Visit any public place or travel in a public transport and you can observe people spitting without any regard to the sanity of the place and people around. In fact, there are government offices where corners are painted red due to people spitting Gutkha unabashedly.

Pune municipal have started a new initiative where people spitting would be made to clean their own muck and will be fined Rs 100. Under the leadership of ward officer of Bibwewadi area of Pune,  Avinash Sakpal, municipal officials have launched the program. Till now 25 people have been punished for spitting on the street.

Harsh Punishment But Will Teach A Lesson

“We know that this is very harsh punishment but in future, they will think before they spray Gutkha and tobacco on public places. We noticed that penalty in the form of money only was not working. Instead, giving self-reliance lessons in such a manner will be remembered throughout their life. The success of this campaign is in its unique approach,” Sakpal told Mirror Now.

Pune Municipal Commissioner Sourabh Rao said that the intention behind the initiative is to prepare Pune for Swachh Survekshan 2019. They are trying to reach people and they should make it their own movement. Cleanliness is just not the responsibility of those who clean but also who create the waste. He further added, “People should realise that the whole garbage and dirt that is created is cleaned by another human being only”.

Everyday 41 officers are going to be on the streets from 6:30 am to 8:30 pm and create awareness of sanitation and cleanliness with representatives and common public.

Common people seem to be supportive of the initiative. A woman, when asked what she thinks of the drive, said, “Women who are older, sometimes people spit on their leg or their sarees. People keep spitting near to bus stop. It looks so disgusting but we can’t do anything about it”. She later congratulated Pune municipal initiative.

Rao further added that they are many other initiatives taken to spread awareness and the one successful will be replicated across Pune.

The one who got caught and cleaned their spit said they learnt a lesson and added that it was embarrassing for them to clean up their own dirt.

The Logical Indian community welcomes the initiative taken by the civic authorities and hopes that it creates a change in mindset. It needs to be replicated across the country.

Also Read: Maharashtra Introduces Anti-Spitting Law: Fine Up to Rs.5000