essay on cleanliness is a luxury only the affluent can afford it
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Cleanliness is a Luxury Only the Affluent can Afford
According to Addison, cleanliness is a mark of politeness, as it produces affection, and as it bears analogy to purity of mind. It makes us agreeable to others. It is an excellent preservative of health; and several vices, destructive both to body and mind, are inconsistent with it. Cleanliness is a much sought after virtue, not possessed by many. Could there be any reasons behind its dearth among people, especially here in India? Certainly there many reasons that need pondering to ascertain why cleanliness is such a rare sight in our country!
First the general state of our cities, towns, colonies, rivers, oceans, lakes, hill-stations, parks, gardens, public transportation systems, railway stations, public toilets, etc, all indicate we as a nation are not pro-cleanliness! The nationwide ‘Swachch Bharat Abhiyan’ is another proof of our vice of apathy to the squalor lying uncleaned around us!
Now the question arises ‘Why is it so?’ Why is the state of general cleanliness in our country so pathetic?
Well there could be a few reasons behind it! First, our ubiquitous uncleanliness is symbolic of our mental uncleanliness! Second, we do not have the required infrastructure, processes, expertise, and cleanliness management skills.
Is cleanliness a luxury only the affluent can afford? Undoubtedly, cleanliness requires proper infrastructure and skilled people to operate it. For example, the smart cities in the advanced countries of the world, where people from all across the world travel for vacation or pleasure, have well-maintained cleaning infrastructure, skilled teams of workers, and a systematized procedure to keep these cities spic and span. If we compare the best of Indian cities to these cities, we will find them not equipped with any systematized cleanliness mechanism. No state-of-the-art garbage treatment plants, no sewage water treatment plants, no proper sewage and drainage system, no killed team of cleaning workers. In the name of cleaning, the age old brooming, picking of garbage and dumping it somewhere else to create a stinking mess there. This is what happens in Indian cities. There is no wonder then that our cities are perpetually unclean.
Undoubtedly, maintaining cleanliness requires investment and management and organization, it is first priority to look civilized and modern. Besides, allowing ourselves to remain unclean will only aggravate our existing poor conditions. More and more squalor means, more and more number of diseases. Unhealthy people of a country can’t contribute much in the nation’s progress and development.
In conclusion, it can be said though cleanliness is an expensive luxury, but we will have to afford it for our benefit.