The good thing about a good thing is that anytime is always the best time to start.
And it all started when a slightly hysterical Rachna Goria, recent newcomer to our colony, called up wailing about the mess her boys were. They had gone to the park to play—a rather soggy park, due to the long overdue rains. Unfortunately, not being a Nirma, Surf, Ariel-type super-Mom -she couldn’t smile indulgently, and magically restore them (and their clothes) to pristine and sparkling.
So she did what all good normal moms do: give them What Bloody For, and then some.
But it did set her thinking. The park was a mess. The recent strike by the Safai Karamcharis had a deplorable effect on the litter bins, all of which were choked and overflowing. The gardening contract being held up, the grounds were littered with bottles, wrappers, and the usual garbage.
But her thought processes went just that bit deeper—that teeny-tiny bit deeper—which made her reflect on the values she was teaching her kids—or not teaching them, actually.
Rachna belongs to the new Gen of parents who have realized that children don’t learn from example. Watching your Dad drag himself to work every day, doesn’t make them learn to work. Watching Mom multitasking doesn’t make them follow suit.
So she proposed a Swatccha Abhiyan for the Sector. I was a bit skeptical about a one-time occasion, and she agreed. A monthly Abhiyan was agreed to, as a starter. Hopefully, we would be able to energize them into taking up projects over a period of time. The strange thing is that people just assume that these Programmes are Baccha-Party Programmes; do adults not realize the impact on their children when they return home and find their parents practising those very habits that they have just been told to avoid? Nandini Misra and a few parents were the only adults, apart from both of us to land up. I missed Mr Gulati, our super Senior Octogenarian, now bedridden. He made a lifetime habit of taking a round of the park every morning, picking up trash and garbage, before commencing his Yoga Class.
The plaques and posters prepared by the volunteers were placed ceremoniously in the middle of the park, on the bench made, appropriately enough, of recycled plastic and waste material and donated by HCL. Some of the children had written short pieces, which they read out to the group. A short Q&A, by Rachna was followed by a resolve to continue Swatcchta as an ongoing process.
The children were given garbage bags and gloves and sent off on a Rubbish Hunt. Within minutes, some of the kids returned with full packets, asking for more. Before we knew it, the huge rubbish bins were full to overflowing. The scruffy garden began to look clean and cared for. Soon, there was nothing left to pick up, and little Nandini and Lavanya were permitted to pick up the dry leaves, to fill their bags. A round of the park was impressive. The kiddos hadn’t missed a single packet or bottle. Finally, when even the industrious quad of Sayan, Prateek, Myank and Rishabh could find nothing to clear, we declared the Clean-Up complete. After a hasty cleanup with purell; snacks, cold drinks and water were distributed to the thirsty Swacchta Shoorveers. As night set in, and the lights went on, visitors complimented the children on their good work – a Good Beginning. And hopeful of many such Abhiyans!
