By Aiborlang Nongsiej
We nearly always blame the State Government for not maintaining the beauty and cleanliness of Shillong city. As concerned citizens of the state, it is our social responsibility to keep the city clean and not to continue blaming the government without our social cooperation. Our state had just completed 50 years of statehood, but sorry to say that our city is becoming dirtier by the day. It is shocking to see that not even a single electric post in the city is free of white lime stains (tah shun). Our tradition of eating betel nut combined with betel leaf and lime is a unique social trait but to rub the extra lime on walls or on electric posts does not speak well of our social customs.
At present, it is good to see many beautiful wall paintings around the city to celebrate the 50th statehood day and in anticipation of the Amrit Mahotsav or 75 years of India. However, as a concerned citizen of the state I am afraid that one day those beautifully painted walls will be full of lime rubs, if we the residents of respective localities do not keep a vigilant eye. Hence, it is the duty of each citizen of the state to respect and value the cleanliness of the city as well as to preserve those beautiful wall paintings around the city of Shillong. The State Government alone cannot keep the city clean unless there is a collaborative social responsibility.
Golf Links is one of the many beautiful places in the city that attracts many people to go for leisure walks or for family outings. Sadly, those drains around Golf Links are full of dirt and plastics. For this reason, there are times that the authorities of Golf Links stop people from entering inside while they are cleaning. Why do they stop people from coming inside while they are cleaning? Who dirties the place? Is it the golfers of the state government? I believe not. The answer is because there is no social responsibility towards cleanliness. It is good that many shops are there to serve people with different items of food. However, to throw plastics, paper, bottles and other waste materials around the place is demeaning to ourselves and the environment. Personally, I had come across individuals at Golf Links who when told not to leave behind their garbage after they had picnicked there, instead looked back with angry faces. Without social responsibility, cleanliness and beauty cannot be achieved. It seems that our people today have scant respect for the environment.
Our state of Meghalaya is blessed with many beautiful tourist spots. How many of our tourist spots are well maintained and clean? Often we hear from each other that tourist spots are becoming dirtier by the day. Rubbing of lime and spitting of red betel nut saliva is everywhere in the city including tourist spots. All tourist spots are full of plastic packaging, broken bottles and other waste materials. Is this the problem of the people who look after them or the problem of those who visit these tourist spots? It is sad to hear many people complaining about the people who maintain the tourist spots. Actually, who is the real culprit? Why are our tourist spots dirty? I strongly believe that we have no sense of social responsibility towards cleanliness. Of course, the people who maintain those tourist spots must also have civic sense. However, there is no point blaming each other without social cooperation to achieve cleanliness.
At present it is good to see that the State Government is spending crores of rupees to clean the once beautiful Wah Umkhrah. We see several JCBs at different locations cleaning the river. No doubt, the river looks better now but for how long? The Government is taking the initiative to clean it but I don’t see any community participation in this cleaning drive. What is the point of spending crores of rupees to clean this particular river when not a single drain from different localities of the city is prevented from emptying into the river? If each family in the city has a proper drainage system that avoids reaching the river, I believe it will be a great help in cleaning up the river.
The majority of families in villages who make use of the central schemes are getting proper toilets and drainage systems. In fact, no water is seen in the drain of each family because of a proper pit that is dug and covered. Similarly, if families in the city adopt a similar method of treating grey water it would prevent drains from reaching the river. Then the story of Wah Umkhrah will change. Fighting for cleanliness is a social responsibility and not only the duty of the government or the duty of some individuals. Of course, there are times when the state government does not do its part of the job such as that of the Shillong Municipality. We saw this situation in Jowai town several days ago when garbage piled up. Therefore, the government should take the first initiative to come forward and provide proper dumping spaces for the citizens. Above all, it is the dut