My school bus stopped at the traffic light and so did this brand new Mercedes-Benz. While I was admiring it, the “gentleman” rolled down his window, and started spitting on the road. Wow!
This rich, affluent, well-travelled man wouldn’t have dared to do this in any other country. Why? Too embarrassed to do it in the US or scared of the laws in Singapore?
In India, especially in major cities like Delhi, traffic conditions are getting worse by the day, in spite of the Metro and BRT. Even to go nearby, we prefer to use cars than walk or cycle. Festivals like Diwali and Holi cause a lot of pollution, but we don’t care. This happens because of lack of civic sense, awareness and the fact that so many of us don’t know what it means to take pride in our country and cleanliness. We believe in the chalta hai attitude for everything. So, what should a Class 11 student like me do? Crib and give up like most adults? You decide for yourself, but I choose to do something about it.
• When in the car, keep garbage in a bag and throw it in a dustbin.
• Use the Metro, travel in fuel-efficient cars.
• Don’t burst crackers. Let’s have a pollution-free 2011!
The writer is a student of Delhi Public School