KOHIMA, OCTOBER 11 : As defined, civic sense is ‘social ethics that encompass the unspoken norms of the society that help it run smoothly without someone tripping on somebody else’s toes.’
It is an ethic or character which makes an individual a civilised citizen, having respect for fellow citizens, through certain decorum in public places that ultimately reflects the actual personality and shows the responsibility of a person.
Many of us believe that it is good enough to keep our homes clean, and think we have lots of civic sense in us. However, being citizens of the State and part of the community that is progressing rapidly, keeping our homes clean alone is not enough. Our social ethics extend beyond our kitchen to keeping our roads, streets and public places clean.
However, there is no denying the fact that we the people of the State lack even the basic civic sense. We are very particular in keeping our homes clean, but once we step out of our homes, all our social ethics and sense disappear.
We think it is alright to litter, spit and urinate in public places and let the sweepers, or for that matter the ‘sanitary workers’ who are paid do their jobs do the cleaning for us.
If we look around our surroundings, roads and streets, they are littered with all kinds of rubbish, paan stains in every wall, poles and posts, vulgar graffiti, the smell and abundant flow of urine from every corner of the town and parking of cars at every available empty space.
Even with the clear signboards put up in bold letters ‘Don’t litter’, ‘Don’t throw rubbish here’, ‘No parking’, ‘Don’t urinate here’ etc. etc., without any guilty conscience, we blatantly do exactly what is being prohibited.
Getting education by getting the highest degree is not enough to make a person civilised, but inculcating good social ethics and cultured social behaviour makes a person civilised ‘he and she’ of the society.
As the saying goes ‘a picture speaks a thousand words’, Eastern Mirror captured some pictures in Kohima to ponder over our behaviour of total lack of civic sense and lack of respect for public places.
All these points to our disregard and disrespect for the law and our “damn care” attitude, which could be harmful for the society in the long run if we are to progress as a society, and more so being in the list of ‘Smart City’ project.
In today’s fast paced life chasing after the materialistic things, it is sad to note the deterioration of our ‘social ethical values and standards.’ There is an urgency to teach our children, members of the society and ourselves by instilling and inculcating the right sets of values, which is an essential prerequisite towards a progressive and vibrant nation.
The need is felt for moulding a society where all the citizens are accountable for every action and behaviour contributing a bit more for oneself and the society, lest the current practice become detrimental to our ‘Beautiful Nagaland.’
