The Kerala government issued an order on Saturday banning spitting and blowing one’s nose in public places. This order has been issued on the basis of a directive from the Kerala High Court on maintaining cleanliness in public places.
Various kinds of ‘spitting’ have been banned through the order. They include spitting on the street after clearing one’s throat garrulously and spitting after luxuriously chewing paan.
Those who blow their noses violently in public places and splash mucus on walls and streets will also be asking for trouble henceforth.
However, the order specifies that one can clear one’s throat or blow one’s nose after covering the mouth with a handkerchief.
The order points out that several diseases are being spread by sputum and mucus, including tuberculosis, diphtheria, fevers of various kinds and whooping cough. The government has warned of stringent action on those who violate the rules.
An awareness campaign will also be taken out by the public relations department for this and other government agencies will also play a role.
The government has been on a cleanliness overdrive since the spread of chikungunya fever in the State a few months ago.
But it is to be seen how Malayalees react to this “encroachment” on one of their favourite habits while on the road.
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