Zero Civic Sense

It is said that human being is a social animal. And we live in a “civilised society” where everything is by design, wherein a system is there in place having proper structure and function. The basic component of this system is the human being. It is us – the “civilians”. For proper functioning of this system of society, bare minimum that is expected from us it to be civilised and show some civic sense.

But do we even know what civic sense is? In a layman’s language it is something basic a human has to have to be able to gel well with the society and something that contributes to the well-being of both – such human as well as the society. It is something that helps in smooth running of the functions of the society. These are unspoken yet commonly agreed norms.

We can take some hue of it from our Constitution in form of both – fundamental rights and fundamental duties. It’s not that we aren’t aware of it or haven’t ever read or known about it. We all do about it. Then why do we display total lack of it especially when something is being expected from us and especially when whole of the humanity is going through crisis?

I clearly remember 23.03.2020. It was immediate next day of “Janta-curfew”. Maharashtra govt. had already declared lockdown 31.03.2020. Still one could see people roaming around on their bikes. That was when videos on social media went viral. And these were about police taking stricter action against those who were roaming around just for fun – without any reason. Many later condemned police saying they went too far and that there was no need of such high-handedness.

I agree there should be no excesses from executive or any of the organs of our society. However, many fail to understand at least in this particular case that police’s action was actually a reaction to the thoughtless action of the people at large. And this thoughtless action is something called as “zero civic sense”.

Similar display of zero civic sense was when in the evening Hon’ble PM announced lockdown of 21-days which was to go on till 14.04.2020. Now when both Centre and State are making such announcements, it is so obvious that the magnitude of the crisis that we are in is much more than one might have ever imagined. Immediate reaction of people was to go out and shop. People thronged all the local shops and tried to buy & stock as much as they could despite the assurance that shops dealing with “essentials” would remain opened. I understand that back then all of us were in panic. And this panic was due to unexpected uncertainty.

However, while stepping out, people did not consider listening and following what PM or for that matter CM had told. They went out flouting all “social-distancing” norms and they can without donning their masks. This was the basic that was expected.

The very next day the vegetable market in my ally started as if nothing has happened and will never happen. It was bizarre scene. Around 300+ had gathered to buy vegetables and fruits as if it will go out of stock. What was more shocking was barring few majority of them were without masks including small kids accompanying them. We made several complaints but to no avail. This market continued for 15 days more displaying same reckless behaviour on the part of people. Am sure this also happened in nearby vicinity as well.

And thanks to such display of “zero civic sense” my ward has highest number of COVID-19 patients and the number is increasing day by day. Due to this, whole area has been sealed. SRPF Jawans and police can be seen at every chowk punishing people with “suryanamaskar”.

I fail to understand why people do not understand the gravity of the situation. My areas houses huge population which belong to lower strata of the society. This population lives in small shanties, slums and in “Wada” that give them housing at cheap rates. All these living arrangements are poorly maintained with low or no hygiene systems. Many slums and even Wadas have inadequate toilets. Let alone that it do not even have adequate water facilities. Hence, maintaining hygiene habits is a big task itself. It is the same population which earns little and cannot afford to stock things. They have to step out every day to get their essential stuff. Besides, many have also lost their livelihood source. These I find to be most vulnerable to disease. If disease doesn’t catch them poverty will definitely. And so it would be unjust to expect any civic sense from them. Yet these people show considerable amount of understanding of the issue.

Many who roam around without a reason are those whose basic needs are satisfied. They are out just to gather on to stocks to fulfil their various “quarantine challenges”. Most of them are literate people - and hence expected to have some sense let alone “civic” sense.

Root cause of the problem i.e. “zero civic sense” is that we never really considered “Civics”, which was a part of our school-syllabus, as subject which should be studied. It was anyway for 20 Marks – so why pay attention to it. That inept approach to such a vital subject has made us all apathetic. We all have become self-centred and we don’t care about others.

However, we should not forget that it is only us. There are many with such approach and display such reckless behaviour. If this doesn’t improve, we are collectively responsible to the dreadful consequences that will follow. All will be doomed – us as an individual, as a family, as a society and yes as a nation. It is high time we should give it a serious thought.

In crisis like this nothing tough or challenging is expected from us. All we have to do is sit at home patiently and cooperative with the government and the administration which is risking their own lives for us in this battle against pandemic of corona. This is bare minimum that we can do for yourselves and nation. So let’s do it! Peace out!