The first step that needs to be taken in order to ensure that Delhi is cleaner, and thus healthier, is for people to stop polluting the city. They should not litter the roads with garbage and should only give it away to people responsible for collecting the same. People who own properties in the city can also take some initiative in this regard and make sure they keep their immediate locations such as drains, road shoulders and footpaths clean. This can actually lead to a sterling transformation across the city.
It is also important to teach children the importance of cleanliness. They should be taught not to drop food or garbage on streets and deposit it in bins or other places designated for such purposes. It is important that parents and guardians play an important role in this. Besides, everyone should show some initiative at times and pick up trash from the road and throw it in the bins. This is not something to be scoffed at. Such efforts will only lead to a cleaner city and so more people need to be encouraged in this regard.
One way of protecting the environment is by planting as many trees as possible. Apart from their environmental usage such as absorbing carbon dioxide and releasing oxygen they also make a city look beautiful. It is also important to make people around oneself aware of the importance of such methods and show them how this is done. It is important that they understand why a cleaner and greener city is better instead of squalid and filthy conditions.
Health and Hygiene Problems in Delhi
Open defecation is one of the main problems in Delhi, especially the slum areas. It has been estimated that almost 50 million people defecate in the open across India. Most of the times, women bear the brunt. It has been estimated that almost 66% of women living in Delhi slums face verbal abuse when they try to use the open air toilets, 30% are assaulted physically and 46% are stalked making life a living hell.
What has further compounded matters is that 60% of the slums in this city do not have sewage facilities. Since people mostly live rather close to sewage left open and also use the polluted water for various purposes it is not uncommon to see the occurrence of serious health problems among them.
Delhi Government Health and Hygiene Programmes
Much is desired from the state government in Delhi as far as ensuring hygienic, healthy and safe living for all is concerned. However, Delhi Government, over the years, has tried to make a positive change, especially in the domain of school health and hygiene with programmes such as the School Health Scheme. It has also initiated the Kishori programme, supported by Stayfree Women for Change, whereby women are being educated as to how they can take better care of their health and hygiene related requirements. It has encouraged entities such as Sulabh International and Sakshi.
Sulabh International has played a major part in building awareness among common people regarding hygiene and its effects on health. It also runs the School Sanitation Club that teaches girls various aspects of hygiene management through programmes that encourage participation and interaction. Sakshi is an NGO that has initiated a programme named Sakshi Library Program, whereby it provides hygiene related education. It also builds toilets in MCD schools, government primary schools, and schools located in slum areas.
The government also operates the Institute Public Health & Hygiene where diploma courses are offered for increasing skills in this domain and then helping the candidates secure jobs. In recent years, hope.org has organized health sessions with emphasis on hygiene and sanitation in senior secondary schools operated by the Delhi Government.
Conclusion
The responsibility of keeping the city clean falls on both the government and the common people. The government needs to play its part with various programmes and also by encouraging entities that are looking to do work in this regard. On the other hand, the common people need to make sure that they obey all the laws and also take some initiative themselves by keeping the city clean and spreading awareness regarding the same. As was said in the famous film ‘Rang de Basanti’, no country is perfect; we have to make it one. The approach needs to be similar.
