Of late there have been quite a few incidents in Bangalore and others major cities, wherein children have been washed off in overflowing open drains and in some cases, unfortunately, died. Every time, you see a standard response from the public and the TV channels start blaming the municipal authorities about what they have not done and how this could have been avoided. Almost unanimously, every citizen blames the municipality for virtually any accident of this sort. I agree with them to some extent but not always. While viewers are stuck to their TV monitors, TV channels are minting money with sensationalism, SMS polls, and other such activities. But let us introspect a little bit. Is the Municipality solely responsible for this? Are we to say that the citizens have no role to play in this? I have my own opinion on this.
Most Municipalities usually has two ways of garbage collection. First is the local garbage collection places, where the municipality builds a small chamber for people to throw garbage into. Second is the door-to-door collection.
Let us evaluate the first one, local garbage collection. Ironically, the chamber is always always empty, not because there is no garbage in the area, but because very few people throw garbage inside the chamber. Most people just throw garbage around the chamber. Those who carry garbage in carry bags, try to shoot the bag into the chamber (fans of Michael Jordan of NBA). Sometimes, it does end up inside but mostly hits the post and falls out. Now that the garbage is all over the place, some people find it convenient to convert it into an unofficial public toilet. Every time people pass this area, they spit on the road because "of the stench in the area". After having done all this, people in the locality complain that the municipality is not doing its job. Excuse me!!!
Let us evaluate the second method of door-to-door garbage collection. Many houses, people do not make use of this fantastic facility, because they realize that during festivals they might come asking for some small money (as token of appreciation). Well, talk about cost cutting. Instead of using this facility, these households find a convenient time-tested garbage disposal method, throw it on the roadside or the open drainage late in the night, so no one would notice them throwing. Fact is, everyone knows, but nobody cares or dares to stop it.
Why I am telling you all this? Well, did you notice that every time people complain that the open drains are overflowing and the municipality sends men to clean the drains, they invariably remove tons of GARBAGE. Firstly, drains are meant for sewage and not garbage. But who put the garbage in the drain in the first place? You know the answer.
So, when an accident happens, no matter how tragic, please do not jump the gun and start blaming the municipality for everything. Realize that citizens are equally or more responsible for such accidents.
Moral of the story: Please do not throw garbage into drains, else when it rains, it can kill.
Disclaimer: As on October 8, 2009, I am not an employee of any Municipal Corporation. I do not have any friends, relatives, or any near and dear working in any Municipal Corporation anywhere in the world. I do not wish to ignore the responsibilities of the Municipal Corporation, but at the same time I also do appreciate the work that they are doing currently.