Cleanliness they say is next to godliness. Cleanliness means different things to different people. Cleanliness refers not only to the way tend ourselves and our homes, but also the care we take to maintain the environment. The significance of cleanliness and hygiene cannot be overlooked by any society. Habits which are learnt at an early age get embedded into one’s personality. Let me give you an example. This incident happened many years ago, when our kids were quite young. On an outing, our son threw a chocolate wrapper which went and fell on the parapet wall. My husband was very upset with his behaviour and made him climb the wall, pick up the wrapper and put it in the bin. This incident left an indelible impression in his mind about the importance of cleanliness. Later, he was an active participant in many lake cleaning initiatives in our city. Cultivating the habit of keeping our body, homes and surroundings clean should be inculcated in children from a young age.
In India I have seen many educated people who drive big fancy cars but throw wrappers and thrash out of their windows. Why is it that our country is not clean? Why do we find litter all around us, overflowing garbage dumps on the roadside bins, paan stains on the stairs and every other corner. Why are our railway stations, public washrooms in such a sorry state? Even places like the pristine Himalayas are strewn with plastic bottles and bags. Apart from the not so pleasant picture we paint, they are also a haven for spreading of many diseases. Who is responsible for all this? Is it only the government? As citizens of this country are we not responsible to keep our surroundings clean?
Why are some of the western countries so clean? What do they do different from us, that their cities and towns are picture perfect? Let me share my experience on a trip to Europe a few years back. We traveled by road for about 3000 kms across 3 countries. Believe me, during the entire trip I did not come across any place which was dirty. The small villages, the washrooms at public places, the stations were so clean and well maintained. I will tell you why. In Germany we were waiting outside our hotel for the bus. A lady parked her car across the road. She had probably come back shopping, so she had many bags in her hand. As she was juggling the many bags, a paper fell from her bag. She kept her bags at the apartment lobby, came back, picked up the paper and put it in the bin. Again this taught me a very important lesson. Just as we are responsible in keeping our homes clean, every single person is equally responsible for keeping his country clean.
There is a dire need to educate and sensitize people about the importance of cleanliness. Our Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi started an ambitious campaign of “Swachh Bharat”. The media ,social workers, educational institutes can all play a major role in this direction but above all it is we as an individual who can make a difference. Let me narrate a small story about a college girl who made a difference. Their college had gone for a picnic. After sightseeing and enjoying various games they started munching snacks and recklessly throwing the papers and plates all around. One girl among them quietly started collecting all the litter in a cover. Initially her friends started making fun of her. But she quietly went on with it. Slowly her friends felt ashamed of their behaviour and they too joined in her effort.
Gandhiji rightly said “Be the change you want to see “. Just like the girl in the story, if each of us follows this and does our bit in the keeping our surroundings clean, we can definitely paint a picture of a cleaner and greener India! An article I read last week reiterates this. Indore, a city in central India, has been declared the cleanest city in India in 2017. It was ranked at #149 in the year 2014. This year it won the cleanest city award in Swachh Survekshan. How did this turnaround happen? Point to ponder!!
What are your views on cleanliness? Have you contributed in any way to keep your surroundings clean?
So true Radhika, if every individual contribute from third side..the city will look beautiful..
Then ek baat aur Hai.. Mann ho gar saaf to chahe har jagah wo saaf,chahe wo Ghar ho, Dil ho ya ho, pholon ka baag.
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Kitni khoobsurat baat kahi aapne Shilpa. Purity of the mind and cleanliness all around will make this world simply so beautiful 😍
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U shared such a genuine cause and the solution to it.. couldn’t stop myself in reciprocating
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😇😇💜
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Truely amazing post and a much needed one.
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Radhika, here in the USA, where I live since 27 years having moved from Germany, I have the same experience like yours, which is unbelievable. People throw out their trash any where from the car being on the road and so on. I have been in India last year and I saw trash on the streets, yet some wonderful cleaniless, but don’t think that some western countries like the USA are much better. It is a mind setting of other’s who still need to be educated it this country here.
