Mangalore, November 24: 'Eco Be Green', Mangalore, has launched a campaign against usage of plastic bags, in association with Jayashreekrishna Parisara Premi Samiti, an NGO, in order to acquaint the citizens with eco-friendly cotton bags.
The campaign was inaugurated and the free cotton carry bags distribution drive was launched at a programme jointly organised by the two organisations here on Saturday.
Delivering the inaugural address on the occasion, former Vice-Chancellor of Manipal University and district president of the Samiti Dr B M Hegde said that while humans were not trained to be altruistic, we were created to help others. “The best way to help others is to maintain the environment for the next generation. Change the education system, and prepare your children to be altruistic, kind and compassionate from the beginning. Changing the habits in society is not easy, hence you should start with children,” he said.
Speaking on the role of self in protecting the environment, he said that each individual had a responsibility towards the environment, as it was an extension of oneself. “It is a part of you. Any attempt in spoiling the environment would be an attempt in spoiling the 'you'. Plastic is not bio-degradable; don't pollute the environment with anything that is not bio-degradable. Spread the message and keep the world clean for the next generation,” he urged.
Assistant Professor of Computer Science and Engineering at Manipal Institute of Technology Srikanth Prabhu said that cloth bags had an advantage over plastic due to their re-usability and handiness in domestic use. The ones who mostly use plastic bags are those below poverty line (BPL) who are uneducated and poor. Education could greatly help in cutting down the usage of plastic bags. It is the duty of all the state governments to follow the example of Kerala, where Palakkad and Ernakulam have attained the maximum literacy rate. Although in some scenarios such as hospitals, where it cannot be avoided, plastic bags should be forbidden, he said.
Dakshina Kannada Regional Transport Officer C Mallikarjuna urged the youth and students to keep the city clean, and to spread awareness among the citizens on the ill-effects of plastic bags, since they created a lot of mess.
On the occasion, environment-friendly cotton bags were handed out to representatives of various colleges who were encouraged to spread the message. As part of the cotton bags distribution drive, over 50,000 will be distributed free of cost to targeted areas across the city such as malls, colleges, railway stations, bus stands, cinema theatres and petrol pumps, over a period of three months.
Co-founder of Eco Be Green Ashwath Prabhu welcomed the gathering, while Ananth Prabhu delivered the vote of thanks.
Eco Be Green is an initiative started by two like-minded people Ashwath Prabhu and Ananth Prabhu, with the intention of transforming Mangalore into a clean and plastic-free city.
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