If we portray bad images for our religious and civilized sense, don’t others think we lack civil sense?

Civic sense has been an issue that has been widely discussed in South Asian countries, including Nepal. In fact, this is one of the topics that most Nepalis do not care much for it.

There is no denying the fact that Nepalis lack a sense of responsibility or civic sense.

This sort of attitude is widespread across all ranks and sections because this is an issue that does not come from just strict enforcement of the law. It needs a sense of responsibility or a sense of belonging and accountability.

Nepalis are accustomed to blaming the government for all mess. People are so more driven toward a personal goal that even educated or well-to-do folks forget their ethics.

Yes, people pay taxes but this does not mean that they can spit, litter, urinate or throw garbage everywhere. You don’t have to go too far.

Just stroll inside the premises of Singha Durbar, the government’s secretariat to witness and experience spit marks, the stink of urine, graffiti, garbage, etc. Kathmandu, the country’s capital, has been one of the victims of this menace.

Question is: who is responsible? Pinning everything on the government is easy. But have we ever asked ourselves and our civic sense? Perhaps not!

Let me cite some examples. Roads are dirty because people dirtied it since we don’t throw garbage in dustbins.

Streets are jammed because we don’t follow lanes and traffic rules because everyone, including drivers and pedestrians, assumes that the street belongs to them.

There is sound pollution because we honk horns gratuitously. There is environmental pollution because we smoke in public places because the government has not designated smoking zones.

The list can go on from peeing near the roadside, not waiting in the queue, spitting or littering everywhere, not using zebra-crossing or over-head bridges, not helping physically-unable people, not respecting others’ rights, not being polite to elders, etc.

In fact, this hideous attitude is not just limited to so-called lower class people but even so-called members of the higher class or well-off society tend to forget their moral responsibility.

Whether it is on the streets, banks, cinema halls, bus stops, parks, public places, (the list goes on) the majority of the Kathmanduites have absolutely no respect for public property. This is one of the reasons why our streets get clogged up during monsoon.

When civic sense is absent in citizens, it leads to problems. In Nepal, the primary cause is that people disregard law because there are no instances of people being punished for committing civic offenses.

Local administration cannot tackle these issues since it is overshadowed by “who cares” attitude! Problems begin when we think: “When our homes and courtyards are clean, why bother about throwing garbage on the streets?” People are so driven towards personal goals to care about civic sense.

Therefore, it is high time that students are well-informed about civic sense both in schools and homes. Good parenting can be the other major factor to help a child develop a sense of responsibility and societal norms.

Civic sense does not just come from through enforcement of the law. It is all about a sense of being responsible and a sense of ownership. It is all about social ethics, love and respect, politeness, responsibility, showing good etiquette – not just keeping our roads or public property clean.