Huge population breeds filth in an area,’ goes a common belief. Indore, as a city, however, proves otherwise and defies this idea. Topping the charts, the city, home to over 30 lakh people as recorded in 2020, has been ranked as the cleanest in India for four consecutive years. The most populated city of Madhya Pradesh is followed by Bhopal and Chandigarh at second and third positions respectively.

So how are Indorians cleaning their city? It has quite a simple answer — regularity.

While there isn’t a robust structure attached to their plan of actions, there are only a few simple steps, which require recognition of the greater good, the responsibility and its collective ownership and acceptance — cleanliness needs to be taken outside your home’s entrance door. Here are a few habits citizens of Indore incorporated in their daily lives and they are just what the rest of India needs to follow.

Boycott plastic polythene

Even though it’s been a while that the National Green Tribunal banned the use of non-biodegradable plastic bags, they are still the most visible materials in a disposal area. Indore religiously follows the ban and adheres to completely boycotting them for personal or commercial usage.

Waste segregation

What happens when the waste is segregated into dry and wet before disposal? Well, it makes room for the recyclable waste to be processed further. Not following it could result in cross-contamination, leaving no scope for recycling waste. But how? Often people do not pay attention to the labels and a pile of garbage, which could have many unrecyclable materials, end up getting mixed and, hence, contaminated and obsolete.

One of the major factors that determines whether waste is being rightly disposed is an individual’s ability to differentiate between the dry and the wet waste. The citizens adopted this habit which hitherto brought a key change in disposal practices in the city.

Why not compost?

Well, the citizens of Indore, following the suggestion, made the practice of composting a daily habit. It is a healthy way of treating municipal solid waste. It’s a natural process through which waste like food scraps and organic material decomposes into a humus soil amendment. It strongly requires citizen action and contribution and from Indore, it has now come a long way in effective waste management.

Zero waste policy

Conducting weekly and monthly cleanliness drives in school, Indore makes its students aware of the repercussions unhygienic living surroundings can have on an individual’s health. The children are incentivised on how to make cleaner and greener living areas by taking the responsibility to clean in one’s own hands.

The oath of cleanliness

While a couple may agree to a set of four or seven vows while committing to each other in a marriage, Indore introduced an all-new fifth or eight pledge — the oath of cleanliness. The vow makes the couple pledge to be religiously dedicated towards cleanliness of their city and surroundings and actively take up an initiative, if and when required.

Create the leaders of tomorrow

Many students and children have also been made ‘cleanliness ambassadors’, who are required to create discipline and teach those who are seen throwing garbage or littering the streets. This not only gives them a responsibility to work for the initiative but also a sense of authority, which brings them on the path of becoming the leaders of tomorrow.

Well, as a responsible citizen, we must imbibe the good habits which can ensure our nation is cleaner and a better place to live in. As they say, clean out a corner of your mind and creativity will instantly fill it. Here, your clean city will make you the winner!

- Chahak Mittal