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I had been to the US about 15 years back, it was not so bad then I guess. I found it pretty clean in comparison to India. But for the country to be able to maintain decent cleanliness, the attitude of it’s people need to change.
Thanks for sharing your views Cornelia. Btw, I am unable to view your blog. It gives me the message: webpage not available.
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Thank you dear Radhika for your reflection. So sorry that you can’t access my blog, I wonder what the reason is for that.
http://www.corneliaweberphotography.wordpress.com and my website is http://www.corneliaweber-photography.com I hope that helps, please let me know, otherwise I have to found out where the problem is. You are the second one who is addressing this to me. Much Love
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Will check out and revert back Cornelia . Thanks 💜
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Great
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😊😊
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Right topic!!!right words!!!to clean india,we just clean ourselves and clean nearby our home or wherever you live!!! We call our motherland-bharatmata.it means she is mother and I don’t know why the people can’t clean our mother.As you clean temple,mosque and every religious places, let’s think,NIRAKAR God is everywhere so clean india and green india must be in your priority list.
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I don’t know why when a religious sentiment is attached to something, only then people maintain that place. I have seen in many building staircases, pictures of gods on tiles have been put to keep at bay the spitting of paan. You rightly said Nimesh, we call our country our motherland and we show respect towards her. Cleanliness and responsibility should go hand in hand. Thanks so much Nimesh for sharing your thoughts 🙂
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Your welcome!!!!keep writing on reality!!!!it leads to the people to think about it!!!
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The need of the hour is for those thoughts to turn into actions !!. Thanks Nimesh and enjoy your day!!
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Definetly It will turn into actions,if the people like you always keep inspiring, motivating us!!!enjoy your day too!!!!
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👍 thanks again 😊
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Absolutely agree. The only thing that can bring a change is a responsibility. We can only take care of something or maintain it when we feel responsible towards it. Just like we keep our houses and wardrobes ,it should be just the Anne with our country. Glad you shared something like this. Everyone needs to do their bit. 🙂
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*it should just be the same for our country.
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Very rightly said Swosti! Everyone needs to do their bit. It is futile to just sit and blame the government for everything.
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SO true Radhika, unless we take responsibility we can never keep our country clean. We really need to raise awareness about cleanliness.
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Yes and this awareness should be started from a young age. Parents and school to take on this responsibility.
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Absolutely..parents and teachers are the role models for young minds…they will learn by watching
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Very correct Balaka. A child who sees his parents throwing thrash from the car or anywhere on the roadside will follow the same. So our responsibility to show right examples is huge.
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Yes, we need to preach what we practice
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👍👍
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Wow..a great one radhika….people generally overlook this…even if they want to be clean and keep the environment clean…they will do that…but as soon as it is time to get out of our comfort zone..they tend to throw everything away and just let it be….this is very troubling….tomorrow i will be better than today…should be our goal for life.
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” Tomorrow I will be better than today” a great goal to follow. May be we can add to it, ” and I will be responsible for making my country a better place to live in”. Thanks a lot for sharing your views with all of us!!
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You are most welcome….yeah true that if we change…we will change everything else…hope it will follow through with me.
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Yes, with each of us 👍
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Sure..that is the way!!😁😁
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Well said. It is such an important thing to do.
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Absolutely! Thanks Sadaf!
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Great post, Radhi. Cleanliness shouldn’t be limited to our homes. People need to learn basic civil and cleanliness manners.
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Unfortunately Indians don’t seem to think so, Varsha!
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Most of us don’t, true. I know how horrible it is to see piles of garbage lying around everywhere, while travelling by local here. How can people even live in such conditions and why doesn’ anyone do anything about it?
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Exactly Varsha. We seem to have become experts in playing the blame game and doing nothing in contributing to a cleaner environment.
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Sad, but true.
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Completely agree with you Radhika, we all need to be serious about keeping our city, country clean like it’s our job! Cos’ it really is our responsibility and we need to realize that and change our attitude instead of just complaining how dirty the streets are.
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I am sure if each of us to our bit in this direction, we will leave behind a cleaner and healthier planet for our children. Many thanks Ankita!!
