Chief Secretary Santhi Kumari has called for a voluntary ban on single-use plastic due to its harmful effects on the environment. Instead, she encourages the use of steel and porcelain items. A workshop was held at Dr. BR Ambedkar’s Secretariat to discuss the ban, with various government officials in attendance.
The government has already issued orders to ban plastic usage, and officials were advised to lead by example by following the ban at the secretariat. Santhi Kumari expressed concern that only 9 percent of plastic is currently being recycled, while the rest ends up in water bodies, posing a threat to humans. Self-help group women in municipalities and corporations are already raising awareness about the ban and separating plastic waste from garbage in villages.
Santhi Kumari urged all officers and employees to voluntarily ban single-use plastic in the Secretariat and use alternatives like steel and porcelain. She emphasized that this should not only be enforced through government orders but also through individual social responsibility.
Rajeev Sharma, Chairman of the Pollution Control Board and Advisor to the State Government, called for individual efforts and public awareness programs to make the state free of single-use plastic. He mentioned the existence of committees at the district level to enforce the ban.
Later, Chief Secretary Santhi Kumari inaugurated an exhibition showcasing alternative materials to replace plastic goods. She and Government Advisor Rajeev Sharma unveiled a poster with a slogan promoting the ban on plastic and the importance of saving the earth.
