Dubai
A few days ago, I visited a building on Bank Street in Bur Dubai to attend a class. When I was waiting for the elevator, I noticed a poster on the notice board that mentioned something motivating.
It read: “To stay young and healthy, use the stairs.”
This encouraged me to take the stairs in an attempt to burn some calories and get closer to feeling younger. But, when I went to use the stairs, I was shocked to see the filthy staircase, with betel leaves’ stains and marks everywhere (as seen in photograph).
The pathetic sight of the staircase changed my mind completely and I lost all my motivation to burn calories. I decided it was better to use the elevator and forget about getting younger.
When I discussed this with my friends, I realised this was a common problem in this area.
Smiti Khanna, a resident of Dubai, told me: “Quite a few buildings in the Meena Bazaar and Bur Dubai area have such dirty, stained staircases. Some stairs are noticeably turning black. Cockroaches run all over the dirty walls, which seem to not have been cleaned for quite some time. Litter and cigarette butts are lying around, too, which create unhygienic and dirty conditions.”
Varsha N., another resident of Dubai, has also come across a similar situation. “I have noticed this, too, and it is really common in the Bur Dubai area,” she said.
Another friend, Rashee K., who also resides in Dubai, agreed that she had come across many such buildings in Bur Dubai and Karama.
I then decided to revisit the building and discuss this issue with the security guard. He told me that the building had almost 3,000 tenants, so it was very difficult to control the behaviour of each and every one of them. Cleaning is done daily, but this is the best they are able to do, as far as maintenance is concerned.
In every building, the respective management should take this matter seriously and get the same rectified and painted over, so that the condition of the staircases is improved. This would also encourage people to use the stairs more often.
Additionally, it is not only the responsibility of the building management, but also the responsibility of the tenants to keep their building clean. It’s of no use if we keep our houses clean, while our buildings and neighbourhoods are dirty. Spitting in public places should be completely avoided. It is the duty of each one of us to keep our city clean, no matter how small the steps we take. Our surroundings and environment play a very important role and keeping it clean will have a positive impact on our minds, too.
— The reader is a homemaker based in Dubai.
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FACTS:
According to a Gulf News report published in April 2012, the fine for people caught chewing and spitting paan (betel leaf) juice is Dh1,000. Betel leaves are banned in the UAE and bringing them into the country is illegal. If a person gives a tip-off to the authorities about illegal paan traders or factories, he or she will get Dh2,000 as a reward.