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So true Radhika! If only we all were responsible enough to do our bit but that doesn’t we should give up. We should keep trying 🙂
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Yes. One man can inspire a movement. We just need to take the initiative Ankita. Maybe we can start in our own vicinity and take it ahead from there.
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Very well penned radhika, and definitely the need of the hour. I think people in general, restrict themselves to the cleanliness of their homes. I’m sure every child is taught from primary school to keep the environment clean, but when he sees his parents, people in the neighborhood littering the place, the teaching is lost and remains a lesson in the book. High time, people become aware of the requirement to keep the surroundings clean 👍
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Absolutely Deepika! Elders can set a perfect example for the youngsters to follow. The onus is on us to lead the way.
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Very true.👍
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I am stunned. To readers it may seem like a easy topic but easy topics are more complex when it comes to framing!
Phenomenal! You are truly amazing. ☺️
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Thanks a ton Bhavika for those absolutely kind words. Your are very sweet. I guess words flow easily when you write about matter close to your heart!
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So true. The attitude has to be changed. If every citizen felt that this country is theirs to take care of, then they’ll probably take better care of it. Instead people want to keep their own houses clean and dump the litter someplace else. It’s sad but we’ve got a long way to go. There’s a lot of room for improvement…
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Oh yes Shweta. I have seen a lady from my opposite building sweep her house and throw the dust out of her balconyingthe. They stay in apartments costing crores of rupees but lack the basic sense of cleanliness.🙄
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😮 oh! Yeah there are some things that money can’t buy..
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😁 true that!
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Absolutely! Please keep writing and keep inspiring us. ☺️
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Sure Bhavika 😊. Have a good day!
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Same to you mam! ☺️
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I hate those car owners who just throw their garbage along the way. It happens here too.
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It is high time people realize the importance of cleanliness. A clean surrounding is not only pleasant to the eyes but keeps many health hazards at bay. I am clueless why people shy away from this important responsibility Arlene!!
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True, it gets frustrating, right?
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Very frustrating !
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Hey !! i’ve nominated you. Please check my latest post.
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Thanks for the nomination Harshit. I have declared my blog award free. So will not be able to accept 😊
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You’re welcome mam ☺ It’s okk but you really deserve it 😁
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I am honoured. Thanks a ton Harshit 😇
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My pleasure 😍
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I agree with you 100%
What your husband did with your son was totally remarkable. Hardly any parents try and go to such extent.
The behaviour and the habits are inculcated at a young age and I strongly believe that it is at a younger age that we should teach the habit of cleanliness too at a younger age. But also that each and every one is responsible for our clean society.
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Yes Moushmi. I feel that one incident was such a great learning for them. The young minds absorb things very quickly. That is the right age to imbibe in them good values and habits.
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Very well written Mam 🙂 Clarity of thoughts giving birth to a clean article. Highly motivational.
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Thanks so much Aishwarya 😊
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Welcome Mam 🙂
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Alarming post.
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Yes. It is high time we do something about it!
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Amazing article Radhika! Much needed! I agree, we can’t blame the government for everything….a little effort goes long way. I’ve seen litter being thrown out the car and it makes me sad. What is education, “first rank etc when such a basic act isn’t stressed upon.
Also, kudos to you and your husband for being such wonderful parents 🙂 Wonderful!
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Thank you Divya! I agree , education seems futile without basic civic sense in people.
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Lovely article!
The whole system has to be changed & it’s only possible if we change our mindset for a better well-being & environment.
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Thanks Manoj. I am sure each step taken in this direction will go a long way in keeping our environment cleaner.
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A very appropriate post ma’am!! Would like to share a live example!! One day was traveling in Delhi metro!! Was sitting in two setter and adjacent to me was a lady from a very good family along with her son and his nanny!! As her child finished drinking juice she quietly placed the box underneath the seat!! Rather than pointing I felt picking it own in front of her and then throwing in dustbin would be better example for her!!!
The point is to uneducated people you can teach but about the educated section of the society!! Here govt is at fault or people themselves!!
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Thanks for commenting. At times I feel inspite of being educated if people openly litter in public places, what good is the education? Both the government and citizens working in tandem is the only solution.
