Anti-platic Campaign at Kolkata

Kolkata

29th Aug,2010

Anti-platic Campaign Launched at Kolkata

An ‘Anti-plastic campaign’ was organized jointly by The Art of Living (known as Vyakti Vikas Kendra in India) and North Tangra Netaji Sangha in the city of Kolkata on Sunday 29 August, 2010. The highlights of the campaign is captured below:

• The campaign started with a procession which began from Sitala Mandir beside North Tangra Netaji Sangha club, Dhapa and had the participation of around 1200 children from various local schools.
• Volunteers of The Art of Living and Netaji Sangha walked along to educate the people regarding the dangers of using plastic.
• Eighteen other clubs joined hands to make the area clean and plastic-free.
• The local administration of Kolkata also took an active part in the drive as the Councillor of ward 58 Shri Shambhu Nath Kaw also marched along with the procession, urging and educating the people about the hazards of using plastic. All the members of the Netaji Sangha club guided by their Secretary, Shri Sandip Mondol, also participated actively to make the drive a success.
• It all began with a Navchetna Shivir organized by The Art of Living in the locality, where and the message of health, hygiene, self help and the need to keep the surrounding clean was well understood by the locals.
• Shri Debashish Kumar, Mayor in Council – Park, said, “A sustained effort would be required by the locals and the authorities together to keep the momentum going of the program taken up by The Art of Living and the North Tangra Netaji Sangha.”
• The Bowbazar MLA, Shri Swarno Komal Saha, emphasized on the benefits of being plastic free.
• Ms. Sanchita Mondol, Mayor in Council- Environment, brought up the environmental hazards caused due to plastics.
• The Parama IC, Shri Shivendu Ghosh and Tilaja Thana OC, Shri Ajay Mukherjee also attended the program and assured of all assistance to take the cause ahead.
• Councillor of ward 57, Shri Jiban Saha, the President and Secretary of Samanay Committee of Dhapa were also present at the event.
• Paper bags prepared by women of neighbouring ‘Basanti’ colony were distributed to the public during the procession.

The use of plastic has been causing extensive damage to the environment in and around Kolkata. Disposable polythene bags, plastic cups and plates etc have changed the facade of the once beautiful grasslands and lakes; littered with disposal plastic items everywhere. There were also instance where animals like horses; cows die due to suffocation after eating plastic. In addition to the damages to the flora and fauna, plastic have been a real menace and responsible for blocking the drainages, water supply channel in the city.

North Tangra Netaji Sangha with support from The Art of Living has pledged to make their locality Dhapa Mathpukur a plastic free zone.

Pictures of anti plastic campaign