Swachch Bharat Abhiyan, started with much fanfare, provided just a photo op for many to carry the broom and become an extension of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s campaign to make the country clean. This seems to have met its death prematurely. The campaign saw everyone irrespective of colour, creed, caste and political lineage jumping into the cleaners’ bandwagon and sweeping out clean areas of its dirt. The Abhiyan aims to clean India by 2019, on the occasion of Mahatma Gandhi’s 150th Birth Anniversary. But a visit to some parts of the Jammu city especially Railway Station, Bus Stand and some of the market areas and localities of the old city and some posh areas the story remains the same with broom having failed to touch. The worst eye sore is the open space in the Gole Market area of Gandhi Nagar. The area has number of eateries, Rehris serving food and snacks and in the centre of this is the garbage dump cum parking site. People savour food between the smell of the garbage and dust. The campaign also failed to create an awareness and accountability to civic sense among the residents of the city. It is a common sight to see walls and corners of the lanes turned into urinals. Stench emanating from these places makes walking a horrible experience for any one. Open spaces whether it is pathways, parks or just grounds have turned into defecating spaces. The city has some Sulabh Shauchalayas which provide a scavenging-free two-pit pour flush toilet (Sulabh Shauchalaya); safe and hygienic on-site human waste disposal technology; a new concept of maintenance and construction of pay-and -use public toilets, with bath, laundry and urinal facilities which people here find expensive. There is no dearth of dirt in Jammu city and any Abhiyan to make it clean will be a failure unless and until the mindset of the people changes. The thinking for change can come only when we have consideration for others. For poor it could be circumstantial compulsion but what about others?
