A video showing a dustbin, intended for sale, stained with gutka (chewing tobacco) spit inside a Kanpur store has gone viral, sparking outrage and highlighting a concerning lack of civic sense. The incident, which took place at a Mr DIY outlet in Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh, has triggered widespread condemnation on social media, with users expressing disgust and calling for greater public awareness and accountability.
The video, shared on Instagram by user @devotedindian, shows a man lifting the lid of a display dustbin. Upon opening it, the camera focuses on the interior, revealing a significant amount of red residue and stains. This indicates that the bin had been used to spit paan or gutka, despite being a display model meant for sale. In the video, the man can be heard saying, “Ab batao kya hoga Kanpur ka bhai (Now tell me, what will happen to Kanpur?)”. The video was captioned with the words, “Bolo juban kesri. Kanpur will never change”.
The viral clip has elicited strong reactions online, with many social media users expressing shock and dismay at the apparent disregard for public hygiene and misuse of public property. People have criticized the act as a reflection of poor civic sense and a lack of respect for shared spaces. Some have sarcastically nicknamed Kanpur the "City of Masala". The incident has also reignited discussions about the effectiveness of gutka bans and the need for stricter enforcement of public spitting fines. Gutka has been banned in Uttar Pradesh and many other Indian states since 2012-2013 due to its serious health risks.
This is not an isolated incident, as spitting in public places remains a persistent problem in many parts of India. The gutka-stained dustbin serves as a stark reminder of the challenges in promoting civic responsibility and maintaining cleanliness in public spaces. Netizens are criticizing both the misuse of the display item and the continued disregard for public health laws, calling for stronger enforcement and greater public awareness.
The incident has prompted calls for increased CCTV surveillance and stricter monitoring in stores to identify and penalize individuals responsible for such acts. Others have suggested that public awareness campaigns are needed to educate citizens about the importance of maintaining hygiene and respecting public property. The incident serves as a reminder of the importance of collective responsibility in maintaining a clean and healthy environment.
