Plastic-Free India Seeks to Support Ban on Single-Use Plastics

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM:
With the country all set to impose a nationwide ban on plastic bags, cups and straws starting October 2, 2019, the city-based Centre for Innovation in Science and Social Action (CISSA), along with various like-minded organisations, will roll out a multi-event campaign to put an end to the growing menace of single-use plastics.

As part of the Multi-Event Campaign for a Plastic-free India, organisations and institutions of repute would come together at the Manaveeyam Veedhi in Vellayambalam on October 2 to take forward the vision of Prime Minister Narendra Modi towards making the country free from single-use plastics (SUPs). The PM’s call for scrapping the use of single-use plastics (SUPs) by 2022 is set to launch with a ban on six items on 2nd October, the birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi.

The ban on the first six items of single-use plastics will clip 5% to 10% from India’s annual consumption of about 14 million tonnes of plastic. This ambitious target could be achieved only with people’s participation by creating awareness among them. The multi-event campaign to be organised at Manaveeyam Veedhi aims at making the people aware of the nature, extent and threats of SUPs.

“We invite the people, organisations and institutions to be part of the targeted campaigns and bring in social engineering tools that can make people aware of the concerns and alternatives to plastics. The campaign, which kicks off on October 2, would pave the way for stronger discussions with all stakeholders and the scientific community to help the government frame effective policies towards the management of SUPs,” said Dr C Suresh Kumar, General Secretary, CISSA.

Organisations that have joined hands with CISSA in organising the multi-event campaign include, RCE Thiruvananthapuram acknowledged by UN University; Nehru Yuvak Kendra Sanghathan, National Service Scheme, C 5; Santhigram; Department of Aquatic Biology, University of Kerala; National Green Corps; World Wildlife Fund; Thanal; Friends of Marine Life; Sree Chithra Tirunal College of Engineering; SUSTera; and more.

The multi-event campaign will include student and youth assembly, panel exhibitions, photo exhibitions, poster exhibitions, street plays, environmental songs, recitations, skits, mimes, and folk songs. Besides, schools in the district will organise exhibitions on alternatives to plastics. A painting exhibition for high school students and poster competition for college students on the menace of plastic will be organised at the Manaveeyam Veedhi venue.

Objectives of the multi-event campaign include creating awareness in academic institutions on the use and management of SUPs; Capacity building of young trainers to take up campaigns in academic institutions, families, and neighbourhood; Campaigning for alternatives of SUPs and promoting their use; Lobbying for effective management strategies with government machineries; ensuring implementation of extended producer responsibility; and Creating awareness materials and a dedicated website for the promotion of the campaign.

In order to make the initiative a success, the multi-event campaign organisers have sought the need for passionate involvement of public, especially the youth. The multi-event campaign organisers have invited the general public, organisations and institutions to be part of the campaign that kicks off on October 2 at Manaveeyam Veedhi. Those interested may contact Dr C Suresh Kumar @ 9447205913.