In Bengaluru, Dr. Shanti Tummala, formerly a dentist, has gained attention for her citizen-driven campaign against littering. A video that went viral shows her addressing passengers on a public bus, requesting that they avoid discarding waste such as chocolate wrappers and paan-parag packets out of bus windows. She delivered her message first in Kannada, then repeated it in Hindi to make sure everyone got the message.
Her efforts caught wider notice when entrepreneur Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw praised the campaign online, terming it educational and impactful.
Dr. Tummala frames her campaign with the slogan “My waste is My responsibility.” She emphasizes that managing litter is not just a civic duty but also connected to sustainability, environmental health, and preventive public measures. She uses short interactions in public places, targeting passengers and pedestrians, to spread this message.
In the viral bus video, she tells passengers that even small items like bus tickets should not be tossed out, and urges them to carry waste until a bin is found. The campaign thus addresses littering in everyday urban life.
While Dr. Tummala’s activism is civic in nature, litter control has public health implications. Improper disposal of waste, especially organic, plastic or food wrappers, can:
Attract disease vectors (e.g. rodents, insects), which may carry pathogens.
Block drains and waterways, increasing risk of waterlogging and mosquito breeding in monsoon seasons.
Contribute to microplastic pollution, which may enter water supplies or soil.
Cause physical hazards—slips or injuries in public spaces.
From a preventive health standpoint, reducing litter contributes to healthier urban environments, lower vector-borne disease risk, and better sanitation. In that sense, a physician’s advocacy for cleanliness has alignment with broader public health goals.
Dr. Tummala’s campaign has been shared widely on social media platforms, prompting comments of support and discussion over individual accountability in waste management. Some have noted that her delivery in multiple languages helps reach diverse commuters.
The campaign also resonates with Bengaluru’s ongoing efforts under the Bengaluru Climate Action and Resilience Plan (BCAP), which includes urban cleanliness, waste management, and public engagement among its objectives.
Promoting behavioral change in littering involves overcoming ingrained habits, social norms, and availability of infrastructure (public bins, waste segregation systems, collection efficiency). A public campaign alone may not suffice without supportive civic infrastructure and policies.
For sustained impact, the campaign could be complemented by:
Placement and maintenance of waste bins in public transport zones.
Regular awareness drives in schools, markets, and transit corridors.
Involvement of civic authorities to align messaging with enforcement or incentive schemes.
Collaboration with NGOs, citizen groups, or volunteer networks to scale reach.
(Rh/eth/TL)