Spitting in public places is considered so normal in India that, no one feels ashamed of doing so. Hardly anyone think twice before decorating road, dividers, public toilets, space between train bogies, stair cases of government offices, railway stations etc with their spit. It’s agonising to see the staircases of newly built government offices decorated with red coloured tobacco, pan masala spit. Offenders, which also includes the officials working there, always walks free; it is a different matter that they don’t do this inside their own home.
I fully appreciate and back Maharashtra government’s proposal – “If a person is caught not just spitting tobacco but even chewing it in a public place, he may have to work as a government "sweeper" for a day. The state health department is considering this stringent punishment against tobacco users.”
Singapore - A model to follow
Under Singapore’s "Regulation of Imports and Exports (Chewing Gum) Regulations”, no gum (except the ones for medical purpose) is allowed to be bought or sold inside Singapore and there is a $500 fine for spitting out gum on the streets.
When a BBC reporter suggested that such laws would stifle the people's creativity, Lee Kuan Yew (former Prime Minister, Singapore) retorted: "If you can't think because you can't chew, try a banana."
Probably we have to take a look at this nation on how to punish the offenders who vandalise streets.
However, if this law is only for a few days – just like the way state and central government implements such laws – its better not to have one. Why to create a law only for everyone to break it?
Sajeev.
References
1. Maharashtra plans to make tobacco-chewers, spitters sweep government offices for a day - TOI
I fully appreciate and back Maharashtra government’s proposal – “If a person is caught not just spitting tobacco but even chewing it in a public place, he may have to work as a government "sweeper" for a day. The state health department is considering this stringent punishment against tobacco users.”
Singapore - A model to follow
Under Singapore’s "Regulation of Imports and Exports (Chewing Gum) Regulations”, no gum (except the ones for medical purpose) is allowed to be bought or sold inside Singapore and there is a $500 fine for spitting out gum on the streets.
When a BBC reporter suggested that such laws would stifle the people's creativity, Lee Kuan Yew (former Prime Minister, Singapore) retorted: "If you can't think because you can't chew, try a banana."
Probably we have to take a look at this nation on how to punish the offenders who vandalise streets.
However, if this law is only for a few days – just like the way state and central government implements such laws – its better not to have one. Why to create a law only for everyone to break it?
Sajeev.
References
1. Maharashtra plans to make tobacco-chewers, spitters sweep government offices for a day - TOI
No comments:
Post a Comment