integral and indispensable part of any modern waste disposal mechanism. They are probably right. The benefits are many.
Source segregation involves the sorting of waste at the residential or commercial level where different kinds of waste are collected separately and disposed of using recycling, composting and other means and very little waste is dumped at a landfill. It is practised in many communities around the world and some do a better job of it than others. When done properly it is a wonderful exercise. It reduces the need for large and ugly landfills and creates wealth and energy out of what otherwise would have ended up in a large unsightly dump somewhere to pollute the environment for a long period and sometimes irreparably so. It also involves the cooperation of the entire community or at least the majority of people to succeed. People will have to conscientiously and willingly spend the extra few minutes necessary to segregate the worse. With no direct benefit to the householder or businessperson it is sometimes difficult to motivate people to do it. It has to be something the person believes in and is willing to make a behavioural change to achieve it. It is not an impossible change and many societies in many countries have been able to achieve this. When the culture changes, people will find it difficult to throw a recyclable or biodegradable waste material in to the common bin. It becomes an innate behaviour to find the blue, green or whatever colour the appropriate container is coded as.
Segregation of waste also needs an effective collection and processing system. The segregated waste has to be collected and transported in a segregated fashion to a processing station or facility where it can be sent for further disposal. If a seamless mechanism is not in place the segregation at source would be futile. Quite often we find that the waste that is meticulously segregated by conscientious residents is often mixed again in the transfer process. At the microlevel it can possibly work, where in smaller communities people can make use of composting and recycling on an an individual or group basis to dispose of waste. However, in big urban centres where people are busy and space is limited, it is often not practical. Systems large and small have to be developed to transfer and process segregated waste for eventual disposal in an appropriate manner.
For source segregation to be effective we need a willing population, an efficient administration and visionary policy makers. In India we often find the first two wanting. The poor civic sense of the Indian public is legendary. To move a population, that has a hard time disposing of mixed waste in a civilized way, to source segregation could be a monumental task but certainly not impossible. This is a country where people litter everywhere; they throw garbage out through train windows and dump their household waste on street corners. Of course there are many instances where communities do segregate waste and success stories abound at a microlevel. If these take root and spread and more people voluntarily segregate their waste, they will certainly enhance any mass waste collection and processing system. However, short of draconian laws that are strictly enforced, this behavioural change is unlikely to come about at a mass level any time soon. Apathy of policy makers and bureaucratic inertia are also legendary in India. Corruption also complicates matters. Moreover policy advisors and thought leaders in India often tend to be dreamers far removed from reality. Our minds may not work with the same practical efficiency of the German or Japanese ones. Of course these are stereotypes, but stereotypes worth looking into.
As important as source segregation of waste is, so is the urgency to find solutions that are workable in the immediate future. Systems that rely solely on source segregation to work are desirable but deemed to fail if the necessary societal, politico-administrative pre-requirements are not in place. Mixed waste collection and disposal are often frowned upon because it is more difficult to process and environmentally unfriendly. It is difficult but not impossible to derive recyclable or compostable material from mixed waste and when done so, it tends to be expensive. The technology and mechanism to process mixed waste exists and is in practice in many communities around the world. When done well they do not pollute the surroundings and do not emit a stench. Although they will reduce the the amount of waste that will eventually reach a landfill they do so to a lesser extent than a system that involves some form of segregation. If not processed, mixed waste is deposed of in a landfill. Scientifically constructed landfills that are managed well and periodically capped, will keep garbage outside of cities and are an effective system. If designed well with effective drainage of the leachate so that it does not pollute the groundwater, it is a system that can work. The waste is contained and safe but does not really go away and stays around for eternity. For landfills to work they have to be constructed in a scientific manner and maintained. This requires large open spaces away from human habitation and huge capital expenditures. In India we do not have large open spaces away from cities and this problem is only going to get worse as our cities expand. The current situation in India is to dump the mixed and unsegregated waste anywhere and everywhere there is open space at sites that are not scientifically designed to contain the waste. They create massive eyesores. They result in groundwater and air pollution that affects the lives of the surrounding population. They breed mosquitoes that carry deadly diseases.The people who live nearby often rise up and protest against these sites. Their concern is genuine.
So what is the way forward? If the goal is to create communities where waste is segregated at source and disposed of properly, with effective recycling and composting mechanisms so that there is minimal need for landfills, we are far from the achievement of that goal. At the same time that we encourage source segregation and and inculcate this as a habit in the population, we need to devise mechanisms to dispose of mixed waste. We have to realize that there will always be mixed waste. Some people will never segregate their waste and it will be impossible to make them do it even with the most stringent laws and punishment. There are also situations where it would be difficult to put in place a mechanism for source segregation. We have to build systems that dispose of mixed waste effectively. We need waste processing centres that are built in such a way that they have minimum negative impact on the environment while extracting as much recyclable and compostable material as possible. Waste to energy processes that are not polluting will also play a role here. Processing mixed waste is inefficient and will be expensive and labour-intensive. If done well they can be a valuable source of employment for a segment of society. Ragpickers who risk their lives and health rummaging through potentially toxic waste, can be given safer and more reliable employment. Residual waste has to be disposed of in scientifically constructed landfills that are not polluting. If they are designed and built well, people will be more accepting of them. As source segregation takes hold over the next many years, the quantum of mixed waste will decrease and the need for mixed waste processing will diminish. So will the need for landfill sites.
If we do this right, we need short and long term strategies. The short term goal would be to manage the millions of tonnes of mixed waste generated daily in an efficient and effective way so that they do not end up on our roadsides and waterways causing irreparable damage to our cities and countryside. The processing and disposal of the mixed waste will be expensive, inefficient and not sustainable for the longterm. In a parallel fashion source segregation and processing of segregated waste should be encouraged and developed. Both strategies are important and are compatible. Neither can wait for the other. The systems that rely on source segregation will eventually replace the mixed waste systems and will lead to a clean India that we all desire so much. The time to act is now.
