Youngsters say they have no idea that spitting in public places is punishable.
Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) report shows the cases of spitting in public places increased in December 2023 as compared to November. BBMP registered 25 such cases last month. Interestingly, COVID cases touched a new high in December 2023.
Dr. Sunita, Consultant ,Health Department, BBMP, said, “The enforcement is in place, we collect fines from people who violate the guidelines. We educate people to avoid spitting in public places. People have to pay a fine if they get caught smoking or spitting.”
Spitting in public places attracts a penalty of Rs. 100 said, Karnel Rajveer Singh, Chief Marshal Officer, BBMP. “We create awareness among citizens about how dangerous spitting in public places could be and how it can worsen the situation as far as COVID is concerned,” he added.
Kantharaju, an auto driver, said that he doesn’t know about the rules and regulations of the government that one can’t spit in public places.
Keerthana, an engineering student said, “I didn’t know about that.”
Ganga, an engineering student from Bangalore University, said, “Yes, I heard of it somewhere but don’t know in much detail.”
Odette Katrak, the co-founder of ‘Beautiful Bharat’, said, “Now nobody cares about COVID but during the first wave people were spitting everywhere and that time the government didn’t start imposing any fine for spitting in public places.
She said, “There are fewer signboards against spitting, the government is not informing people about not to spitting in public places. Spitting is a different category because it not only worsens the COVID situation but also Tuberculosis (TB) and all respiratory diseases.”
It is not rare in Bangalore to spot people spitting in public places. Especially inside government offices, bus stands, government hospitals and on the roads. Karnataka has recorded 249 JN.1 variant cases which is the highest among states. However, the cases have come down from last month. But the number of cases of spitting in public places are increasing, indicating that people are not aware of the rules.
According to a report by National Library of Medicine says, “In India use of chewable forms of tobacco is common place. Since 2017, public spitting is an offence in India.”
