Although the Swachh Bharat Mission(SBM), was launched with a mission for cleaner streets, roads by 2019 but some of the diehard practices of the people have painted a completely different picture altogether.

There might be prohibitions of nuisance in public place, including urination, littering, and spitting, throwing garbage and made an offence under the State Police Act and the Municipal Act. But these practices time and again have proved that needs a check so that the Clean India campaign completes its objective.

Here are the top four practices that need immediate intervention:

Spitting

Walls, dividers, pavements, public buses, offices, hospitals and even freshly painted public properties – it’s omnipresent. Indians and their love for paan and gutka are visible in every nook and corner. The great Indian habit of spitting in public places can put anyone to shame. Half-chewed mouthfuls of betel leaf, areca nut and slaked lime spat out by pedestrians are spotted everywhere across the country.

Selling of paan-gutka should be banned near all tourist spots, workplaces, government offices, and hospitals or the clean India campaign might be a distant dream.

Use of plastic bags

Although India has banned single-use plastics, we see the use of plastic bags at grocery stores and other retail outlets apparently because there is no alternative solution for the consumers. Before banning a product there should be a handy alternative for accessibility.

Littering

As much as 40 per cent of plastic waste collected in India remains uncollected and littered on the streets as per government records. Littering is a serious environmental issue. We often spot plastic bottles, chips packets littered in the streets which need serious attention.

Chewing Tobacco, Gutka

All the red stains painted on the streets, walls boils down to the habit of chewing tobacco, gutka. The Assam government might have banned the sale and manufacturing of pan masala and gutkha in the state for one year but the sale of these items are going on unabated.

Given the fact that the campaign was for the period 2014 to 2019, the government should take serious steps to keep a tab on these practices for a cleaner India.

Photo Credit: TIME8