A colony’s march towards freedom from plastic

“We are having a slogan-contest. The children have been working on it for quite a while. All the slogans they prepare will be used later for posters we plan to put up, or anything else. Prizes will be given for best slogans, which is further encouragement. The important thing is, children will be thinking about it – the adults will naturally follow,” says V K Thankappan, the secretary of AWA. As part of the programme, activists will go door-to-door explaining to the individual family the advantages ofsegregating plastic. “We are planning to segregate garbage – wet, dry and plastic. The next phase will be taken up only after we have assurances of cooperation from the residents,” says Thankappan.

The next step would be free distribution of the best alternative for the plastic menace to each home — cloth bags, roughly 2,000, each bearing the slogan `Goodbye To Plastic Bags. Save Earth. AWA.’ “We will give one in each home, in order to avoid duplication and make certain that people do not misuse them,” says Thankappan.

The problem is compounded further by the slumdwellers behind Amrutnagar. The maximum bags come out of that area, and there is practically nothing the residents can do about it. “You can hardly speak to them and explain how harmful these bags are. What we plan to do is give away some bags to slumdwellers as well. Of course, that will be later, when we have greater funds and sponsors for the bags,” says Horace Gonsalvez, AWA president.

The association is exploring other options likejute and paper bags. To begin with, AWA members will impress upon the shopkeepers in the area the dangers of using plastic. The AWA members are well aware that the success of the programme will depend working out suitable replacements.

Once again, the key lies in making people aware. Also, the AWA will take up making the area green on I-Day. “The Amrutnagar square will house a road traffic island with a miniature garden. After five years of planning we have managed to gather funds and all the necessary sanctions to make it a reality. The bhoomi pujan for this circle will be held tomorrow,” says Thankappan.