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Very true!! It’s a combined work
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Yup👍
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It’s so true Radhika for it whittles to education, awareness and our attitudes. Swach Bharat will be a success only if we spread awareness on our locality as our home. No one would want his or her home to be a dumping space and everyone must come together to observe cleanliness.
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Yes Vishal. Awareness, implementation and follow up are a must. Hope we will be able to see a cleaner India in the times to come.
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I hope to and baby steps can make a huge difference. The Versova beach is a shining example.
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Yes, I had read that article in the papers sometime back. One man made all the difference 👏👏
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Yes! That’s true. Citizen involvement matters. Even Bandra Bandstand had a facelift many years back when he residents pulled their effortts together.
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Yes. We need many such heroes to take the initiative. Each drop makes an ocean. Similarly such small but laudable efforts will collectively work magic.
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Beautifully told, Each drop makes an ocean:)
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😊😊
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Hi ! I have nominated you for Versatile Blogger Award, please click here for more details: https://megalaskitchen.com/2017/06/16/one-lovely-blog-award/
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yes i am agree with u mam, I am also observe that railway station, bus stand, train, bus were very dirty due to a majority of travelers which are educated and know about the advantage of cleanliness but they also throw wrappers in train, bus.and also dirty the washroom.
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Yes and unfortunately it is a sad truth!
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Yes mam its very unfortunate
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Very inspiring post mam.
Every parent must take initiative to teach these basic etiquettes to their children afterall habits inculcated at an early age lasts longer.
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Exactly my point Neha!
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I, too, teach my child to pick up after himself and help keep our surroundings clean and tidy. It’s unfortunate that everyone doesn’t do their part. If each person simply took responsibility for their messes, the world would be a much cleaner place.
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Thats wonderful! Very rightly said, we can ensure a cleaner world if each of us do our part in inculcating these values to our younger ones. !!
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We were out in a boat yesterday, in the Mediterranean Sea, when a stream of plastic suddenly floated by. A lot of it. And it’s just getting worse. We must avoid plastic as much as possible. Thanks for bringing it up.
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Absolutely right. The use of plastic should be totally banned. I hope the governments world over initiate this for a cleaner and healthier world.
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What an amazing post, Radhika! Cleanliness is limited to within the confines of the compound wall if it is your own property or within the limits of your own flat if it is an apartment. I have been appalled by people who leave their thrash at the doorstep of other people’s homes simply because they are too lazy to dispose it off at the right place. A serious problem that has to be addressed. It is ironic that these very same people who strew litter in their own country, behave and go the extra mile once they are outside it.
It all begins with us and the least we can do is educate our children by example.
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Yes Pranitha. I too have observed that most Indians follow rules and maintain cleanliness only outside India. I am appalled by this attitude of theirs. Wonder when they will learn to keep their surroundings clean in their country as well🤔
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Hey hi… I’ve nominated you for the bloggers recognition award. Do check this out.
https://natashatungare.wordpress.com/2017/07/17/blogger-recognition-award/
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Thanks Natasha for the nomination. My blog is an award free blog since many months now. So can’t accept it dear ☺️
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Oh no issues! But you really write amazing ☺
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Thanks a lot Natasha. You make me feel special ❤️
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My pleasure!😊
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Well said, Radhika! And I’m in total support of your thoughts on this issue.In fact, keeping a country, a city, even an apartment clean is in the hands of its occupants, its residents, its citizens. A government can do only a little; it’s the country’s residents who will ultimately decide if the country they are living in should be clean or full of filth.
Just like every other problem, it’s the thinking that plays the major role here. If one plays only his/her part in keeping his/her surroundings clean, it’s going to be only the matter of time that even India would soon be one of those clean countries we are in awe of.
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Absolutely Aditi. I wish more people realize this and practice it too. It’s my dream to see a clean India ☺️
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🙂
(I hope) Every Indian’s is.
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👍👍
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Good post. Please read my post on this – Mera Swachh Bharat Mahan” – http://wp.me/p1dZc2-va
Feedback most welcome, Thanks
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Thanks Anand! Surely will catch up with your post soon!
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