The government has announced the names of the first 20 urban areas that will be developed as smart cities. It will be a Herculean task for the government to build even a single smart city, as Indians in general have the filthiest habits - littering in workplace, at home and on roads, not bathing daily, not flushing toilet, spitting just about anywhere and many more. There is no law to curb such habits. Indira Gandhi's slogan "garibi hatao" failed. Lal Bahadur Shastri's famous "Jai Jawan, Jai Kisan" has not improved things much for peasants. Jaiprakash Narayan's rallying cry of "Indira hatao, desh bachao" and now with "Abki baar Modi sarkar" people have learnt to wait and see. But the prime minister's "Swachh Bharat" shall fail, as people aren't hygiene-conscious and the government alone cannot effect change. Connaught Place, at the heart of the national capital itself, is dirty, as are most of the marketplace.
The efforts on the part of the government must continue and the cleanliness drive needs to be stepped up in all cities. People must be encouraged through advertisements to change their habits. We need more smart people with clean habits than smart cities at the moment. The responsibility is equally on the shoulders of citizens and the government.
Mahesh Kumar New Delhi
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