The Power of Voice to Clean India

The well known dhaba market stands behind a now defunct cinema in this upscale South Delhi area. The market is well known for its eateries. It is supposed to be a posh area in the vicinity of a premier hospital, a flourishing club, well known travel consultants, banks and the like.  Outlets of national, leading coffee chains see brisk business here throughout the day. It hosts the young and the well heeled, the educated and the supposedly discriminative segment that is aware of the civic responsibilities. They all come from clean, hygienic homes one believes.

But as to the hygiene and cleanliness of this bustling dhaba market they don’t seem to give any importance. The regulars come to eat tandoori chicken and kababs and tikkas – the speciality items of this eatery filled market. The SUVs and the luxury cars spill out of the parking lot like the entrails of a chicken. The drivers honk and curse each other but cannot see the sense in parking nd taking their cars in and out in an orderly fashion.

The evening crowd and smell can entice – or scare anyone. It reflects the emerging economic upliftment of 21^st century India.

But when we go there for the morning walk, the veil is lifted and we see the stark reality. The poor florist in a pained voice relates to us the daily agony of cleaning the area awash with bones strewn all over by the educated, young crowd. Inspite of dustbins being placed all over. Even the hygiene of the eateries leaves much to be desired. The way the chicken is cleaned during the daytime, s it is got ready for the tandoor; the onions that are sliced by the hundreds but without being washed, the dirty water that goes in the making of the chutney, the dirty chopping boards; the atta kneaded with dirty hands... it is not a surprise that ecoli and food poisoning is a permanent feature of those who partake of this feast every evening.

This is what we need to raise our voice against. I am sure there are food inspectors and hygiene inspectors that are supposed to keep a check on the quality of food and cleanliness in eateries. But where are they? Have they done any inspection? Can we see the inspection reports – why can’t they be put on the net? On what basis do these eateries get a license?

So it is great that Strepsils has started the #AbMontuBolega  campaign. Get to know more about it at the Strepsils site. http://www.abmontubolega.com/ Or go to the Strepsils site on Facebook or Twitter. 

Yes, as the campaign says, let us raise our voices. Let us not be silent spectators. Let’s exercise the power of our voice, our blogs, our community. Then only can India change. Then only India will be a cleaner country. Yes, Have Strepsils and Speak Up.