Clean Kerala

I was always proud of the fact that I am from Kerala, one of the cleanest states. Though, we have been noticing small changes over the years and multiple trips home, I never felt that there is a garbage problem in Kerala. We were busy preparing for our niece's wedding at home, when I heard my mother-in-law speaking loudly outside the house. She has recently been asked to separate her garbage into wet and dry by the "kudumbashri" team (https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kudumbashree) who picks up garbage twice a week. What upset her that morning was a large bag of garbage left just outside her gate. Yes, of course, there was a heated debate about who left it there - starting from thattukada owners (street food) to creepy neighbours who didn't want to pay the paltry monthly fee of Rs.100/- for garbage disposal. 

This made me look around more carefully and I realised that we have a significant garbage disposal problem. The canals and the once clean open drainage system are filled with plastic bags and other junk. Open spaces are strewn with plastic bags. People throw garbage into empty plots which are plenty in Kerala.

How did we come to such a situation? The 100% literate state does not any more care for cleanliness?

May be the gulf money and the prosperity that it brought in, have made people more selfish and careless? 

We are reaching a situation where multiple contagious diseases like a dengue fever and chicken guinea are spreading too fast. 

We need more awareness among the literate Keralites! We need strong waste disposal arrangements. I haven't seen single dust bin in public places! Shouldn't we have those? 

Kerala is slowly moving into a city culture away from individual houses to large apartment complexes. Waste management needs to be thought through and implemented faster!