PUNE: When the pandemic broke, an immediate chink in cities' armour was public spitting. Extensive programmes were launched to stop the menace — spitting was made a punishable offence under the Disaster Management Act; civic bodies nationwide upped fines to at least Rs 1,000, from Rs 500.
In Pune too, the PMC, which had been battling public spitting before Covid-19, formed teams to patrol the streets for offenders. However, two years and lakhs in fines later, officials admit there hasn't been much improvement. And now, as part of the `Swachh Survekshan’ initiative, the civic body is considering a move towards “behavioural change” rather than outright action.
“A significant change in public behaviour can only be brought on gradually. It is a time-consuming effort in which changes are slow, but effective,” said PMC additional commissioner
Kunal Khemnar
.
The corporation recently carried out an anti-spitting campaign along JM Road, teaming up with the Sare Jahan
Se Achcha
trust to create awareness on public spitting’s impact on society and the threat it poses during a pandemic triggered by an airborne virus.
Citizens said any change in tactics is welcome. “I think it's also the right time to start such campaigns. A person can now be told spitting can lead to deaths, and not just a dirty wall,” said Arvind Deshpande, a resident of Law College Road.
Over the next few months, the PMC will start to include many more activities in its anti-spitting campaigns, across problem areas of Pune city. On local social media circles, citizens have highlighted the
Peth
areas, Vimannagar and
Wadgaonsheri
as locations that need special attention.
“Awareness activities will be carried out in creative ways including educational hoardings and posters. We will be using social media extensively to effectively reach out to larger populations and youngsters,” Khemnar said.
Researchers studying the problem have said that use of fines has had limited impact against “pathological spitting” and have advised a greater understanding of the psychology behind spitting.
Campaigners in Pune said their programmes indeed aim to change thought and behaviour. Priti Raja, founder of the Sare Jahan Se Achcha trust, which has been campaigning against public spitting for a decade, said, education will be key.
“We dress up a mannequin as ‘Bharat Mata’ (Mother India), who is seen urging citizens not to spit (pictured). We tell people how others will have to face the brunt of this nasty habit of spitting in public locations,” Raja said, adding that the JM Road campaign will be seen at more locations in the city soon.
“Next Saturday, we will be taking the campaign to Warje. We’ll reach out to people and even convince them to discourage people they see spitting in public,” she said.
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