Imagine travelling to a breathtaking destination, only to find it ruined by heaps of plastic waste and garbage. Sadly, this is the reality of many tourist spots in India. While we boast about our stunning beaches, majestic mountains, and serene valleys, our lack of civic sense turns these beautiful places into dumping grounds. And guess who is stepping in to clean our mess? Foreign tourists.
Recently, a video of two Danish tourists in Yumthang Valley, North Sikkim, went viral on social media. Instead of ignoring the litter around them, they took it upon themselves to pick up the trash along the road.
Have a look:
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This isn’t the first time foreign visitors have set an example for us. In the past, a Japanese woman took it upon herself to keep Puri Beach clean. Similarly, Russian tourists were seen cleaning up a beach in Fort Kochi. If they can do it, why can’t we?
This served as a wakeup call for several people online who, on the one hand, lauded the tourists for doing such a noble job but, on the other hand, slammed Indians and local bodies for their negligence. Here’s what some had to say:
Our lack of civic responsibility is embarrassing. Tourists from countries like Japan, Denmark, and Russia are showing us the way, but it shouldn’t be their job to clean up after us. The real question is – why are we so indifferent towards our own environment?
Let’s not wait for foreigners to clean our homeland. Let’s start respecting it ourselves.