Drumbeats, placard-carrying men and women, and slogans raised over the microphone. The procession that traversed the length of platform one at the Railway Junction on Saturday could have been mistaken for a political rally. But it turned out to be a cleanliness drive carried out by Southern Railway, Tiruchi Division, and the District and State Youth Exnora, urging people to keep platforms, subways, trains and tracks clean.
Even as a voice over the megaphone appealed to the people to refrain from littering, a passenger avidly observing the fanfare, paused to spit on the platform. A paradox that is a case in point that despite effective campaigns, it is attitudinal changes that are essential.
Acknowledging this, the Railway and Exnora are counting on the public to improve sanitary conditions at stations. “Any government initiative will have an impact only with public participation,” says P. V. Vaidialingam, Divisional Railway Manger, who accompanied by railway officials and volunteers, distributed pamphlets and interacted with people, highlighting their role in maintaining cleanliness. Wall posters and stickers put up by railway personnel exhorted people not to smoke, save water by closing taps promptly, avoid washing vessels and scattering food items on platforms to prevent cockroach, rat, or mosquito infestation.
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The campaign emphasises on proper use of toilets. A health official notes that night soil is the most pertinent issue, where solid waste is concerned.
“Though passengers are informed not to use toilets when the trains halt at stations, they continue to do so. Some trains halt for 20 minutes and people choose to make the most of toilet facilities then, as is evident from night soil on the tracks.” This thrusts the onus on sanitation workers to clean the tracks within a short span and despite using jet machines there are considerable health hazards in clearing human excreta. There are 27 staff in the morning shift, 17 in the late afternoon shift and seven in the night shift, yet a shortage of manpower is felt during the morning hours. Trains that halt longest generate the maximum waste , says a sanitary worker. “Paper cups, plates and foodstuff constitute most of the litter on platforms and tracks,” she says. Work reaches a peak after the Pallavan, Vaigai, Ernakulam, Rockfort and Guruvayur Express, she adds. Another sanitary worker cites removing chewing gum from the platforms and trains as the most challenging task. “Cigarette and beedi stubs have reduced, but spitting of paan masala is still prevalent, particularly in nooks and crevices, which makes cleaning difficult.” The subway bears the brunt of disfiguration with notices and stains defacing the walls.
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The private contractor of the cleaning services opines that restaurants can do their bit to check garbage, by increasing disposal facilities.
Sustained campaigning over occasional awareness programmes could ensure better results. Acknowledging this, the Railways and Exnora, have resolved to capitalise on the closed circuit television closely watched by passengers to reach people better. Audio visual messages exhorting people to keep stations clean will be prepared with the help of visual communication students, says Balasubramaniam, President, District Exnora. “The repetition of the exercise serves to reinforce messages and visual bombardment of a message will go a long way in converting littering masses to dustbin users,” Mr.Vaidialingam believes.