Plastic management: students show the way

Plastic wrappers of all shapes, colours and sizes are ubiquitous in the district – found beside roads, hanging from trees – in spite of the state government imposing a ban on plastic.

The students of the 122-year-old Government Upgraded Higher Primary School at Mudungarukatte of Balepuni Gram Panchayat have initiated a drive against plastic. Whenever they find plastic wrappers and carry bags, they rush with alacrity and gather them, tie and place them neatly in a big plastic cover that is meant to be handed over to the Gram Panchayat for recycling.

Although such acts might seem generally unfamiliar, it is not so in this school. All the 142 children from first to eighth standard in the higher primary school no longer throw or burn foil paper or any plastic carry bag in and around their surroundings – instead, they neatly collect such things.

The students found the talk in November 2015 by Jana Shikshana Trust directors Sheena Shetty and Krishna Moolya on the harmful affects of burning plastic on environment informative and influential.

Speaking to Deccan Herald, Raafa, a seventh standard student said, “A type of solid waste that has become ubiquitous in the world is plastic. It poses threat to human beings as well as wild animals. Dumping of plastic things in and around our surroundings creates pollution.”

Afida and Irshana said plastic does not degrade even in soil. “Our aim is to free the school and the village from littering of plastic. Different kinds of plastic materials are dumped indiscriminately in our surroundings. We have also created awareness among our family members on the ill-effects of plastic,” said the students, adding, “Earlier, we used to throw or burn plastic wrappers after eating the chocolates and other eatables. The lesson on not to dump plastic in our surroundings will be carried throughout our life.”

Naushiya, ‘Health Minister’ of the school, said, “We have to reduce the use of plastic carry bags and thereby contribute to the conservation of nature.”

The students took up this initiative under the guidance of their favourite teacher Surekha, who said, “I myself was motivated by the work of the students. The children in the school are dedicated and work to ensure that no plastic carry bag is thrown in their surroundings. If they find plastic strewn on their school premises or by a road while walking home, they collect and clean it before placing it tidily in a bag.”

Speaking further, she said, “In spite of a ban on the use of plastic by the government, dealing with the illicit use of plastic has become a challenge. Safe disposal of plastic waste too is still a challenge. With the help of youth organisations and general public, we can create awareness on the ill-effects of plastic and work towards a plastic-free village.”
DH News Service