হায়দরাবাদ, 2 ফেব্রুয়ারি : চেন্নাই, সিমলা এবং বেঙ্গালুরু থেকে অনুপ্রাণিত হয়ে হায়দরাবাদে প্লাস্টিক বর্জ্য শূন্য পরিবেশবান্ধব মুদি দোকান খুলেছেন পেশায় চাটার্ড অ্যাকাউনটেন্ট পঙ্কজ ৷ এটা হায়দরাবাদ শহরে প্রথম এই ধরনের দোকান ৷ প্লাস্টিকমুক্ত দেশ গড়তে তাঁর এই প্রয়াস দিশা দেখাচ্ছে দেশবাসীকে ৷
সেকেন্দরাবাদের গলিতে অবস্থিত পঙ্কজের এই জ়িরো ওয়েস্ট ইকো স্টোরে রয়েছে প্রায় 170 ধরনের সামগ্রী ৷ চাল, ডাল, মশলা, নুন, তেল থেকে শুরু করে রয়েছে বাড়িতে বানানো আচার, স্ন্যাক্স ৷ এ সব সাজানো রয়েছে কাচ, স্টিল বা অন্য ধাতুর তৈরি পাত্র, জার, বোতলে ৷
দানাশস্য়, খাদ্য সামগ্রী ছাড়াও এখানে পাওয়া যায় ভেষজ সাবান, স্যাম্পু, কাঠের এবং ধাতুর তৈরি বাসনপত্র, কাপড়ের তৈরি ব্যাগ ৷ দোকানে পা রাখলেই চোখে পড়বে দেওয়ালে লেখা প্লাস্টিক বিরোধী স্লোগান ৷ গ্রাহকদের প্লাস্টিক সামগ্রীর ব্যবহার বন্ধ করার বার্তা দেওয়ার পাশাপাশি তাদের জৈব ও ভেষজ সামগ্রী ব্যবহারে অনুপ্রাণিত করেন পঙ্কজ ৷
Intro:Body:
Meet the owner of first 'Zero Waste Eco-store' in Hyderabad
Summary: Pankaj, a chartered accountant by profession has opened the first 'Zero Waste Eco-store' in Hyderbad with the idea of reducing the usage of plastic waste in our everyday lives. The store not only promotes non-plastic packaging materials but also encourages customers to use organically-made products, which are also available at the store.
Hyderabad: Drawing inspiration from zero-waste grocery stores located in Chennai, Shimla and Bangalore, Pankaj, a chartered accountant by profession, opened a store in Hyderabad with the similar concept as the city needed it the most.
Nestled in the alleys of Secunderabad area, 'Zero Waste Eco-store' has about 170 items from rice, grains to home pickle and snacks, aesthetically arranged at the store in glass containers and metallic boxes.
With having an interior that inspires the customers not to use plastic, this unconventional store offers more than just edible items. The shop has coffee scrubs, herbal soaps, organic shampoo and cutlery packed in small pouches. Many of the products at the shop are homemade by women, especially the pickles and cloth bags.
As you step into the store, you will find slogans written on the wall that resonates with the idea of -'Say no to plastic' and everything is arranged in a manner that is appealing in nature.
Opened three months ago, it is unlike any other grocery stores in the town.
"This is our little contribution in reducing the usage of plastic waste in our everyday lives," says Pankaj, who was supported by his family in this noble initiative.
This is the first such initiative in Hyderabad, said Pankaj, adding that customers are encouraged to get their own non-plastic packaging materials.
The store not only promotes non-plastic packaging materials but also encourages customers to use organically-made products, which are also available at the store.
"By eliminating plastic from our everyday lives, we stay in touch with a healthier lifestyle," said Pankaj, who believes every customer can contribute to the cause by plastic-free shopping.
Step in and you can shop for a lot of your home needs, but remember to take your own bags, bottles and containers. If you aren’t carrying these, the store stocks a few cloth bags, bottles and paper covers for a price.
The store has a stringent no-plastic rule and is happy to pack all your essentials — rice, pulses, oils, cleaners etc — in paper covers, cloth bags and containers.
“All the products sold at my store are tested and no preservatives are added to it,” he said, adding “soon we will launch our online store.”
On being asked about the source of the produce Pankaj says that most of the products are bought from local wholesalers on the assurance of great quality and price.
Ganesh- a software engineer, who supplies cloth bags-alternative to plastic bags says he will offer free bags to those who want a plastic-free society.
Customers, who have been to the store expressed happiness towards the management and the unique initiative.
"In the last 20-30 years everything has changed and it is the need of the hour to switch to our traditional way of living when people used to buy grocery the way we are trying to sell," adds Pankaj.
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VO: Drawing inspiration from zero-waste grocery stores located in Chennai, Shimla and Bangalore, Pankaj, a chartered accountant by profession, opened a store in Hyderabad with the similar concept as the city needed it the most.
VO: Nestled in the alleys of Secunderabad area, 'Zero Waste Eco-store' has about 170 items from rice, grains to home pickle and snacks, aesthetically arranged at the store in glass containers and metallic boxes.
VO: With having an interior that inspires the customers not to use plastic, this unconventional store offers more than just edible items. The shop has coffee scrubs, herbal soaps, organic shampoo and cutlery packed in small pouches. Many of the products at the shop are homemade by women, especially the pickles and cloth bags.
VO: As you step into the store, you will find slogans written on the wall that resonates with the idea of -'Say no to plastic' and everything is arranged in a manner that is appealing in nature.
BYTE: Pankaj -Store Manager
Duration:06.43-7.55
Transcript
-The basic idea behind this initiative is to promote plastic-free packaging because all the products which you find in the market are packaged in plastic.
-Plastic affects the environment, human life and marine life negatively. In order to irradicate plastic, this is our little contribution in reducing the usage of plastic waste in our everyday lives.
- Presently, we offer more than 170 products which include grocery items because it is something that everyone buys which generates maximum plastic waste. Therefore, if we start to avoid plastic from our everyday lives then it can lead to a big change.
-We have home cleaning items, homemade oil and other than that we have some alternatives to plastic products. All the edible items that we sell at our shop are healthy and nutritious as no preservatives are added to it.
VO: Opened three months ago, it is unlike any other grocery stores in the town.
VO: The store not only promotes non-plastic packaging materials but also encourages customers to use organically-made products, which are also available at the store.
VO: Step in and you can shop for a lot of your home needs, but remember to take your own bags, bottles and containers. If you aren’t carrying these, the store stocks a few cloth bags, bottles and paper covers for a price.
VO: The store has a stringent no-plastic rule and is happy to pack all your essentials — rice, pulses, oils, cleaners et al — in paper covers, cloth bags and containers.
GFX: Pankaj has opened first 'Zero Waste Eco-store' in Hyderabad
GFX: City's first 'Zero Waste Eco-store' offers about 170 items
GFX: This unconventional store opened three months ago offers more than just edible items
GFX: Slogans written on walls of the store resonate with the idea of -'Say no to plastic'
GFX: Store not only promotes non-plastic packaging materials but also encourages customers to use organically-made products
GFX: 'Zero Waste Eco-store' has a stringent no-plastic rule
Video Location: O:\OTHERS\28-Jan-2020\English\INPUT\Plastic Story-Hyderabad
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