By Our Reporter
SHILLONG, Sep 30: With slogans like ‘Spitting in Public is a Health Hazard,’ meaningful and beautifully drawn posters, students of various schools across the city took to the streets of Shillong along with the Inner Wheel Club Shillong and Inner Wheel Club Pine City in collaboration with Sare Jahan Se Acha Foundation to spread awareness about the health hazards associated with public spitting, on Saturday.
Sare Jahan Se Acha Foundation, a Pune-based organisation is on a nationwide campaign aimed at increasing awareness about the prevalent problem of spitting across the country.
In an effort to combat the unhygienic practice, Priti and Raja Narasimha, representing the foundation is on a nationwide journey with its symbolic four-wheeler adorned with stickers reading ‘Don’t Spit and #CleanIndiaHealthyIndia’.
Their mission is to educate the public about how public spitting contributes to the spread of respiratory diseases.
They shed light on how public spitting played a significant role in the spread of respiratory diseases during the pandemic.
Having covered 26,000 kilometers so far, their goal is to traverse the entire nation.
They also plan to organise similar workshops and events in other northeastern states after Meghalaya and Assam.
The silent rally, which commenced from Shillong Club, traversed through Khyndailad and returned to its starting point.
The demonstration was largely dominated by women who were determined to raise awareness against the harmful habit.
East Khasi Hills Deputy Commissioner RM Kurbah who flagged off the rally and thereafter addressed the gathering in Khyndailad urged the citizens and all stakeholders to not indulge in public spitting, and was hopeful that the Inner Wheel Club will continue to work towards this cause.
The responsibility does not solely rest with the government, but it is a collective effort of every responsible citizen to tackle the issue, she added.
The rally also saw a dance performance and a short skit by the students of Laban Bengalee Girls School.
Later, the best posters and slogans were awarded with prizes.
The event concluded with participants pledging, ‘Na thukenge, na thunkne denge,’ roughly translated as ‘we won’t spit, nor will we let others spit’.
