With the number of spectators increasing at the National Games venue, the Suchitwa Mission officials have swung into action
KOCHI:As the glam events of the National Games began, the number of spectators thronging the venues went up sharply. With this sudden increase in the number of viewers, the Kerala Suchitwa Mission (KSM) members, who had been twiddling their thumbs with nothing do until now, have sprung into action to implement their zero-waste campaign. The campaign, which was under the treat of fizzling out due to the low spectator turn out, got a very life saving boost with the increase in the number of sports enthusiasts at the venues.
The campaign was launched to spread awareness among the public to discard the use of disposable items made of plastic in favour of steel vessels for drinking water.
“We were unable to launch the project at the venues owing to the low turnout of spectators but when the glamorous items such as athletics and badminton started people began visiting the venues in large numbers and this prompted us to re-open the project,” said P K Alexander, district coordinator, Suchitwa Mission.
As a part of the project KSM has already brought steel glasses, tumblers, dispensers, cups and similar reusable articles to the venues since the opening of the games in order to curb waste generation and spread awareness among the public. “In Kochi alone we could serve water in steel glasses to around 3,000 spectators and at Cochin International Airport where fencing is going on the number is around 500. Along with water distribution, our main aim was to restrict the usage of plastic items at the venues and thereby making a ‘green zone’,” Alexander added.
Meanwhile, KSM completely dropped their plan to impose a fee of Rs 10 for plastic water bottles or packaged food being brought to the venues. It was also decided to impose an additional fine if they miss the thing.
“We can’t dissuade the people from visiting the venues again by imposing the fine. We have hired around 500 students to spread the message to the public about the need to discard the disposable items,” he added
