Your co passenger in the train is munching on a bag of chips. Very soon, she finishes eating and throws the plastic bag out of the window. You are seeing this. But you don’t say a word. In fact, you find it very normal, nothing out of place.

You are in an autorickshaw, waiting for the signal to turn green. The autorcikshaw driver is enjoying his daily dose of paan. Just before the signal turns green, he spits out a trail of red juice on the road. You are seeing this. But you don’t say a word. In fact, you again find it very normal, nothing out of place.

You are with your gang of friends, having a great time. One of the friends brings out a chocolate. You take it, eat it and throw the wrapper on the road. You yourself did it. Obviously, you find it very normal, nothing out of place.

It is not normal! It is absolutely out of place. It is only you who want to think it is normal. Because you are too lazy too even think about it, forget doing anything to stop it. This very indifference is the root cause of the filth and dirt around. You don’t care. Because no one cares. And if this attitude remains, there is no way that we can even think of a cleaner place to live in, forget a disease free, healthy life.

When you eye your co-passenger in the train proudly throwing the plastic out of the window, stop her and tell her to carry it in her bad or hold it in her hand. There are enough dustbins on every platform. And she very obviously will get down on one. When you see the rickshaw driver spitting shamelessly on the road, stop him. Discourage him. Or advise him to carry a small plastic spittoon with him. When you eat a chocolate, can put the wrapper in your bag or your jeans pocket.

The general attitude is that- what difference will it make if I stop littering? Everyone does it. But, it makes a difference if everyone does his individual bit and encourages others to do so too. If every adopts basic civic discipline, we can hope for a better and cleaner city.

So go ahead, stop that train passenger, that autotrickshaw driver, that friend, that brother, that colleague, that old man, that small kid. Don’t be blind to their acts. Stop them from littering. Stop yourself from littering. Remember, if you WANT to make a difference, you CAN make it. You only need the willingness to do it.