"OUR COUNTRY INDIA LOOKS DIRTY "
FOR
2nd prize
ST MARY'S CONVENT SCHOOL
SAGARIKA BHATTACHARYA
Our India looks dirty – there's no denying that fact. Roadsides lined with rubbish and silt from the drains, people defecating in the open, stains of tobacco spits all over, cow-dung a common sight. But alas! a sorry plight. All of them have tales to tell- sordid tales of lethargy and callousness on the part of the municipalities and sleepy consciousness on the part of the citizens. Frequent outbursts of epidemics, high mortality rates and humanity visibly writhing in agony over lack of civic amenities are glaring examples of our hypocrisy when we say India looks clean.
The West attracts us. Now admit it. It always has. I ask the people seated here, given a chance would you not like to visit New York , Sydney or Switzerland . And now may I ask why? Is it the lure of opportunities or easy cash only? No it is better living as the west conjures up images of wide clean roads, clean public transport, clean building and clean offices.
My worthy opponents may argue that we have establishments in our country working in this direction. It's time now for some eye openers.
Quoting “ Times of India-Aug 1, 2005” Slums are sitting ducks for epidemic out break. Quoting again “Times of India-Aug 5, 2005” The Environment Protection Act 1986 was an effort to ensure Indian citizens lived in a clean and healthy environment. This is our fundamental right.
Scores of plans! Scorers of Agencies! But action? Mostly on papers, inside closed files.
I vehemently state that well planned clean roads in a few areas of the metropolis does not make clean India, for true India consisting of a majority of a population of 1.1 billion lives in small towns, villages, slums where the existing sanitary conditions threaten to laugh at our hollow misconceptions.
The ongoing condition of Mumbai civic amenities in the light of heavy rains lashing the city is not hidden from you. If Mumbai, largely existent on the world map, can be crippled with such a scenario, then what do we expect other cities to be like. The UNESCO stated way back that the dirt and filth around Taj is a risk to its longevity. Yet nothing has been done. I feel this provides more food for thought than the question of its ownership.
A few days back NDTV focused its camera on the not so flattering areas of Bangalore . Venture to deny the authenticity of these established TV channels and newspapers. Venture to deny India looks dirty. But in the heart of your heart, I know you agree with me.
All said and done, history is witness that Dhritarashtra was not just blind in medical terms but he was blind to his son‘s faults. SARE JAHAN SE ACHACHAA, HINDUSTAN HAMARA” where emotions exist , denial of voices is inevitable . But let's make an effort to admit “ India looks dirty” for can we treat an ulcer in our body unless we know that it exists?
Thank you.