From PUBG to porn, Indian government is known for imposing unnecessary bans on some strange things. Somewhere it is failing to take cognizance of some of the real issues at hand.
We came across a question on Quora, ‘What would you ban in India if you had a chance?’ This made us go around and ask people what they think should be banned in India and this is what they said.
1. Ban Khap Panchayats
Although, SC has declared any attempt by them to end a marriage between consenting adults illegal, these quasi-judicial bodies still continue to function in rural India.
2. Ban celebratory firing
3. Ban the building of statues
We understand that paying respect to our leaders and gods is important, but this nowhere justifies spending thousands of crores on a single statue.
4. Ban immersion of idols in lakes and rivers
5. Ban paid seats in schools and colleges
Banning paid seats in schools and colleges would ensure that there is fair competition among students.
6. Ban gutkha and paan masalas
Tobacco use is the foremost preventable cause of death and disease, globally as well as, India. While some states have banned the production and sale of gutkhas, a blanket ban on the same should be in place.
7. Ban godmen
Godmen in India behave as gods themselves. Recently, they have been charged for heinous crimes as well which includes molestation, rape, and corruption.
8. Ban the use of pedestrian paths for vehicles
Cities in India are quite unfriendly for pedestrians already. And on the top of that vehicles encroach upon the footpath every now and then.
9. Ban vandalism
We have been causing excessive damage to our historical monuments through acts like scribbling on them, littering, etc.
10. Ban the use of animals in circuses
11. Ban littering in public spaces
Dumping waste in public spaces is one of the chronic problems in India. Although, some states impose fine on people littering in public, strict penalties and harsher measures need to be in place.
12. Ban firecrackers
A blanket ban on firecrackers is needed to control the present state of pollution in India.
13. Ban polluting vehicles and industries
14. Ban urination in public
Every day, each one of us spots a person urinating in public. This is not only ruining the beauty of our country, but also setting a wrong example.
15. Ban deforestation
The road to our development has been made by cutting through the green cover. Reports suggest a 40% reduction in overall forest cover during the last 95 years and conversion of agricultural land into scrubland, largely driven by mining, agricultural activities and urbanisation.
16. Ban animal torture in the name of celebration
Elephants and horses have long been used in Indian weddings. They are tortured and make to stand for hours just for the sake of amusement.
17. Ban media trials
18. Ban nepotism
Nepotism is widely prevalent in India across all fields, whether it is Bollywood, or politics, or administration.
19. Ban spitting in public
It is high time, spitting in public spaces should already be declared a punishable offence. Recently, people in Pune were made to wipe off their own spit in public.
20. Ban the use of plastics
21. Ban regressive TV shows
TV serials like typical saas-bahu shows depict regressive mindset.
22. Ban moral policing
Beating up couples, causing meaningless vandalism, condemning elements of Western civilization. all in the name of the preservation of the ‘culture’ is turning out to be a threat to our society.
23. Ban the use of animals in festivals
24. Ban body shaming
25. Ban minority appeasement by political parties
26. Ban the pet breeding industry
Pet breeding has become a multi-crore industry in India. And the worst part is that there are no rules in place to regulate it.
27. Ban discrimination against menstruating women
28. Ban objectification of women in media
29. Ban open defecation
Open defecation poses a serious threat to the health of women and children in India. Poor sanitation also cripples national development to a great extent.
30. Ban paid politics
31. Ban false political propaganda
32. Ban politicians with criminal background against them
According to the latest data, 36% of the parliamentarians and state assembly members in India have criminal charges against them. Criminalisation of politics strikes at the root of democracy and in the end it is the citizens who suffer.
33. Ban hate speeches by politicians
34. Ban religious extremism.
35. Ban unwarranted censorship
Freedom of speech and expression has always been curbed by the censorship imposed on digital and print media. Very recently, the government’s decision to censor social media giants like Netflix, Hotstar, etc. comes as a regressive step.
36. Ban eve teasing
37. Ban wastage of food
Hunger and undernourishment has made malnutrition a severe challenge for India. Where on the one hand people waste tonnes of food in marriages and festivals, on the other hand, India is home to more than one third of the world’s malnourished children.
38. Ban nosy people asking when we are getting married
39. Ban fairness creams
40. Ban VIP culture in India
VIP culture in India has deep roots. While the Union Cabinet decided to ban red beacons on VIP cars in 2017, the mindset associated with it is yet to go.
41. Ban religion-based politics
42. Ban the social stigmatisation of persons with disability
43. Ban political hoardings on streets
44. Ban dumping of waste in water bodies
45. Ban two-finger test for a rape victim
46. Ban fake news
47. Ban patriarchy
48. Ban conversion therapy for LGBTQ people
49. Ban the need to be married to rent a house
50. Ban mindless shouting matches on TV
Design Credits: Kumar Sonu