Jai Hind
Sunday, 17 November 2013
Social Divisions and Cleanliness of Public Spaces in India
No country or region in the world is entirely homogeneous anymore. Diversity prevails almost every where. As diversity goes, India is one of the most diverse countries in the world. Divisions of all kinds exist here. Ethnic, linguistic, religious and regional divisions are well defined. Caste of course is an unavoidable subject in any such discussion. Economic disparities and the rural-urban distinctions are also very stark in this country.
Diversity can be an asset to a country. It can teach people to be tolerant and to co-exist with others. However, diversity also has its disadvantages to a society. In extreme cases it leads to deep divisions and rivalry and when economic opportunities are scarce, to intense competition between groups. Often this rivalry results in mutual hatred and may end in communal violence. We are well aware of the dangers of inter-communal hatred in India; violent examples of which are all too common.
Do social divisions impact cleanliness of public spaces? Perhaps they do. When we explore reasons that are barriers to cleaner public spaces in India, we need to look at traits in our population that set us apart from other populations. One such trait is our tendency to discriminate. We are likely one of the most bigoted nations in the world. All societies are guilty of discriminating against subgroups within their populations. In India, it is a fine art. It is ingrained in our collective psyche.
It is also evident that places in the world that are more egalitarian are cleaner. Even in our own country regions that practice less systemic discrimination tend to have much cleaner public spaces.
So how does this discrimination affect public cleanliness. Well, there are several possibilities. The right answer is very complex, as pretty much everything is when explaining anything Indian.
1. One issue is blame. Every Indian is acutely aware of the state of our public spaces and the civic sense of our population, or the lack of it. When asked most people will admit that the streets are dirty. But it is the other people who litter the streets. The "upper" castes will blame the "lower" castes for dirtying the streets. The South Indian thinks the North Indian is dirty and the North Indian thinks the South Indian is dirty. People from different regions think people belonging to other regions are the ones to blame. Slum dwellers, and pavement hawkers get the blame. The illiterate get blamed because they are stupid and cannot be educated about benefits of a clean environment. In the end, it is everyone but ourselves. We abrogate our responsibility completely. But careful observation will reveal that each one us is responsible for the mess around us.
2. Belonging and ownership are definitely issues. We do not have a sense of belonging or take ownership of public spaces because they do not belong to "us" exclusively. It is the space we are forced to share with "others" with whom we do not identify at all. So how could we care about such spaces? We keep our homes, residential complexes, enclaves and places of worship clean, but we do not care how the street we step into looks like. To the upper and middle classes, the state of our street does not reflect them; it represents the "other", the inferior sections of of society that they look down upon. For the underprivileged, ownership is never an issue because they own so little and ownership of the public space is the last thing on their minds.
3. The most important issue is respect. Civic sense is a sign of respect for others who inhabit the common space. Lack of it reflects utter and profound disrespect for your fellow being. When the young and upwardly mobile upper middle class man with a fat salary from a multinational company rolls down the window of his air-conditioned luxury automobile and casually tosses out the banana skin, he is oblivious to the fact that he disrespects the fellow being of lesser means who is walking on the street. He is too "intelligent" and privileged to realize that he disrespects the country that he lives in. The country that he cheers for in the current cricket match that he watches on his state of the art television set in the evening. Respect in India is very hierarchical and deep rooted. Respect is often a birthright. The concept of mutual respect is foreign to our culture. When we see higher powers we will crawl on our knees and prostate ourselves without any sense of self-respect. We will profess false respect, while we hide our inner disdain as we did to our colonial masters for centuries. When get a chance to be safely disrespectful to those we deem inferior to us, we do so with gusto. We will make them clean our toilets and carry our excrement on their shoulders. This concept is somewhat strange, as every philosophical school of thought in India (both indigenous and imported) has emphasized respect for the soul that resides in other humans as one of their central tenets.
4. Fear of "contamination" is also an issue. We traditionally have been afraid of the public space as it is an arena where are forced to interact with "others". Sense of purity and cleanliness are somewhat different in the Indian mind. The upper classes have always felt that lingering in the public space, might lead to socialization with other groups. Situations might arise where you might have to eat in a home of a person "inferior" to you or be forced to invite the same "inferior" person into the sanctity of your home. These were taboo in traditional Indian societies. Worse still, such liaisons may lead to romance and marriage, which can be disastrous in the minds of a vast number of conservative Indian families. It could undermine the Indian social apartheid. What better way to insulate against this possible "contamination" than to keep the common space a dirty no-man's land? But this certainly is an outmoded fear. In modern India, people of all different creeds learn and work together, both in the public and private sector. The need to keep people apart is no longer there and virtually impossible. This is not medieval, feudal India.
To make India a nation without sub divisions is neither necessary nor possible. We have to celebrate our diversity and differences. Even caste and communal differences aren't going to go away. What we need is a nation of equal human beings and equal social groups. We already have laws and policies that deter discrimination in the public space. What we need is to foster a culture of mutual respect in the public sphere. We need the letter of the law and the spirit of humanism. We can hide our pride and prejudices in the privacy of our dirty hearts and cruel minds, but learn to act civilly to others in public.We have to learn to share the public space and respect its sanctity. It will do a world of good to our country and keep our land clean.
Jai Hind
Diversity can be an asset to a country. It can teach people to be tolerant and to co-exist with others. However, diversity also has its disadvantages to a society. In extreme cases it leads to deep divisions and rivalry and when economic opportunities are scarce, to intense competition between groups. Often this rivalry results in mutual hatred and may end in communal violence. We are well aware of the dangers of inter-communal hatred in India; violent examples of which are all too common.
Do social divisions impact cleanliness of public spaces? Perhaps they do. When we explore reasons that are barriers to cleaner public spaces in India, we need to look at traits in our population that set us apart from other populations. One such trait is our tendency to discriminate. We are likely one of the most bigoted nations in the world. All societies are guilty of discriminating against subgroups within their populations. In India, it is a fine art. It is ingrained in our collective psyche.
It is also evident that places in the world that are more egalitarian are cleaner. Even in our own country regions that practice less systemic discrimination tend to have much cleaner public spaces.
