Local bodies told to ensure a ‘green Onam'
'Haritha Onam' will be incorporated in the branding of the Onam celebrations by local bodies across the State this year. A door-to-door campaign to create awareness on waste management will be carried out with Mahabali presented as the 'King of Cleanliness.' In a circular issued on Tuesday, the department asked the local bodies to prepare action plans to weave in ideas on waste management to their respective Onam celebration programmes.
The local bodies have to ensure timely collection of waste, especially from commercial centres, and also ensure that the commercial establishments have separate waste bins for segregated waste collection. Temporary common composting arrangements can be made under each local body considering the huge amounts of biodegradable waste that will be produced. The community bio waste processing bins have to be cleared and prepared to meet the demands during the festival season. Similarly, the material collection facilities have to be cleared up foreseeing the non biodegradable waste produced during the season.
More waste bins
Street hawkers and other temporary commercial establishments which function only during the festival period also should be factored in while planning for waste management. More waste bins have to be placed in areas where crowds are generally seen during the Onam festivities. A charge officer has to be given the responsibility of ensuring periodic cleaning.
Various institutions, offices and organisations have to be sensitised to not use banned plastic products for decorations as part of Onam. The local bodies have to organise meetings with traders' representatives to make them aware of the green protocol. Plastic cups, plates, artificial plantain leaf and spoons have to be avoided for Onam Sadya. Steps also have to be taken to promote alternative products to plastic carry bags, such as cloth bags.
All non-biodegradable waste, except e-waste and sanitary waste, have to be collected as part of door-stop collection from households before Onam. Vehicles for collection of waste and shifting to the material collection facilities on the same day have to be ensured for all Haritha Karma Sena units. The local bodies have to distribute awards to government and private institutions, commercial establishments, residents' associations and flat complexes which excel in waste management efforts.
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Clatter of concern
About four centuries ago, a weaver community from Tamil Nadu migrated to Kerala's Paravur. They settled in the hamlet of Chendamangalam, and began serving Paliyathachan, the then prime minister of the erstwhile Kochi kingdom. Now, centuries down the line, this exceptional artisan community has transformed. Tempered by several upheavals — from colonialism to deluges, including the 2018 flood, and the pandemic. One thing that hasn't changed is the beautiful, soft, traditional weaves. Everything is handcrafted in the weaving centres of Chendamangalam, from making the yarn and dyeing the spun fabric to weaving them into garments. At every stage, the thread moves through human hands. Each fabric holds centuries-old tales. Now, the weavers are busy preparing for the Onam season, the boom time for everything handspun. But they clearly are not excited. The cherished legacy, they say, is on the brink of extinction. The rhythmic clatter of the looms is fading. The number of weaving centres has dwindled. There are just 11 weaving societies remaining in Ernakulam. Paravur taluk has just five. 'Now, we have just around 75 weavers,' says M K Venu, the president of H 47 Chendamangalam Handloom Weavers' Cooperative Society. 'But no youngster is keen to learn the craft. It's likely to end with us.' Can't blame them, he says. 'Weavers now earn just about `300 to `400 a day. One can earn `800 for other daily wage jobs. So, why would one pursue weaving?' Venu asks. Next, we meet Chandran 'maash', who is busy giving directions to carpenters on making a charkha for the upcoming 'Kaithari Gramam' — a long-pending handloom tourism project in the area. 'More than 70 per cent of our sales happen during Onam,' he says. 'The 20 per cent rebate on handloom products is an attraction for customers.' This rebate is compensated by the state government. 'But the issue is that we receive months or even years later,' he adds. 'Moreover, the discount period — when we see peak sales — has been slashed from 101 to 60 days.'
