India’s beaches face a serious issue as litter destroys the scenic beauty. Unfortunately, state authorities have been slow to tackle this problem, neglecting the urgent need for action. In such situations, it often falls upon local communities to unite and take matters into their own hands. When people come together, they prove that change is possible, showcasing the power of community efforts in restoring the beauty of our beloved beaches.
Speaking of beaches, we all know that Kochi is a popular place for tourists. Many foreigners visit its beaches because they’re attracted to the city’s history and its nice coastal areas. However, recently something happened which would make any Indian’s face fall down with shame. A group of Russian tourists took it upon themselves to clean a beach at Fort Kochi.
In a video that has gone viral, we see how a group of Russian women are tidying up the beach and depositing the litter in plenty of trash bags.
Have a look:
Kerala's shame. It took a group of Russian tourists to clean up a beach in Fort Kochi. Kochi is one of India's most popular tourist destinations and is visited by millions each year. And yet neither the local municipality, nor the state government, or the local citizens moved a… pic.twitter.com/MUEiDOjYMn
— Rakesh Krishnan Simha (@ByRakeshSimha) January 29, 2024
This led to several people online calling out the local authorities for not doing their duty of keeping the beaches clean. According to The Hindu, the daily tidying of the beach is done by some 20-odd sweepers, a number which is clearly insufficient.
“It is a matter of shame that foreign tourists had to take up cleaning of Kerala’s prime beachfront,” said C. Satish, President of the All Kerala Tour Guides’ Association who witnessed the beach getting cleaned up by the Russian tourists.
Here’s what people online have been saying after coming across the visuals:
Kerala, Kochi.
Shameless Keralites in Kochi, not able to maintain cleanliness at their beaches. Foreigners are taking initiative to clean their mess.
Russian tourists cleaning up dirty Fort Kochi Beach. pic.twitter.com/cuOO9bp08X
— Avinash K S🇮🇳 (@AvinashKS14) January 29, 2024
It was Bengalis Then Biharis. Now going international. Russians cleaning Kochi beach. Shame on us Malayalees @riyasdyfi @MBRajeshCPM @CMOKerala @drvenuv pic.twitter.com/kx7abycBOo
— Bugs Das (@DasBagoo) January 31, 2024
Kochi beach so dirty it took Russians to clean it up for good
— 🎭 (@gloomycyborg) January 30, 2024
Indians make public space dirty. Also Indians don't have a helping mentality. These Russians who cleaned the beach didn't expect anything return. @JayantBhandari5https://t.co/uTKI0flVUB
— SherShah (@hashermohammed) January 30, 2024
Shame on @KeralaTourism
We can see your ads promoting visit kerala in Melbourne, london etc and You can’t even clean the beach in fort kochi, strict actions should be taken against the department. Kudos to the Russian tourists for the cleanup.— Aravind (@aravindpre) January 30, 2024
Few years back I was in an International conference in Calicut with many foreigners. Someone well respected American told me that he has not seen more dirtier beach anywhere in the world. I agreed, but hurt😭😭Truth is important. Let us clean up our beaches, cities of garbage 🙏 https://t.co/Np9c3LYlto
— Dr. P@Indiamusings, PhD (@indiamusings) January 30, 2024
It's shame on Indian keralites where they are 100% literate but dont know how to keep their place clean and haapy to live in shit. Russians are cleaning our beaches. https://t.co/9KuFCPZ53U
— Ravi Varadarajan (@varadarajanravi) January 30, 2024
Such a shame!