So how does this discrimination affect public cleanliness. Well, there are several possibilities. The right answer is very complex, as pretty much everything is when explaining anything Indian.
1. One issue is blame. Every Indian is acutely aware of the state of our public spaces and the civic sense of our population, or the lack of it. When asked most people will admit that the streets are dirty. But it is the other people who litter the streets. The "upper" castes will blame the "lower" castes for dirtying the streets. The South Indian thinks the North Indian is dirty and the North Indian thinks the South Indian is dirty. People from different regions think people belonging to other regions are the ones to blame. Slum dwellers, and pavement hawkers get the blame. The illiterate get blamed because they are stupid and cannot be educated about benefits of a clean environment. In the end, it is everyone but ourselves. We abrogate our responsibility completely. But careful observation will reveal that each one us is responsible for the mess around us.
2. Belonging and ownership are definitely issues. We do not have a sense of belonging or take ownership of public spaces because they do not belong to "us" exclusively. It is the space we are forced to share with "others" with whom we do not identify at all. So how could we care about such spaces? We keep our homes, residential complexes, enclaves and places of worship clean, but we do not care how the street we step into looks like. To the upper and middle classes, the state of our street does not reflect them; it represents the "other", the inferior sections of of society that they look down upon. For the underprivileged, ownership is never an issue because they own so little and ownership of the public space is the last thing on their minds.
3. The most important issue is respect. Civic sense is a sign of respect for others who inhabit the common space. Lack of it reflects utter and profound disrespect for your fellow being. When the young and upwardly mobile upper middle class man with a fat salary from a multinational company rolls down the window of his air-conditioned luxury automobile and casually tosses out the banana skin, he is oblivious to the fact that he disrespects the fellow being of lesser means who is walking on the street. He is too "intelligent" and privileged to realize that he disrespects the country that he lives in. The country that he cheers for in the current cricket match that he watches on his state of the art television set in the evening. Respect in India is very hierarchical and deep rooted. Respect is often a birthright. The concept of mutual respect is foreign to our culture. When we see higher powers we will crawl on our knees and prostate ourselves without any sense of self-respect. We will profess false respect, while we hide our inner disdain as we did to our colonial masters for centuries. When get a chance to be safely disrespectful to those we deem inferior to us, we do so with gusto. We will make them clean our toilets and carry our excrement on their shoulders. This concept is somewhat strange, as every philosophical school of thought in India (both indigenous and imported) has emphasized respect for the soul that resides in other humans as one of their central tenets.
4. Fear of "contamination" is also an issue. We traditionally have been afraid of the public space as it is an arena where are forced to interact with "others". Sense of purity and cleanliness are somewhat different in the Indian mind. The upper classes have always felt that lingering in the public space, might lead to socialization with other groups. Situations might arise where you might have to eat in a home of a person "inferior" to you or be forced to invite the same "inferior" person into the sanctity of your home. These were taboo in traditional Indian societies. Worse still, such liaisons may lead to romance and marriage, which can be disastrous in the minds of a vast number of conservative Indian families. It could undermine the Indian social apartheid. What better way to insulate against this possible "contamination" than to keep the common space a dirty no-man's land? But this certainly is an outmoded fear. In modern India, people of all different creeds learn and work together, both in the public and private sector. The need to keep people apart is no longer there and virtually impossible. This is not medieval, feudal India.
To make India a nation without sub divisions is neither necessary nor possible. We have to celebrate our diversity and differences. Even caste and communal differences aren't going to go away. What we need is a nation of equal human beings and equal social groups. We already have laws and policies that deter discrimination in the public space. What we need is to foster a culture of mutual respect in the public sphere. We need the letter of the law and the spirit of humanism. We can hide our pride and prejudices in the privacy of our dirty hearts and cruel minds, but learn to act civilly to others in public.We have to learn to share the public space and respect its sanctity. It will do a world of good to our country and keep our land clean.
Jai Hind
Sunday, 6 October 2013
Cleanliness of Public Spaces in India: The Way Forward
It is obvious that public spaces in India are in dire need of cleanliness. The benefits of clean public spaces are also quite clear. It is not only an aesthetic issue, but will also result in better health and prosperity. Millions of Indian citizens believe that a cleaner India is in all our interests and yearn for it. Yet our public spaces remain in a sad and deplorable state. They attract ridicule from around the world. The causes for this state of affairs are many and multifaceted. Some are rooted in history and others in present day poor governance. Other reasons are cultural and behavioural and are the result of the poor civic sense of our people.
Lamenting and hand-wringing is going to take us nowhere. Commentary can bring about awareness and hopefully consequent change in systems and behaviour, but in reality seldom changes the fundamental problems. Laws will work only if implemented properly and respected and adhered to by the people.
So, what do we do? Do we just accept and come to terms with the reality that India is going to be one of the most polluted, unclean and unsightly nations on earth for the foreseeable future and forget about it ? Do we forfeit our sense of shame and dignity and the well being of our children and grandchildren and get on with our meaningless lives? Do we regard the squalor that surrounds us as an integral facet of Indian culture and ignore it? Is holding our noses and looking the other way, when people urinate in public, defecate in the open, spit, litter the streets, dump their garbage on street corners and letting their sewage in to the nearest waterway or body, the sign of a true Indian? Or better still do we join the pack and truly identify ourselves with the status quo as most of us do, although we ought to know better?
How do we change this despicable situation ? What can we do if are ordinary citizens? What can we do if we are in positions of power? Power does not necessarily mean political power. From a teacher to a CEO of a major company, others too in society have power over yet others in society. Whoever we might be and whatever we might do, we all have the power and duty to change society in a positive way. Some have little influence and others have more.
It is a useful exercise to take stock of what is being done and explore future directions
1. Clean Up Campaigns: These are laudable efforts organized by members of the public, clubs, NGOs, institutions and sometimes by governmental organizations to clean up a specific place. These are usually organized as a day of cleaning activities when a group of people join together to remove the existing litter/ garbage lying around a specific site. These sites can be a beach, street, railway station, bus stand, place of worship, pond, lake or park. Sometimes these are organized around a special day such as Coastal Clean Up Day or a National Holiday while others are periodic or sporadic events. Some are quite small, such as the group of young men who spend some weekends cleaning temples around Chennai or very big as the annual clean up of the Marina organized by the Chennai Trekking Club.
