Between the coverage of Olympics and Team Anna's protest many of you would have seen or read about the some reported incidents of students cleaning the toilets of their schools. First, it brought back memories of us sweeping the classroom clean in school. Cleanliness is good hygiene, it is also part of the culture. We did feel proud to sweep and keep the classroom clean. I was happy to see that students in 2012 too were rooted.
And that is when I read and saw the stories in detail. No, the coverage was not about the good deeds of the children. It was rather about the child rights - children should not be forced to clean the toilets. Yes, I agree that children should be studying and having fun. But should they also not learn about cleanliness? Yes, the government should spend enough on education to employ and pay the cleaners. But till that time are the students expected to use dirty toilets?
Is it really bad to clean one's own toilet? Is the toilet still not an essential part of home? Why do we still find the toilets of even not so poor households unclean? Perhaps the students learn by doing. Perhaps this will eventually curb the roadside peeing. Many countries require their youngsters to devote at least a year to military or civil service. I guess, cleaning toilets should be an essential part of the experience.
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