Letting others clean up your dirty work

WR administration has appointed a private agency to clean its trains once every 10 days. Mumbaikars agree with officials that onus is on common man, too, to have civic sense.

Expert view

Public support must to make it a success
No doubt the initiative by the Western railway is good but what’s better is the fact that it’s been given to a private agency. It will make the work more accountable. Another thing that the WR must consider is that the contract should be given on the basis of the quality of work rather than on number of hours. Also, any mission becomes 100% successful only if it has mass support. Therefore, along with the authorities people too should show inclination towards maintaining cleanliness at stations and in trains. Officials should come up with lucrative and innovative ideas to encourage people to ensure that the trains remains clean. We need more dustbins in the city as well as create awareness among people to be more responsible.        
—Sherley Singh, activist



People have no civic sense
Most of the commuters will agree with the fact that our local are homes to rats and cockroaches. Therefore, it’s nice to hear that the authorities are taking initiative in making them  hygienic. Hopefully, the agency will be able to tackle the problem well. I make sure never to litter or disfigure any public property. It is just sad to see people who do not have civic sense and don’t hesitate in dirtying their surroundings.
—Mihir Pathare, student

No penalty or fine will help
Unless and until one realises from within that spiting on public property is wrong, no amount of fines or punishment can stop them from doing so. Although I appreciate the WR’s initiative to hire an agency to make our trains spotless. However, it cannot be achieved unless common man helps them in their work. The city and the trains belong to all of us: therefore, it’s our responsibility too.
—Ajay D’Souza, senior copywriter

We have to act as watchdogs
More than six lakh people travel every day by trains and almost half of them end up dirtying them. The railways may have appointed an agency but unless commuters realise that the onus of cleanliness lies with them as well, nothing will work. The only way a person can stop others from spoiling the city is if they have a power to take one to the authority to be fined. Everyone needs to act as a watchdog to keep the city clean and safe.
—Vikram Verma, entrepreneur

Awareness is the only solution
I’m happy that the WR is  focusing on cleaning the trains. But the lack of basic infrastructure and education is not driving people to keep the trains clean. When I see people spitting on the platforms, I feel like stopping them but I am unable to do so because there is no support from the authorities or other commuters. The authorities must campaign against spitting and install more dustbins in stations.
—Vanishka Lalwani, PR associate

Mass mindset needs to change
I would love to ask people who spit anywhere and everywhere if they do the same in their homes. WR officials are correct in saying that the duty falls on common people for cleanliness. It is our civic responsibility and we should take care of public property. Also, a few handful of men will not be able to clean dirty trains which are soiled by lakhs of commuters every day unless the mindset of masses changes.
—Vikram Tomer, media professional