Why Are Indian Cities Struggling With Cleanliness Compared to Others?
Last year, I wrote an article on “Why Chinese cities are cleaner than Indian cities” after watching several travel vlogs and documentaries. My observations were not based on just a few videos from individual bloggers, but on multiple sources, including foreign channels. Across all these videos, one thing stood out clearly: Chinese cities are managed far better when it comes to crowd control and garbage disposal.
In contrast, in India, it is common to see huge piles of garbage lying unattended, with dirty water flowing through open drains. This is not an occasional sight—it is something people encounter daily. What makes this comparison even more striking is that both China and India have almost the same population. If China can manage its waste and cleanliness effectively, why can’t India?
Excuses vs. Reality
Often, the explanation given is that China enforces stricter rules and has already reached the status of a developed nation. But this argument falls apart when we look at Sri Lanka, our neighboring country. Despite facing a severe economic crisis and even bankruptcy in 2022, Sri Lanka still manages to maintain cleaner roads and public spaces than India.
Recently, an Indian travel vlogger remarked that “80% of nations are cleaner than India.” This is a shameful reality for a country aspiring to be a global leader. Cleanliness is not just about aesthetics—it reflects discipline, civic sense, and respect for public spaces.
The Role of Civic Sense
It is easy to blame the government, but the truth is that poor civic sense among many Indians is a major contributor to the problem. A recent incident in a North Indian town highlighted this: a woman was caught red-handed by the municipal team throwing garbage on the road. When questioned, she had no explanation. Such behavior is not rare—it reflects a widespread disregard for cleanliness and responsibility.
Learning From Examples
The purpose of writing this article is not just to criticize but to create awareness. India can learn from surrounding nations and even from its own cities. For example, Indore has consistently ranked first in cleanliness in India. If one city can achieve this, others can too. It requires a combination of government action, strict enforcement, and most importantly, public participation.
A Call for Change
India’s roads and infrastructure will only become cleaner when both the authorities and citizens take responsibility. Stricter laws, better waste management systems, and awareness campaigns are necessary, but without civic discipline, progress will remain limited.
If we truly aspire to be a cleaner nation, we must stop making excuses and start learning—from China, from Sri Lanka, and from our own success stories like Indore. Cleanliness is not just the government’s job—it is everyone’s duty.
Sri Lanka went bankrupt in 2022 and major cities still got better roads and footpaths than tier 1 cities of India
— Sumit Behal (@sumitkbehal) August 3, 2025
This should be the minimum benchmark for cleanliness and building walkable infra in India
You are one foreign visit away from getting reality check of India pic.twitter.com/Wn15eayg8i
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