Tirupati (Andhra Pradesh): Cleanliness is next to godliness in the nation that Gandhi dreamt of. Bapuji’s aim was to establish a society where nature flourished. The obstruction to such an ideal environment is nothing but plastic. The usage of this polymer increased with the advent of technological advances and far exceeded the permissible limits. These days, heaps of plastic that won’t dissolve in the earth are a common sight.
Andhra Pradesh's spiritual city Tirupati has dared to fight against this plastic menace. Today, the amount of plastic consumption in that city has significantly decreased. The city dwellers have also made a livelihood from the alternatives. The women here have achieved self-sufficiency whilst doing their part for the environment.
Besides the 3.5 lakh city dwellers; lakhs of devotees throng Tirupati every day. It is the highest crowded city in the state. For a city of such magnitude, plastic has become a big menace. The city was gripped by pollution due to the thousands of disposable plastic items thrown away day-in and day-out. Though the city’s municipal corporation is continuously working to keep plastic at bay, the enormous amount of waste is piling up in the city.
Though Tirupati ranks among the top-10 cleanest cities in India, it aimed at improving its rank. On October 2, 2018, the municipal corporation took a decision to ban plastic bags in the city. Before implementing the ban, several awareness sessions were conducted among its citizens. Schools, colleges and offices have collectively organized rallies, programs and round-table conferences to create awareness about the perils of plastic.
The event was named 'Plastic Bahishkarana Jayabheri' and brought about radical changes. In October last year, people have voluntarily brought plastic bags from their homes and handed them over to the recycling department of city's municipal corporation.
Once plastic was banned, there arose a need for alternatives. The municipal corporation had devised plans to make use of this opportunity and put an end to the city’s poverty. They have handed over this opportunity to the self-financing women groups. As a result, bags made of paper, cloth and fiber were manufactured. The manufacturing units started out small and emerged big within a year. Most of the women groups are earning considerable incomes through this process.
They are selling jute and cloth bags in several places within the city. For this, the Mission for Elimination of Poverty in Municipal Areas (MEPMA) has also allocated funds. Several experts have also taken the initiative to join this plastic-free movement. Akshaya Kshetram in Ramachandrapuram, Chittoor district, has become the center for such activities.
It is providing residence to the environment enthusiasts. It is giving special training to the mentally challenged in manufacturing cloth and paper bags. The bags produced here will be sold in the prasadam counters of Tirumala-Tirupati Devasthanams. Currently, two temple counters are handing out these special bags to its devotees.
The movement which started out to put an end to the plastic menace in the city has significantly expanded. The municipal officials are glad that their efforts have paid off. They explained that this initiative’s success belonged to the citizens of Tirupati and that they all have come forward to eradicate the plastic hazards.
Tirupati is receiving several accolades from all corners of the country for conserving the environment besides providing employment to the needy with such a great initiative. The residents of Tirupati are making the stay in their city a pleasant experience for the devotees while working their way towards achieving the society Bapuji dreamt of.
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