13 days after the nationwide cleaning campaign
Change in attitude more important than the campaigns
They are back. The plastic wrappers, the pet bottles, the papers and everything that can litter our streets and roads, block our drains and in dumped in the nooks and corners.
Less than two week after the launch of the nationwide cleaning campaign on December 9, where thousands of Bhutanese join hands and committed to keep the country, the commitment seems to be vanishing, at least in the city. A walk around the city is enough to see Thimphu returning to the pre-nationwide cleaning campaign.
With an ambitious target to make Bhutan the cleanest country, the nationwide campaigned involved almost everybody to clean the country at various levels. In Thimphu, the campaign was launched by Her Majesty the Gyaltsuen who is the patron of Clean Bhutan. On the same day, the Prime Minister Tshering Tobgay urged all Bhutanese to take the responsibility to keep the country clean.
“Starting tonight (December 10), if every citizen takes the responsibility of keeping the country clean, it will be our real gift to His Majesty The King,” said the Lyonchoen launching the campaign from Thimphu.
But not much has changed, at least in the capital, going by what is strewn around. Bhutan Today found out that within three days of the campaign, people were still littering and dumping waste in open areas, between buildings and even on the roadside.
Wangdi, 45, was seen picking up papers on his way to the Thimphu Memorial chorten where he spend his day praying. Aware of the nationwide campaign, he said he feels sad to see people not taking caring of their waste. “I think the government should launch a mass awareness mission now,” he said. “No amount of cleaning campaigns will change if people’s do not change.”
Wangdi reasons that the dustbins are too dirty for people to open the lid and throw the waste inside.
Reasoning the same logic, a graduate, Karma Thinley, said that making people aware is important, but what is more important is targeting their mindset. “It will take time, but we should educate them rather than cleaning their waste,” he said. “They shouldn’t think keeping public areas clean is not just government’s responsibility.”
Another said that the Her Majesty the Gyaltsuen and the prime minister picking up waste should have motivated people to take care of their waste. “What else is motivating than seeing the Queen of a country pick rubbish?” he said. “We should start penalizing people who litter. The thromde should have CCTVs and inspectors.”
However, there are others who believe that the effort would take time to take root. “One day is not enough to change the mindset. A start had been made and people will start learning,” said a teacher Tshewang.
Krma Thinley added that there should be more campaigns targeting both young and old to take care of their waste. “Media should play an important role here,” he added.
Some suggested that there should be monthly cleaning campaigns if the government is serious about making Bhutan the cleanest country. “Seeing everybody clean will discourage people from littering,’ said one. Some even suggested publicly shaming those caught on CCTV littering or dumping waste while some suggested heavy penalty.
Some are of the view that waste are disposed off carelessly because the waste collection has not improved. “Sometimes the trucks are not coming on time and sometimes we miss them,” said a babysitter in Semtokha. “I heard that people are leaving their waste packed in plastic bags in front of neighbour’s door.”
On December 9, the Prime Minister said that for the country to be the cleanest, of strategies and initiatives would be required. Dzongdags are given the responsibility to draw strategies in their respective dzongkhags and in thromdes, thrompons are given the responsibility.
He assured the government’s support in form of policies and resources. “In order to sustain the result of yesterday’s (December 9) campaign, Lyonchoen said that laws would be implemented stringently and penalties imposed from today. It’s also government’s responsibility,” he had said.
Change in attitude more important than the campaigns
They are back. The plastic wrappers, the pet bottles, the papers and everything that can litter our streets and roads, block our drains and in dumped in the nooks and corners.
Less than two week after the launch of the nationwide cleaning campaign on December 9, where thousands of Bhutanese join hands and committed to keep the country, the commitment seems to be vanishing, at least in the city. A walk around the city is enough to see Thimphu returning to the pre-nationwide cleaning campaign.
With an ambitious target to make Bhutan the cleanest country, the nationwide campaigned involved almost everybody to clean the country at various levels. In Thimphu, the campaign was launched by Her Majesty the Gyaltsuen who is the patron of Clean Bhutan. On the same day, the Prime Minister Tshering Tobgay urged all Bhutanese to take the responsibility to keep the country clean.
“Starting tonight (December 10), if every citizen takes the responsibility of keeping the country clean, it will be our real gift to His Majesty The King,” said the Lyonchoen launching the campaign from Thimphu.
But not much has changed, at least in the capital, going by what is strewn around. Bhutan Today found out that within three days of the campaign, people were still littering and dumping waste in open areas, between buildings and even on the roadside.
Wangdi, 45, was seen picking up papers on his way to the Thimphu Memorial chorten where he spend his day praying. Aware of the nationwide campaign, he said he feels sad to see people not taking caring of their waste. “I think the government should launch a mass awareness mission now,” he said. “No amount of cleaning campaigns will change if people’s do not change.”
Wangdi reasons that the dustbins are too dirty for people to open the lid and throw the waste inside.
Reasoning the same logic, a graduate, Karma Thinley, said that making people aware is important, but what is more important is targeting their mindset. “It will take time, but we should educate them rather than cleaning their waste,” he said. “They shouldn’t think keeping public areas clean is not just government’s responsibility.”
Another said that the Her Majesty the Gyaltsuen and the prime minister picking up waste should have motivated people to take care of their waste. “What else is motivating than seeing the Queen of a country pick rubbish?” he said. “We should start penalizing people who litter. The thromde should have CCTVs and inspectors.”
However, there are others who believe that the effort would take time to take root. “One day is not enough to change the mindset. A start had been made and people will start learning,” said a teacher Tshewang.
Krma Thinley added that there should be more campaigns targeting both young and old to take care of their waste. “Media should play an important role here,” he added.
Some suggested that there should be monthly cleaning campaigns if the government is serious about making Bhutan the cleanest country. “Seeing everybody clean will discourage people from littering,’ said one. Some even suggested publicly shaming those caught on CCTV littering or dumping waste while some suggested heavy penalty.
Some are of the view that waste are disposed off carelessly because the waste collection has not improved. “Sometimes the trucks are not coming on time and sometimes we miss them,” said a babysitter in Semtokha. “I heard that people are leaving their waste packed in plastic bags in front of neighbour’s door.”
On December 9, the Prime Minister said that for the country to be the cleanest, of strategies and initiatives would be required. Dzongdags are given the responsibility to draw strategies in their respective dzongkhags and in thromdes, thrompons are given the responsibility.
He assured the government’s support in form of policies and resources. “In order to sustain the result of yesterday’s (December 9) campaign, Lyonchoen said that laws would be implemented stringently and penalties imposed from today. It’s also government’s responsibility,” he had said.
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