Features: Magazine | Literary Review | Life | Metro Plus | Open Page | Education Plus | Book Review | Business | SciTech | Entertainment | Young World | Property Plus | Quest | Folio |

Spitting? Impose a fine

D. Ravikumar, Executive Officer, All India Resort Development Association, is appalled at the sight of people sullying public places

D. RAVIKUMAR "Spitting is unsightly and can pose a health hazard" PHOTO: K. V. SRINIVASAN

How many stars are up there? How many fishes are there in the ocean? How many grains of sand on the Marina Beach? We have no answers. To this list, I add one more question. Why do so many people spit in public spaces? With relish and brazen disregard to the people and environment. On sidewalks, roads, walls, platforms, inside railway cabins, pretty much everywhere?

When I commute to office and back by different types of public transport, I see for myself, how many people — cutting across all strata in society — indulge in this offensive act, everywhere. I experience a range of emotions when I see it. Dismay. Disgust. Disappointment. Revulsion. Anger. Very rarely acceptance and the `what to do, we are like this only' attitude. Perhaps, I'm just hyper aware of this. And the passivity with which everyone else accepts it is truly demoralising. If we — with a 5000-year-old civilisation — are unable to stop this, how will we be able to stop more heinous crimes such as rape, eve-teasing and ragging.

To me, spitting is unacceptable. At the least, it is unsightly and offensive, and at the worst, can pose a health hazard. It appears contemptuous and spiteful to all who help maintain the environment.

If habit is what compels people to indulge in this act, is it still possible to get people to stop? I have three questions. First, we don't spit inside our home as we please, so why in public? Can't we treat the environment as an extension of our homes? Second, if we are so respectful of our motherland and ascribe to it the phrase — `thai manne vannakkam', why spit on her? During my visit to Tirumala, I was appalled to find people spitting even in this otherwise well-maintained and clean environment. Here, they have many boards requesting people not to do this. Truly, isn't there a limit to our sense of what is right and wrong? Third, India is in great demand as a tourist destination and we see tourists from all around the world. Shouldn't we be concerned about the impression they will have when they see how we relieve ourselves in public spaces.

Punitive action pays

Our State has many firsts. Perhaps we should also be the first State in India to ban people from spitting in public places. Anybody caught doing it should be fined, like in Singapore (where anyone caught spitting could find themselves short by a couple of dollars). Repeat the offence and they must be made to clean up the mess and fined. A third time, a day in jail.

Maybe these are harsh measures. Maybe we should initiate a public awareness campaign to make people more environment-conscious and help eradicate this problem once and for all. We don't need spit in the city, we need polish.

As told to ASHA MENON

SOUND OFF! is a weekly space for you to rant, applaud or talk about anything on your mind. Write to metro@thehindu.co.in telling us a little about yourself (with address and phone number), and you may get a chance to sound off!

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail