Why Litterbugs Should Clean What They Dirty

Why Litterbugs Should Clean What They Dirty

Delhi, the heart of India, boasts of rich heritage, iconic monuments, and vibrant culture. But one glaring problem continues to tarnish its image — littering. From plastic wrappers on the streets to overflowing garbage in residential colonies, the city is fighting a daily battle to stay clean. Despite awareness campaigns and Swachh Bharat slogans, irresponsible public behavior remains a major hurdle.

It’s time the government takes stricter action — and the solution is simple: those who litter should clean the area they polluted.

A Practical and Just Punishment

The idea is rooted in accountability. If someone throws garbage on the street, they should not just be fined but compelled to clean the entire stretch they dirtied — either then and there or within a stipulated time under supervision. This approach can be implemented through local municipal bodies or RWAs in coordination with Delhi Police or civic marshals.

This isn’t just a punishment — it’s a powerful lesson. It forces offenders to confront their own mess and understand the hard work sanitation workers do every day.

Learning from Global Examples

Several cities across the world already follow such models. In Singapore, people caught littering are fined heavily and made to clean public spaces wearing a bright vest that identifies them as offenders. The result? Clean streets and heightened public responsibility.

Community Clean-Up Drives with a Twist

The Delhi government could also organize community clean-up drives where those caught littering must participate mandatorily. This not only punishes but educates. When citizens clean their own surroundings, they are less likely to dirty them again.

Empowering the Public to Report

An app-based system can allow citizens to report littering incidents. If someone sees someone littering, they can report it with photo evidence. The offender can then be traced and made accountable through community service.

A Cultural Shift

For Delhi to become truly clean, we need to shift our mindset from “someone else will clean it” to “I must keep it clean.” Punishing littering through public cleaning duties is not just about punishment — it’s about sparking a behavioral change. It will remind everyone that public places are shared spaces, not dumping grounds.

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Project Nawah – An Unrelenting Drive Towards a Plastic-free World

Project Nawah – An Unrelenting Drive Towards a Plastic-free World
Photo Credit: Enactus Dyal Singh College

Innovation is the change that unlocks value. It is often said that there is only one thing stronger than all the armies of the world: and that is an idea whose time has come. Enactus, Dyal Singh College, resolutely believes in revolutionizing and therefore, bringing a change by their pioneering efforts with utmost passion and integrity.

It is with an unrelenting drive to break the status quo and develop a new, that their youngest initiative, Project Nawah is endowed upon. Plastic is one of the biggest nemesis of the environment and requires instantaneous eradication. Therefore, Project Nawah is a twin fold initiative, that aims at substituting plastic with the green gold, bamboo and utilizing the pre existing plastic in an efficient and ecological manner so as to reduce the quantum of plastic waste in the ecosystem, conserving life and the world as a whole.

Photo Credit: Enactus Dyal Singh College

Having been scientifically proven to be the fastest-growing plant, Bamboo is a highly renewable, biodegradable, and an environment-friendly substance. By promulgating the market for bamboo products, the project strives to cut down the use of single-use plastic at the source, provide efficient substitutes for plastic products and thereby, prevent plastic from entering and polluting the land or marines. This will not only discourage the obstruction of ecological stability but significantly contribute to eradicating plastic completely from the environment in the long run as well.

The project vehemently aspires to strengthen the standard of living of socially deprived and a marginalised community of women residing in Dallupura who are on the brunt of vulnerability. Built upon the roots of social entrepreneurship, innovation and ecological stability, the project aims to alleviate the stature of these women to make them self supportive.

Through their collaboration with CIBART (Center for Indian Bamboo Resource And Technology), they imparted their beneficiaries with the requisite training and skills to make utility bamboo products in association with Alina Parmarthan Foundation.

Furnishing the women with monetary assistance, economic stability and skill development, the project also breaks the lines of patriarchy and gender inequality, thus, promising plausibility for a secured future.

The natural world shows us in so many ways a simple truth: there is strength in number. Enactus, Dyal Singh College believes this to the full extent. The team members work conjointly to bring about a positive change in the ever-changing society.

The path to this journey has no end. They strive to remain on this path to a better future for as long as they can because this is the only way forward.

Story shared by Enactus Dyal Singh College

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