Automen to fight public nuisance

Automen to fight public nuisance
Deccan Herald

Roads, pavements and walls in the City have one common thing, wet patches and unbearable stench of urine emanating from it. Urinating in the open has become a cultural aberration, while little has been done to stop this behaviour apart from setting up ‘paid’ and ‘free’ public toilets. However, Monday’s programme has ushered in some ray of hope in this regard.

When 100-odd automen joined hands with Swabhimana Initiative, a resident welfare association in its ‘Stink Free Malleswaram’ campaign, it gave greater momentum to the cleanliness drive. The reason being, the auto drivers make excellent carriers of the message owing to their high mobility and reach. “The autorickshaws will display the cartoon stickers warning people against using public places as toilets,” said K S Gopinath, Secretary of the RWA.

“We observe that most people do not have change (coins) and hence do not use the paid toilets. We feel all autos should be roped in and the message can be painted on the rearside,” said Mr K P N Naidu, an auto driver. “A common complaint is that there are not enough toilets or they are not clean enough. The BMP authorities can perhaps add a few more free public toilets near bus stops and auto stands,” suggests B Chandrashekar, General Secretary of an auto drivers’ union.

Joint Commissioner of Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BMP) Mr M A Khalid says, “Sadly, urinating in the open has become an established culture. No punishment under the law can be a deterrent unless people are educated. Some experiments like on SJP Road can be replicated. Shopkeepers in these areas catch hold of people urinating in the open and offer them a bucket of water and broom to clean up the place, or ask them to do sit ups.”