Paan Spitting No More: UK City Puts Up Gujarati Sign And Fine

UK City imposes fine for spitting paan, signboard in Gujerati

When all else fails to convince NRIs not to spit

Image: Twitter/Erum Gaur/The Quint

There is a big sign board in Gujarati in the city of Leicester, UK. Time to celebrate, that we as Indians are now being wooed as global tourists? Afraid not. Unfortunately the sign is more of an embarrassment to those of us who want to believe that Indians are responsible global citizens. Here is what the sign says...

“Spitting paan on the street is unhygienic and anti-social. You could be fined £150” 

The sign written first in Gujarati and then in English makes the message loud and clear. Indians in the UK are spitting paan, creating a public nuisance by doing so and there is no two ways around the fact that only a fine, and clear signage to that effect will help tackle the problem. To hell with tact.

Mounted as a collaboration between the Leicester city council and the Police department the measure was taken after the paan spitting problem got out of hand. Indians sadly don’t magically behave with a better civic sense when outside India, but perhaps they will once they are faced with these fines.

According to the Leicester police the problem is worse in the Eastern parts of Leicester where there is a greater Indian diaspora population like Spinney Hills, North Evington and Belgrave. It costs the local boroughs or municipalities a considerable sum to scrub and clean pavements, sidewalks and buildings walls of the red betel nut stains that are spat out routinely and build up over time. The problem is also one of hygiene and sanitation, one that the local authorities fear can turn into a health issue that affect quality of life for fellow residents.

Leicester is not the only city to impose such fines. Apparently the cities of Birmingham and Bradford with sizeable Indian diaspora populations have also imposed specific fines for spitting paan, the betel nut, betel leaf, spice mixture that serves as a traditional mouth freshener enjoyed across India. Spitting out the juice is also part of that tradition, however that part has been problematic in India too with spitting, something of a public menace that has been hard to manage in Indian cities, offices, public spaces and on local transport.

With inputs from Times Now and News 18