Clean up campaigns are great in increasing awareness. They are direct and drive home the point. They show the people the result of the clean up. Volunteers often spend hours removing tonnes of waste and the place looks much cleaner. However they are not practical as a solution to the litter. They would only be useful if people change their behaviour. Often it is distressing to note irresponsible members of the public littering a place within hours after some other citizens have spent many hours cleaning the place voluntarily. There is a disconnect that has to be bridged.
2. Better cleaning by local government: Cleaning operations have improved in India over the last few years. Many local bodies have hired more workers to do the cleaning. Some Indian cities such as Surat in Gujarat have come a long way. Others are only just starting. In Chennai conservancy work as it is called has improved and more workers more shifts have been deployed. These are commendable initiatives and the results are obvious. But more work is yet to be done. Cleaning by city corporations is difficult to maintain if the public does not cooperate. No city corporation can keep up with cleaning if the public continue to litter and engage in other unclean habits. Moreover city employees have to be properly paid and looked after. They have to be given proper equipment and safety gear. Labour is still relatively cheap in India and this could be source of employment for millions of of unskilled people.
3. Source Segregation: Segregation of waste at source has been widely promoted by various actors including local bodies, NGOs and the media. It is indeed a noble effort. Source segregation if properly done will vastly reduce and possibly eliminate the waste that has to be disposed of by the corporations and other municipal bodies. It can even lead to a zero waste city as some claim. All biodegradable waste will be composted, used to produce biofuels or biogas or incinerated to produce electricity. Some countries like Sweden have taken this to great heights. If we can get our population to adopt source segregation to a large extent and we evolve mechanisms to dispose of the segregated waste in a clean and hygienic manner it would be the best solution. But the question is whether this is practical in a country like India, where we are hard pressed to make people drop their waste in a bin in plain sight. At the risk of underestimating our people, we wonder whether source segregation is but an impractical and utopian dream. Greatness is built on visions but our future cannot be built on unrealistic pipe dreams. In any case, if it is to work, source segregation cannot be an elitist endeavour. Yet source segregation has to be encouraged as it has the potential to transform the waste management landscape.
4.Composting: Composting is easy and adds immediate value to waste. All biodegradable waste can be composted and the end products are valuable manure for gardens small and big. Individual homes have to be encouraged to compost and larger communities can do this on a larger scale. When people see value in the compost they will willingly adopt the practice. Municipal bodies can do this on a very large scale but need properly segregated waste. But composting is not without problems. If not properly done it will lead to the infestation of rats and other pests as well as cause a stink and other hygiene issues. People also have to invest time and energy which some might not be willing to do.
5. Waste to Energy Plants: The last Union budget contained provisions for cities to build waste to energy plants. The expectation is that these will create useful energy from waste and will lead to cleaner cities and more power generation at low cost. In Western Europe this has been very successful despite stringent environmental standards to prevent pollution. These have never been very successful in India mainly again due to the lack of proper waste segregation. Moreover there has always been a vocal lobby against these plants. Their reasoning is diverse and sometimes misplaced. Some fear the possible air pollution that might result and others fear loss of employment of rag pickers who eke out a living by digging through piles of waste to pick valuable recyclable material. This is ludicrous as no one should be encouraged to engage in such unsafe and unsanitary work.
6. Organizing rag pickers: Some cities like Pune have tried to organize waste pickers and engage them in waste management in an organized manner. They have achieved some success. If these ragpickers could be rehabilitated to work in the waste management industry in safety and with dignity it would be a win-win situation. The ragpickers would gain steady meaningful employment and society would solve an inhuman practice. Their children would be prohibited from working and living in unhealthy conditions and will get proper schooling.
7. Sanitation: Despite the dismal statistics sanitation standards are improving. Individual adoption of toilets is slowly but steadily gaining ground in rural India. Villages are giving up open defecation in ever increasing numbers. Culturally acceptable and locally appropriate toilet technology is available. It won't be long before we reach a tipping point in this regard and open defecation will be a thing of the past. Public toilets have been notoriously difficult to maintain in India. The public has never been able to use the toilets in a hygienic manner nor has the local government able to maintain these. The reasons are complex including apathy and lack of civic sense. Here too there have been recent improvements. The Namma Toilets coming up across cities in Tamil Nadu makes one cautiously optimistic.
8. Sewage Treatment Plants: The technology for adequate sewage treatment and disposal is widely available in India. Even small organizations have invested in adequate sewage treatment. Larger city corporations have to build adequate capacity. New residential development projects should be mandated to provide adequate sewage disposal facilities. Where connection to a municipal facility is not feasible, they should be forced to build their own. Letting the sewage out into the nearest waterway, as it is now often done, cannot be an option. Greed has a limit in a civilized country.
9. Cleaning water bodies: Recently there have been a number of instances where people have banded together to clean a waterbody. The enthusiasm shown by the people of Coimbatore to clean up Periyakulam was indeed heartwarming to see. Water is life-giving and this is very true in India where water, especially of the clean kind is often scarce. Ancient Indians considered water sacred and protected it. Modern Indians still consider water holy but pollute it without any concern. Yet there is hope. Movements for the protection of our waterbodies are slowly mobilizing and will only get stronger.
10. Waste processing plants: Segregation of waste cannot be the only solution because there will be folks who will never segregate. This is true for any society. We have to build facilities that can process unsegregated waste. Dumping waste in unscientific land fills is not an option. It will be more cumbersome and expensive than processing segregated waste but can be done. It will be labor intensive and the millions of ragpickers rummaging through the mountains of garbage at landfill sites can be engaged in this labor in a dignified and safe environment. As source segregation becomes the norm these plants will evolve accordingly.
