Hawker threatens kids for cleaning footpath

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Citizens who witnessed the scene simply turned out to be mute spectators

By Sanchita Garule

You gain strength, courage, and confidence by every experience in which you really stop to look fear in the face. You are able to tell yourself, ‘I lived through this horror. I can take the next thing that comes along.’ is the apt usage to describe in your face courage to tackle injustice and false fear.

The kids of a school as a part of the civic project of Bala Janaagraha, spoke to the illegal roadside stall owners and counselled them for self discipline and introduced them to civic norms. Their main concern of talking to the stall owners was to make them aware of the problems caused to the pedestrians, travellers and every other person travelling by the road.What they got in bargain was rebuke and empty threats aimed at demoralising them from carrying out their rightful duties.

Had not the kids just finished cleaning the pavements, the stall owners littered it again. When observed by the kids they explained in brief about their project and told them to keep the pavement clean by throwing the plates and the leftovers etc in the dustbins. The stall owner reacted in a very offensive manner and spoke rudely with the kids.

“Zala ka?”, “Dhamki deto ka?” ( Are you done. Are you threatening us ? ) etc were the words used by the hawker with menacing looks. ( It was scene where wrong was telling right that being right is wrong with complete societal acceptance ).

While the school kids were battling such an important issue, the numb society members passers-by were just enjoying the scene. They simply seems to have forgotten the sense of right and wrong. Perhaps the element of courage and values of truth and justice have completely been erased in the hearts and minds of the citizens and there is an urgent need to rebuild the society on moral and humane grounds.

If everyone is aware of the illegal stalls on the road why hasn’t any action been taken against them?

Everyone is mute about the illegal activities happening and is following the same. If at all anyone tries making some change, this is what they face.

(Sanchita Garule is a MSc Environmental science student of Fergusson college, Pune)

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