Kiran Mazumdar Shaw, the founder of Biocon, recently expressed her disappointment with Bengaluru’s civic infrastructure on social media. She shared a picture of clean streets in San Cristobal Island, Ecuador, and compared it unfavorably to Bengaluru, stating, “Bengaluru, hang your head in shame.” Her post sparked a mix of reactions, with some users agreeing, citing cleaner cities in India like Mysore, Indore, and Surat.
However, others defended Shaw’s stance, pointing out that even Ecuador, a developing country, maintains better infrastructure. Some users highlighted the issue of governance failures, citing political mismanagement and linguistic concerns overshadowing civic demands. A user even compared India’s struggles with Latin America’s better infrastructure, blaming corruption as a key factor.
Shaw responded to the criticism, reaffirming that even developing countries like Ecuador manage to maintain better infrastructure. The post has sparked a national conversation about the state of India’s civic infrastructure, with some people acknowledging the country’s higher self-perception and others attributing the issues to governance failures.
The debate has also shed light on the disparities between different Indian cities and the varying levels of civic infrastructure. While some cities have made efforts to improve their infrastructure, others remain plagued by poor governance and mismanagement. The controversy has prompted many to question the priorities of the government and individuals in addressing these issues.
Ultimately, Shaw’s post has brought attention to the pressing need for improvement in India’s civic infrastructure, with many calling for more effective governance and greater public pressure to force change. The debate has also encouraged a sense of national pride and a willingness to acknowledge the issues that need to be addressed to improve the quality of life for citizens.