So in conclusion there are reasons to hope, but much work to done. For a cleaner India in the near future the general public and governing bodies have to shed their apathy and come together to work in unison. No solution will work for all settings. There will be a variety of solutions. We can build and maintain a clean India and we will.
Jai Hind.
Lamenting and hand-wringing is going to take us nowhere. Commentary can bring about awareness and hopefully consequent change in systems and behaviour, but in reality seldom changes the fundamental problems. Laws will work only if implemented properly and respected and adhered to by the people.
So, what do we do? Do we just accept and come to terms with the reality that India is going to be one of the most polluted, unclean and unsightly nations on earth for the foreseeable future and forget about it ? Do we forfeit our sense of shame and dignity and the well being of our children and grandchildren and get on with our meaningless lives? Do we regard the squalor that surrounds us as an integral facet of Indian culture and ignore it? Is holding our noses and looking the other way, when people urinate in public, defecate in the open, spit, litter the streets, dump their garbage on street corners and letting their sewage in to the nearest waterway or body, the sign of a true Indian? Or better still do we join the pack and truly identify ourselves with the status quo as most of us do, although we ought to know better?
How do we change this despicable situation ? What can we do if are ordinary citizens? What can we do if we are in positions of power? Power does not necessarily mean political power. From a teacher to a CEO of a major company, others too in society have power over yet others in society. Whoever we might be and whatever we might do, we all have the power and duty to change society in a positive way. Some have little influence and others have more.
It is a useful exercise to take stock of what is being done and explore future directions
1. Clean Up Campaigns: These are laudable efforts organized by members of the public, clubs, NGOs, institutions and sometimes by governmental organizations to clean up a specific place. These are usually organized as a day of cleaning activities when a group of people join together to remove the existing litter/ garbage lying around a specific site. These sites can be a beach, street, railway station, bus stand, place of worship, pond, lake or park. Sometimes these are organized around a special day such as Coastal Clean Up Day or a National Holiday while others are periodic or sporadic events. Some are quite small, such as the group of young men who spend some weekends cleaning temples around Chennai or very big as the annual clean up of the Marina organized by the Chennai Trekking Club.
Clean up campaigns are great in increasing awareness. They are direct and drive home the point. They show the people the result of the clean up. Volunteers often spend hours removing tonnes of waste and the place looks much cleaner. However they are not practical as a solution to the litter. They would only be useful if people change their behaviour. Often it is distressing to note irresponsible members of the public littering a place within hours after some other citizens have spent many hours cleaning the place voluntarily. There is a disconnect that has to be bridged.
2. Better cleaning by local government: Cleaning operations have improved in India over the last few years. Many local bodies have hired more workers to do the cleaning. Some Indian cities such as Surat in Gujarat have come a long way. Others are only just starting. In Chennai conservancy work as it is called has improved and more workers more shifts have been deployed. These are commendable initiatives and the results are obvious. But more work is yet to be done. Cleaning by city corporations is difficult to maintain if the public does not cooperate. No city corporation can keep up with cleaning if the public continue to litter and engage in other unclean habits. Moreover city employees have to be properly paid and looked after. They have to be given proper equipment and safety gear. Labour is still relatively cheap in India and this could be source of employment for millions of of unskilled people.
3. Source Segregation: Segregation of waste at source has been widely promoted by various actors including local bodies, NGOs and the media. It is indeed a noble effort. Source segregation if properly done will vastly reduce and possibly eliminate the waste that has to be disposed of by the corporations and other municipal bodies. It can even lead to a zero waste city as some claim. All biodegradable waste will be composted, used to produce biofuels or biogas or incinerated to produce electricity. Some countries like Sweden have taken this to great heights. If we can get our population to adopt source segregation to a large extent and we evolve mechanisms to dispose of the segregated waste in a clean and hygienic manner it would be the best solution. But the question is whether this is practical in a country like India, where we are hard pressed to make people drop their waste in a bin in plain sight. At the risk of underestimating our people, we wonder whether source segregation is but an impractical and utopian dream. Greatness is built on visions but our future cannot be built on unrealistic pipe dreams. In any case, if it is to work, source segregation cannot be an elitist endeavour. Yet source segregation has to be encouraged as it has the potential to transform the waste management landscape.
4.Composting: Composting is easy and adds immediate value to waste. All biodegradable waste can be composted and the end products are valuable manure for gardens small and big. Individual homes have to be encouraged to compost and larger communities can do this on a larger scale. When people see value in the compost they will willingly adopt the practice. Municipal bodies can do this on a very large scale but need properly segregated waste. But composting is not without problems. If not properly done it will lead to the infestation of rats and other pests as well as cause a stink and other hygiene issues. People also have to invest time and energy which some might not be willing to do.
5. Waste to Energy Plants: The last Union budget contained provisions for cities to build waste to energy plants. The expectation is that these will create useful energy from waste and will lead to cleaner cities and more power generation at low cost. In Western Europe this has been very successful despite stringent environmental standards to prevent pollution. These have never been very successful in India mainly again due to the lack of proper waste segregation. Moreover there has always been a vocal lobby against these plants. Their reasoning is diverse and sometimes misplaced. Some fear the possible air pollution that might result and others fear loss of employment of rag pickers who eke out a living by digging through piles of waste to pick valuable recyclable material. This is ludicrous as no one should be encouraged to engage in such unsafe and unsanitary work.
6. Organizing rag pickers: Some cities like Pune have tried to organize waste pickers and engage them in waste management in an organized manner. They have achieved some success. If these ragpickers could be rehabilitated to work in the waste management industry in safety and with dignity it would be a win-win situation. The ragpickers would gain steady meaningful employment and society would solve an inhuman practice. Their children would be prohibited from working and living in unhealthy conditions and will get proper schooling.
7. Sanitation: Despite the dismal statistics sanitation standards are improving. Individual adoption of toilets is slowly but steadily gaining ground in rural India. Villages are giving up open defecation in ever increasing numbers. Culturally acceptable and locally appropriate toilet technology is available. It won't be long before we reach a tipping point in this regard and open defecation will be a thing of the past. Public toilets have been notoriously difficult to maintain in India. The public has never been able to use the toilets in a hygienic manner nor has the local government able to maintain these. The reasons are complex including apathy and lack of civic sense. Here too there have been recent improvements. The Namma Toilets coming up across cities in Tamil Nadu makes one cautiously optimistic.
