CIVIC SENSE. WHY THE NEED?
The society exists on certain mutual trust and hence duties. We prefer a life style, a job, a location, or even a position because we trust to coexist. This feeling of security and peaceful existence evolves out of faith in the responsibility of
each person towards their duties.
This duty is not just for family and profession. The duty that we shoulder in coexistence is obviously civic sense. If anyone fails in being conscious about our civic responsibilities all others suffer.
Every child should be taught to make his own living congenial with others comfort. Throwing away trash is so naturally disciplined in developed nations that many of our people fail to connect to the appreciation of this responsibility. Clean roads, flood free habitations, disease free co-existence of those countries is simply because no one trashes the roads and sidewalks.
Next imagine how wonderful it would be to drive on roads where you trust everyone else is responsible. If you could be confident that no one will overtake from the wrong side and no pedestrian will raise an arm and start walking across the packed unruly roads the stress generated would be manageable. The fatigue after a short drive on our roads where there is no civic sense of most people is so hazardous.
The courtesy to wait for your turn in any public place is just oblivious to some people. If you are in a bank counter managing your financial issues, some people don’t realize the breach of privacy when they break in with their own issues. This fear to visit offices for our problems is a huge social hazard. Why this civic sense has never been nurtured in those people is itself a riddle to many.
Again, comes health issues. Many of our people express their care by being over curious about half cooked medical details. Its perhaps enough to drop a word or message and get connected when asked for. Good vibes is the best you can give a sick person. Cook a meal if needed or share expenditure if called for. Besides this, the habit of blurting on someone’s face that they have lost or gained weight is the bitterest form of civic irresponsibility that some have.
It’s often perceived as victory by some who can push you out of a queue in an airport or a temple. Question is why? Everyone will get a turn. The plane will not take off without you. The temple door will not shut down if you are waiting. This lack of civic sense is unfathomable.
Some people in their behavior not only reflect civic irresponsibility but also egomania. To be respectful towards elderly people in a crowd is mandatory. Make a child or an ailing person comfortable with space and demeanor wherever needed. This is a basic civic responsibility.
Most of us expect people around us to be kind and helpful often forgetting our mutual responsibility.
How can one expect a kind neighbor if you have been insensitive or ungracious. Every individual has the need to realize the basic etiquettes of healthy coexistence. Noise decibels, hygienic disposals, parking etiquette and basic mutual concern need to be inculcated forever. If a neighbor decides to did his compound with a JCB from 10 pm to dawn then this is not just lack of civic sense but insanity. This is just an example but even music or cleaning should be done without any one in the neighborhood feeling uncomfortable.
All this apart don’t you believe every pedestrian also has a civic responsibility? In incomprehensible why on public corridors or ramps people walk bizzarro. If someone is normally walking on the left side it is expected that the person from the opposite side also takes his left but some irresponsible people are just unaware of this basic courtesy. Sometimes walking on busy public corridors or balconies is just perilous.
These are just few highlights of our civic responsibilities. The bottom line to it all is to have a comfortable social platform each of us are responsible. If we are only conscious about our rights and dues without being aware of what we owe we can never wrap up on a healthy cohesive Orde. Life will be wonderful if the esprit de corps or the common spirit of honor is maintained.
Dr Madhumita Priyadarshini