A video showing a train coach strewn with garbage has gone viral, triggering a wider debate on civic behaviour, parenting, and public responsibility in India. The video clip that has been filmed inside a train compartment, shows a dirty scene of litter, full of food wrappers, plastic bottles, used spoons, and bedsheets scattered across the floor. The passenger who recorded the video claimed the mess was left behind by a group of Class 10 students travelling to Manali, although the students themselves are not seen in the footage. In the video, the passenger can be heard urging better civic sense. Speaking in Hindi, he describes confronting the students and asking them to clean up the space. He also mentions picking up some of the trash himself to set an example. Read more:10 countries with the highest bird species in the world; India also secures a spot“People talk about civic sense. There are Class 10 students here going on a Manali tour. I told them to pick up the trash. In fact, I also picked up some garbage in front of them,” he says in the clip. He goes on to highlight that public spaces require shared responsibility. “I told them this is public property, and they should not behave like this. These are the same people who will later post on social media. They should at least have this basic knowledge,” he adds. The passenger also noted that the group appeared to be teenagers, likely around 16 or 17 years old, but emphasised that age should not excuse such behaviour.
Social media reactions: Parenting, schools, and system questioned
The video quickly gained traction online, with users offering sharply divided opinions on who bears responsibility for such incidents. Several users associated this with upbringing, citing that one’s behavior concerning cleanliness is influenced by one’s upbringing. One user’s comment implied that children tend to imitate what they see when growing up, including how adults behave around shared spaces and sanitation workers. Others pointed to the role of educational institutions, saying schools should do more to instil civic values alongside academic learning. According to some users, since children spend a significant portion of their time in school, structured lessons on public responsibility and hygiene should be emphasised. At the same time, some voices stressed that the issue goes beyond individuals, calling for systemic solutions to discourage littering.
Calls for stricter measures on trains
Among the ideas that are being considered is the refundable cleanliness deposit that is linked to train tickets. One user suggested that it is possible to get this deposit back by submitting a photograph of one’s berth through a railway application, thereby being held accountable for cleanliness. Others suggested increasing the availability of dustbins inside coaches, along with stricter monitoring and penalties for littering. Read more: Why a rare desert bird in Rajasthan is at the centre of a Supreme Court case
A recurring issue
The incident has once again highlighted the problem faced in ensuring cleanliness within transport facilities. While Indian trains carry millions of passengers on a daily basis, individual responsibility is still a significant factor in ensuring hygiene. This is not the first video highlighting the same issue. However, as this video continues to circulate, it has reignited a familiar conversation, which is whether civic sense is taught, enforced, or simply practiced, and who ultimately bears responsibility for keeping shared spaces clean.