8. Sewage Treatment Plants: The technology for adequate sewage treatment and disposal is widely available in India. Even small organizations have invested in adequate sewage treatment. Larger city corporations have to build adequate capacity. New residential development projects should be mandated to provide adequate sewage disposal facilities. Where connection to a municipal facility is not feasible, they should be forced to build their own. Letting the sewage out into the nearest waterway, as it is now often done, cannot be an option. Greed has a limit in a civilized country.
9. Cleaning water bodies: Recently there have been a number of instances where people have banded together to clean a waterbody. The enthusiasm shown by the people of Coimbatore to clean up Periyakulam was indeed heartwarming to see. Water is life-giving and this is very true in India where water, especially of the clean kind is often scarce. Ancient Indians considered water sacred and protected it. Modern Indians still consider water holy but pollute it without any concern. Yet there is hope. Movements for the protection of our waterbodies are slowly mobilizing and will only get stronger.
10. Waste processing plants: Segregation of waste cannot be the only solution because there will be folks who will never segregate. This is true for any society. We have to build facilities that can process unsegregated waste. Dumping waste in unscientific land fills is not an option. It will be more cumbersome and expensive than processing segregated waste but can be done. It will be labor intensive and the millions of ragpickers rummaging through the mountains of garbage at landfill sites can be engaged in this labor in a dignified and safe environment. As source segregation becomes the norm these plants will evolve accordingly.
So in conclusion there are reasons to hope, but much work to done. For a cleaner India in the near future the general public and governing bodies have to shed their apathy and come together to work in unison. No solution will work for all settings. There will be a variety of solutions. We can build and maintain a clean India and we will.
Jai Hind.
Thursday, 15 August 2013
Nationalism and Cleanliness of Public Spaces in India
Nationalism is pride. Nationalism is a sense of belonging. It is an intense and sometimes irrational love for a country or people that one belongs to. In many ways it can be a positive belief system. It can propel a people to do better. It fosters a sense of competition vis a vis other groups of people and makes communities strive to excel. Nationalistic attitudes are prevalent all over the world and takes many forms. It can be negative too. All too often we see people using nationalism to discriminate other groups of people. It can propagate hatred and worse. In the wrong hands it can be quite destructive and dangerous.
Nationalism of all kinds exist in India. A pan- Indian nationalism helped India gain its independence from colonial rule and aided the post independent leaders to forge a strong country despite it its mind-boggling diversity. But other kinds of nationalism exist too in India. They are caste, regional, ethnic, linguistic and religious nationalism that can be sometimes divisive and narrow in their outlook. There is no harm in encouraging pride in one's own identity as long as it does not lead to prejudice towards others.
Indian nationalism is alive and well. It becomes quite evident when the Indian people perceive an external threat. Skirmishes at the border often evoke chest thumping patriotism. India's achievements in science and technology promotes a sense of intense pride in us. From successful satellite launches to missile tests, there are periodic events in this field that make our collective hearts glow. We are also extremely proud of our millennia old culture and civilization. We tend to look down upon other countries of the world that do not have that history. Sports, especially cricket is another area where the national pride and passion is all evident. These foster an Indian nationalism that is easy to discern although not always overtly evident.
Other nationalisms too exist in India. Linguistic and regional pride is quite often very passionate. Caste alliances often lead to clashes in rural areas. Religious pride often leads to violence although to a lesser extent than a few years ago. Slights that are real or perceived or not taken lightly.
Nationalism of all kinds exist in India. A pan- Indian nationalism helped India gain its independence from colonial rule and aided the post independent leaders to forge a strong country despite it its mind-boggling diversity. But other kinds of nationalism exist too in India. They are caste, regional, ethnic, linguistic and religious nationalism that can be sometimes divisive and narrow in their outlook. There is no harm in encouraging pride in one's own identity as long as it does not lead to prejudice towards others.
Indian nationalism is alive and well. It becomes quite evident when the Indian people perceive an external threat. Skirmishes at the border often evoke chest thumping patriotism. India's achievements in science and technology promotes a sense of intense pride in us. From successful satellite launches to missile tests, there are periodic events in this field that make our collective hearts glow. We are also extremely proud of our millennia old culture and civilization. We tend to look down upon other countries of the world that do not have that history. Sports, especially cricket is another area where the national pride and passion is all evident. These foster an Indian nationalism that is easy to discern although not always overtly evident.
Other nationalisms too exist in India. Linguistic and regional pride is quite often very passionate. Caste alliances often lead to clashes in rural areas. Religious pride often leads to violence although to a lesser extent than a few years ago. Slights that are real or perceived or not taken lightly.
We Indians argue endlessly about how we are superior to others in so many different ways. Amongst us we argue that our own sub group or region is better than others.
Curiously when it comes to cleanliness of public places this pride and nationalism is conspicuously absent. It is difficult to shame the Indian public by pointing out the squalor of our public spaces. We wear this squalor almost like a badge of honour. When our detractors demean us by showing the dirt, we are strangely unaffected. We don't make any effort to change the horrendous state of affairs. Much less provocation can cause blood shed in other communities and countries. Other kinds of criticisms can cause the same in India. Try criticizing a religious tenet in India and see how quickly the country erupts in flames.
Some of the reasons we are indifferent to the dirt and squalor around us are due to the many divisions amongst us. If somebody criticizes us, we assume it is directed towards those sections that we look down upon. If somebody calls India dirty we will not dispute it and will not be offended, because we feel that the perpetrators are those from communities we dislike. We disown the collective responsibility and distance ourselves from the dirt. Many Indians will enthusiastically join in to criticize. For the vast majority the squalor of India is not the responsibility of them or theirs, but of others with whom they do not identify.
