New Ways In Which Cities Are Trying To Clean Themselves Up

After Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched the Swachh Bharat Mission in October 2014, keeping themselves clean emerged as the key area of concern for cities in India. However, engaging the public as stakeholders is a complicated task. This is precisely why municipal bodies in major cities are coming up with innovative ways to make people stakeholders in the mission to improve the hygiene and sanitation conditions of their cities. What are they doing?

Dance its dirt off

The East Delhi Municipal Corporation recently roped in Kathak exponent Nrityashri Alaknanda as its Swachh Bharat Mission brand ambassador with an aim to “bring behavioural changes towards sanitation and hygiene through the medium of dance”. Through her performances across educational institutes in the area, Alaknanda “will spread the message of Swachh Bharat to every nick and corner of east Delhi”. The dancer would be conducting cultural programmes every two months on the theme of sanitation, East Delhi Mayor Neema Bhagat told media.

Earlier, the South Delhi Municipal Corporation had hired cricketer Gautam Gambhir and wrestling champions Geeta Phogat and Babita Phogat as its sanitation brand ambassadors.

Cutting across party lines

In Agra, the Uttar Pradesh city that is notorious for its astonishingly high level of dirt, hundreds of transgenders will launch four-day Surya Suta Mahotsava from March 7 to 10. The idea behind the convention is to highlight the plight of the Yamuna. "The condition of the Yamuna is pathetic. We need to sensitise local people and pressure official agencies to do something ... We cannot let the river die. It's one of the holiest rivers of the country," Acharya Laxmi Narain Tripathi of the Kinnar Akhada said. The convention will also be attended by politicians, celebrities and religious leaders.

Fine enough

If you are dirtying Delhi, get ready to pay a spot fine. The Delhi High Court has recently suggestion that spot fines be slapped on people for littering, and be collected through hand-held electronic devices by municipal bodies. Under the new solid-waste management byelaws, penalties will see a five per cent per annum increase. The fines per default would range from Rs 200 to Rs 10,000.

Star war

From April, Haryana plans to give its villages start rating based on their performance on seven parameters, including sanitation. Villages that get seven stars would be given the status of Indradhanush, and would be provided more funds for development.