Anti-spit campaign

Residents of Domlur Layout recently held yet another drive with a focus on creating awareness about public spitting and its impact on our cleanliness, health and hygiene. While they have been doing regular drives over the past two years to address the usual concerns of litter, black spots, dumped waste and banned plastic, they started conducting drives focused on public spitting as they noticed that the incidence has increased.

“With more e-commerce stations coming up and delivery staff waiting everywhere, there is a reported increase of spitting, and orange paan stains are more visible now than before,” said Odette Katrak, an active Domlur resident who also drives the national StopIndiaSpitting movement.

Srinivasachar Mulugund a resident and active volunteer of the drive said, “I have been bothered by this issue, people spit alongside my wall daily.

Groups collect to relax under the tree but leave the place filthy with spit. I keep telling them not to spit but, they reply as if it is their right to spit. So every day I’m forced to clean up with disinfectant spray because it is stinking and unhygienic. These signs will help me because now I can point to them and there is some legitimacy to my request.”

Odette who encourages more signs as part of this national campaign added that many places are now realising that they do not need to tolerate the habit. “Residents and vendors who are bothered by public spitting outside their homes welcomed these, because it is now being made clear that public spitting is no longer acceptable,” she said.

Residents have been talking to habitual pan chewers for a few days and noted that change can be observed. Other areas wishing to do a similar drive can connect with the citizen initiative Beautiful Bharat, or mail stopindiaspitting@gmail.com.