This state of affairs has to change. We have to take pride in the cleanliness and hygiene of our public spaces. We have to strive make these places second to none in the world. We have to foster a collective Indian pride. Enough admiring other places in the world and thinking we cannot do the same in India. Away with the pessimism that "Indians"cannot keep public places clean. Let us usher in a new wave optimism that will clean up this country literally. Such an exercise will create an atmosphere of pride and positive nationalism that will bind the nation and catapult it into greatness and prosperity.
This state of affairs has to change. We have to take pride in the cleanliness and hygiene of our public spaces. We have to strive make these places second to none in the world. We have to foster a collective Indian pride. Enough admiring other places in the world and thinking we cannot do the same in India. Away with the pessimism that "Indians"cannot keep public places clean. Let us usher in a new wave optimism that will clean up this country literally. Such an exercise will create an atmosphere of pride and positive nationalism that will bind the nation and catapult it into greatness and prosperity.
Saturday, 27 July 2013
India's Soft Power and Cleanliness of Public Places
Soft power is important for any country. Political scientist Joseph Nye defines soft power as "the ability to produce outcomes through attraction rather than coercion or payment". The leading countries of the world have a lot of soft power to complement the hard kind. Soft power is all about perception and image. Soft power has to be carefully cultivated over time. It has benefits that are sometimes obvious and at other times quite intangible. A positive perception of a country often results in economic benefits that are direct. Increased tourism from abroad and investment are tangible benefits and will benefit the economy, thereby bolstering hard power. A positive perception engenders respect, that in turn might prevent an enemy country from taking us lightly and thereby enhancing security, which again is a hard power benefit. More subtle benefits involve diplomacy and external influence. Countries and people who look at us favourably, will be inclined to be supportive of us and be willing to be influenced by us. We can therefore enhance our national interests without using coercive force. It will be a peaceful, non-violent and civilized avenue for exerting our influence on other countries for our national benefit.
India has an abundance of factors that enhance its soft power. Our civilization and history of being one the oldest civilized societies in the world is generally favourably looked upon by others. Our colourful cultures, traditions, costumes, music and classical and folk dances all contribute to a vibrant and vivid picture of our country. Our architecture is unique. People travel the world to see our monuments, temples, mosques, churches, gurdwaras and magnificent edifices of religious and cultural significance. From Ibn Batuta to Marco Polo to Mark Twain innumerable travellers over the ages have been enthralled by our culture and civilization. Mark Twain, the great American writer called India the cradle of the human race. From Alexander to the British, foreign invaders have sought to conquer and control this land and benefit from its riches. Throughout history this land has invoked a special kind of emotion in the hearts and minds of people.
India has lent spice to to the global culture and civilization. Our spices have been sought after for centuries. They have spurred voyages of discovery, trade and and conquest. Our culinary traditions have enhanced the global palate and fed its appetite. Indian food is popular around the world. Indian cuisine is an aromatic experience that titillates the nasal senses.
India has an abundance of factors that enhance its soft power. Our civilization and history of being one the oldest civilized societies in the world is generally favourably looked upon by others. Our colourful cultures, traditions, costumes, music and classical and folk dances all contribute to a vibrant and vivid picture of our country. Our architecture is unique. People travel the world to see our monuments, temples, mosques, churches, gurdwaras and magnificent edifices of religious and cultural significance. From Ibn Batuta to Marco Polo to Mark Twain innumerable travellers over the ages have been enthralled by our culture and civilization. Mark Twain, the great American writer called India the cradle of the human race. From Alexander to the British, foreign invaders have sought to conquer and control this land and benefit from its riches. Throughout history this land has invoked a special kind of emotion in the hearts and minds of people.
India has lent spice to to the global culture and civilization. Our spices have been sought after for centuries. They have spurred voyages of discovery, trade and and conquest. Our culinary traditions have enhanced the global palate and fed its appetite. Indian food is popular around the world. Indian cuisine is an aromatic experience that titillates the nasal senses.
India also has contributed the fragrance of the world with ancient attars, incense and the floral essences. The smell of jasmine and sandalwood is all pervasive. The scents of India are captivating and pleasant.
From ancient times to the modern India has had a reputation of being a knowledge power. Our contributions to the sciences and mathematics have been remarkable. The zero is widely believed to be an Indian invention. In contemporary times the prowess of Indian software engineers is widely acknowledged in the emerging field of information technology. Recent advances in space exploration and satellite technology have kept abreast with the the most advanced countries of the world.
Indian spirituality is one of India's soft assets. India has been the birthplace of many of the worlds great religions. Not only Hinduism, India's dominant religion, but Buddhism and Sikhism have originated here. Other religions have coexisted here in harmony for centuries. Islam and Christianity have found a home here. Zoroastrianism has found a haven here. Sufi saints have thrived here. At its higher levels Hindu philosophy has encouraged the exploration of the limits of metaphysics with little dogma. India is known for its mysticism and asceticism. It is the source of yoga and many modern meditation disciplines. Some of the world's leading Islamic scholars come from India. Hindu mythology has influenced the cultures of many countries.These are all positive aspects of India.
Barring the occasional aberrant bout of irrational violence, communities belonging to different communities divided by religion and language have peacefully coexisted for ages. In spite of what others would have us believe, we have been a tolerant society. Modern India has managed to preserve a secular form of government that is more detached from religion than most Western ones. Although extremists from all sides have tried to make secularism a bad word, India can be rightly proud of its secular tradition.
Chaotic as it may look at times Indian democracy is alive and vibrant. It is a functioning democracy where governments are periodically changed according to the will of the people. It does have its faults and is certainly not perfect. Nevertheless it is a form of government many newly independent nations of the twentieth century were not able adopt or foster.
India has a rich journalistic tradition. Newspapers abound and are fiercely independent and do not fear to express their opinion freely. The press is free and critical as it should be in any society. Media platforms of all kinds abound in this country that likes to argue endlessly. Social discourse is boundless and unrestrained.
One of the legacies of a hated colonial past has been the English language. India has managed to retain the language and it has thrived here. Millions speak, read and write it well. As English is the language of business and international discourse, a large English speaking population is an asset to India.
