Paan and Gutkha spit – a big challenge for Swachh Bharat Mission. Image Courtesy – Hindustantimes
Irrespective of geographical boundaries, people believe in some basic things or practices that are necessary for everyone. Keeping faith in the eternal fact ‘Cleanliness is Next To Godliness’, people must maintain cleanliness everywhere. This is not a difficult task, provided they have a strong determination to do so. Though many countries from all over the world claim to have the best cleanliness and hygienic conditions, the task is still incomplete in some others.
In a developing country like India, the meaning of the term ‘cleanliness’ becomes even more important. In the absence of clean and clear surroundings, it is human beings who suffer the most. Mahatma Gandhi, the Father of the Nation in India, once said, “India should grow well when the Indians learn the real meaning of cleanliness”. His words are still very relevant as India has been fighting hard against the evil of dirt, pollution, and more of such evils.
Swachh Bharat Mission
Both the Central Government and the state governments in India are fighting hard against garbage and other types of filth; the objective is still far away. Though all the governments since the independence in 1947 have worked hard in this direction, the present government has been more serious towards maintaining cleanliness with a special mission named ‘Swachh Bharat Mission’. Inspired by the ideals and ideologies of the Mahatma, the government has amended the previous rules and has come up with some potential new rules that are very effective.
Read: Aadhar data-security – a big challenge for Digital India
A Mission With A Broader Goal:
Maintaining clean and clear surroundings is the solitary target of this special cleanliness drive. Though an endless number of efforts have been made in this direction, but in vain. The main reason for this lies in the fact that the Indians are either illiterate or are ignorant about their duties and responsibilities towards their surroundings and environment. The central government has launched this mission with a target to maintain cleanliness at every cost. It understands that the objective can be difficult to achieve if the countrymen do not participate in it.
Read: Triple Talaq – a historic verdict by the Supreme Court of India
Education and Alertness Are The Key Things In Success
As said, illiteracy is a key factor for the failure of all such cleanliness missions in the past. But this time, the governments are very serious about achieving the target. They have taken a vow to educate the masses, in both towns and villages, about their responsibilities. Many awareness programs are continuing all over the world that aim at bringing about significant changes in the human lifestyle.
Prevention of Paan and Gutkha Spit
Both Paan, or the beetle leaves and Gutkha, a prominent tobacco product, are injurious to health if you develop a weakness for them. Today, you may find millions of fellow Indians who have become victims of these two things. Without a doubt, the use of these two things is also harmful for the Swachh Bharat Mission, as people often use these things as addicts. They develop the habit of spitting all around. Apart from making the place look dirty, Paan and gutkha spits are very harmful for the mission. They do well to none but they damage the homes and surroundings severely. Despite massive awareness programs, the addiction to Paan and Gutkha is hardly showing any significant progress.
Paan and Gutkha Spit is a real challenge for the Swachh Bharat Mission:
Today, you may hardly find a public place that has Paan and Gutkha spits. It has become a social crime as people harm the environment to a significant extent. Prevention of Gutkha has another advantage as well. Rich in tobacco ingredients, excessive use of gutkha causes cancer and other incurable diseases. Many states in India have declared the consumption of gutkha illegal and banned its sale there as well. You can save yourself along with your planet if you stop consuming Paan and/or gutkha. If you stop eating them, you would no longer spit, and as a result, the surroundings would remain neat and clean. Your efforts may even save many people, as dirty surroundings cause multiple number of diseases.
It is very true that the problems related to Paan and gutkha consumption have lessened to some extent, and the credit for that should go to the governments both at the centre and also in the separate Indian States. However, the main impact of this mission is still far away!
Let’s put our combined efforts together to maintain cleanliness at our home first. As Charity begins at Home, so you can develop a habit to maintain the surroundings as well. Though it is a difficult task to give up addiction, it is absolutely mandatory to leave consuming Paan and gutkha. For the betterment of the earth and also for the future generation, we must take the pain to give up using Paan and Gutkha.
