So this is one of those ‘zero civic sense’ scenes that makes your blood boil. A seemingly ordinary train journey has triggered a larger conversation about civic responsibility and parenting that shape India’s travel culture. A video is doing rounds on the internet which is shared on Instagram by creator @coach_amitkumar (Amit Kumar). He captured a woman allegedly encouraging her toddler to throw garbage out of a moving local train. The clip has left social media users disappointed and furious. The video
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The video shows a woman eating what looks like a snack inside the train. She is seen travelling on a local train with her young child with another woman sitting next to her. As she finishes eating from a packet, she cleanly folds the empty wrapper and hands it to the toddler. Instead of asking the child to keep it, she does something which is shocking. Instead of asking the kid to throw the wrapper in a dustbin, she appears to encourage him to throw it out of the train window!Moments later, she can be seen handing the child another empty wrapper and again asking him to throw it outside. The child agrees to the mother and follows her instruction while the mother smiles and appears to cheer him on.That’s not all. When the person objects to the act, questioning why she is teaching a young child to litter from a moving train, the woman responds dismissively, saying, “Train aapki property hai kya?” (“Is the train your property?”).Social media reactsThe video has been viewed by thousands who expressed disappointment and rage over the incident. Many said children often learn by observing the behaviour of adults around them and in this case the mother herself is teaching! Such a shame. Some of the most-liked comments on the video include:
“And this is exactly why parenting isn’t for everyone.”“Body grown fullyyyyyyy… brain didn’t…”“Yes, record them and post them. Only the shaming by the whole internet can stop them!! 👏”Many users also pointed out that while authorities continue investing in cleaner railway stations and trains, such everyday behaviour undermines those efforts. Others stressed that civic sense begins at home and that parents play a crucial role in teaching children how to behave responsibly in public spaces.Why littering is a serious issueThrowing garbage out of a moving train window may look insignificant to some, but it creates multiple problems.Plastic wrappers and food packaging often end up along railway tracks and hence the pollution. Such waste can also clog drainage systems near railway lines, attract stray animals, and create unhygienic conditions. Indian Railways has repeatedly requested passengers to use dustbins and waste bins instead of throwing waste outside. Travel with kids: Children learn what they see
As per behavioural experts, kids learn from what they see and observe. A young child imitates the actions of parents and caregivers far more than following verbal instructions. Everyday actions that adults may dismiss as harmless can quickly become lifelong habits for kids.And that’s one of the biggest reasons why the video resonated with so many viewers. For many, the concern was not just about one wrapper being thrown from a train window, but about a child being taught that littering is acceptable behaviour.Every journey is a shared responsibility
Whether it’s train, bus, flight, or road, every traveller shares responsibility for keeping public spaces clean. It’s not hard to carry a small bag and keep empty wrappers, tissues and waste bottles inside it until a dustbin is available.Public transport is not one single person’s belonging but it belongs to everyone present inside in that hour. Every wrapper thrown from a moving train ultimately lands in someone else’s environment.This video is a reminder of the fact that if kids are always watching and learning, what kind of travel habits are we passing on to them?