One of India's soft power assets is its pop culture. Bollywood competes with Hollywood as a different cinematic experience that people in many countries around the world enjoy and find captivating. The Indian movie industry is colourful and entertaining. Many contemporary musicians such as A.R Rahman, Ilayaraja and Lata Mangeshkar are known internationally.
Although India is not a sporting power, in certain sports India does do well. Cricket, the sport legacy of the English colonial past is almost a religion in India. Indian cricketers do very well in the game and thanks to increased revenues from a cricket hungry population and experimentation with commercialization such as the Indian Premier League, India is emerging as a cricketing superpower. Some Indian players are beginning to do well in sports such as tennis and badminton and they are great ambassadors for our country abroad. Though not a physical sport, chess is a sport in which India is fast becoming a powerhouse.
India is blessed with a variety of natural geographical features. From the towering snow capped and glacier bound Himalayas to the North, home to the tallest mountains in the world to the tip of India at Kanyakumari India is beautiful country with amazing landscapes. Deserts in Rajasthan, tropical jungles teeming with biodiversity in the Western Ghats, beautiful beaches in Goa, verdant Kerala, the list goes on and on. Although under great pressure due to to a growing population and increasing urbanization beautiful natural spaces manage to survive in India.
India is also home to the Bengal tiger and the Indian rhino. Winter refuge to many northern bird species and home to a variety of tropical birds, India is a birders' paradise. Its wildlife, though endangered is rich and exciting.
The above description of India paints a picture of a civilized, benevolent, culturally rich, naturally beautiful, democratic, free, tolerant, spiritual nation of smart people, which is indeed true. Despite this we have for the most part failed to parlay these positive aspects into viable soft power. This is partly due to some serious negative attributes of this nation which drag us down. Those who would want to drag our reputation into the mud would accuse us of being an intolerant, violent, corrupt, unsafe and unclean country. Widespread and pervasive corruption, and sporadic, isolated but unspeakable acts of violence especially of the sexual kind directed at women have soiled our reputation. However the one thing that has dogged us forever and is totally inexcusable is the squalor of our public spaces. So much so, the mention of India conjures visions of garbage strewn streets, open defecation, open sewers and nauseating, suffocating stench in some minds. This is a liability for our country and needs to be addressed.
If we could only clean up our public places and spaces, we would enhance our soft power manifold. As our economy grows and our military power grows, this soft power would complement our hard power and influence in the world. Let us build an India that is looked up to by other nations and people around the world. Let us be a powerhouse of good and goodwill in the world.
Barring the occasional aberrant bout of irrational violence, communities belonging to different communities divided by religion and language have peacefully coexisted for ages. In spite of what others would have us believe, we have been a tolerant society. Modern India has managed to preserve a secular form of government that is more detached from religion than most Western ones. Although extremists from all sides have tried to make secularism a bad word, India can be rightly proud of its secular tradition.
Chaotic as it may look at times Indian democracy is alive and vibrant. It is a functioning democracy where governments are periodically changed according to the will of the people. It does have its faults and is certainly not perfect. Nevertheless it is a form of government many newly independent nations of the twentieth century were not able adopt or foster.
India has a rich journalistic tradition. Newspapers abound and are fiercely independent and do not fear to express their opinion freely. The press is free and critical as it should be in any society. Media platforms of all kinds abound in this country that likes to argue endlessly. Social discourse is boundless and unrestrained.
One of the legacies of a hated colonial past has been the English language. India has managed to retain the language and it has thrived here. Millions speak, read and write it well. As English is the language of business and international discourse, a large English speaking population is an asset to India.
One of India's soft power assets is its pop culture. Bollywood competes with Hollywood as a different cinematic experience that people in many countries around the world enjoy and find captivating. The Indian movie industry is colourful and entertaining. Many contemporary musicians such as A.R Rahman, Ilayaraja and Lata Mangeshkar are known internationally.
Although India is not a sporting power, in certain sports India does do well. Cricket, the sport legacy of the English colonial past is almost a religion in India. Indian cricketers do very well in the game and thanks to increased revenues from a cricket hungry population and experimentation with commercialization such as the Indian Premier League, India is emerging as a cricketing superpower. Some Indian players are beginning to do well in sports such as tennis and badminton and they are great ambassadors for our country abroad. Though not a physical sport, chess is a sport in which India is fast becoming a powerhouse.
India is blessed with a variety of natural geographical features. From the towering snow capped and glacier bound Himalayas to the North, home to the tallest mountains in the world to the tip of India at Kanyakumari India is beautiful country with amazing landscapes. Deserts in Rajasthan, tropical jungles teeming with biodiversity in the Western Ghats, beautiful beaches in Goa, verdant Kerala, the list goes on and on. Although under great pressure due to to a growing population and increasing urbanization beautiful natural spaces manage to survive in India.
India is also home to the Bengal tiger and the Indian rhino. Winter refuge to many northern bird species and home to a variety of tropical birds, India is a birders' paradise. Its wildlife, though endangered is rich and exciting.
The above description of India paints a picture of a civilized, benevolent, culturally rich, naturally beautiful, democratic, free, tolerant, spiritual nation of smart people, which is indeed true. Despite this we have for the most part failed to parlay these positive aspects into viable soft power. This is partly due to some serious negative attributes of this nation which drag us down. Those who would want to drag our reputation into the mud would accuse us of being an intolerant, violent, corrupt, unsafe and unclean country. Widespread and pervasive corruption, and sporadic, isolated but unspeakable acts of violence especially of the sexual kind directed at women have soiled our reputation. However the one thing that has dogged us forever and is totally inexcusable is the squalor of our public spaces. So much so, the mention of India conjures visions of garbage strewn streets, open defecation, open sewers and nauseating, suffocating stench in some minds. This is a liability for our country and needs to be addressed.
If we could only clean up our public places and spaces, we would enhance our soft power manifold. As our economy grows and our military power grows, this soft power would complement our hard power and influence in the world. Let us build an India that is looked up to by other nations and people around the world. Let us be a powerhouse of good and goodwill in the world.
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