A woman from Pune has raised concern over littering in newly developed public spaces after she found garbage dumped inside a decorative bull installation on Jangli Maharaj Road. Taking to Instagram, Sanjna Khanna shared a video from JM Road and said the incident showed that the issue was no longer just about infrastructure, but also about civic sense.
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In the video, Khanna said, “Maybe we Indians don't deserve nice things. And before you come at me, hear me out. I was on JM Road in Pune and was actually so impressed because PMC has given the road a massive facelift with wide footpaths, cycle tracks, and more. Then I saw this stunning bull installation and I thought, 'Wow, we're finally making our public spaces aesthetic.' But then I went closer, and no. Because inside the sculpture, people had thrown garbage just because it had an opening.”
She added, “And the wild part: there were dustbins all around, right there. So no, this isn't about infrastructure or education anymore. It's about mindset. And until the mindset of the masses doesn't change, nothing will.”
‘Don’t just complain’
{{/usCountry}}She added, “And the wild part: there were dustbins all around, right there. So no, this isn't about infrastructure or education anymore. It's about mindset. And until the mindset of the masses doesn't change, nothing will.”
‘Don’t just complain’
{{/usCountry}}In the caption of her post, Khanna said it was easy to blame the government, but citizens must also take responsibility when public spaces are improved. “It’s very easy to blame the government, and yes, they should be held accountable. But at the same time, when they do something right, like beautifying Jangli Maharaj Road, Pune, and making it more functional for people, not just vehicles, we as citizens need to do the bare minimum: don’t litter and spread awareness about the importance of hygiene, cleanliness, and aesthetics,” she wrote.
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She urged people to speak up calmly if they see someone littering. Khanna added that conversations at home, in buildings and with staff can help change attitudes towards cleanliness. “Because we can develop and beautify our spaces, but if we want them to stay that way, our mindsets need to change,” she said.
Watch the clip here:
Internet reacts
The clip drew several reactions from social media users, many of whom agreed with Khanna’s point about civic responsibility. One user wrote, “This is exactly why public spaces do not remain clean for long.” Another said, “People want world class infrastructure but refuse to behave responsibly.”
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Another user wrote, “Civic sense should be taught from childhood.” Someone else said, “The problem is not lack of facilities, it is lack of respect for public property.”
HT.com has reached out to the user for her comments, and the copy will be updated once her response is received.
(Disclaimer: This report is based on user-generated content from social media. HT.com has not independently verified the claims and does not endorse them.)