Latest news with #HarithaKarmaSena
The Hindu
31-05-2025
- Business
- The Hindu
1,900 households registered under Digital Haritha Karma Sena
Heal Ponnurunni Society (HPS) in the Ponnurunni East division of the Kochi Corporation, which has emerged as a model in sustainable waste management since its inception in December 2023, has set a new benchmark in QR code-based user fee collection for doorstep waste collection by the Haritha Karma Sena. A total of 1,828 households have been registered across the division. In May alone, ₹1.98 lakh was collected as user fees under the Digital Heal Haritha Karma Sena initiative, while the total collection since the launch of the project stands at ₹38.67 lakh. Outstanding dues amount to ₹6.58 lakh. The QR code-based user fee system has been integrated into Kochi Corporation's multi-purpose app, My Kochi. 'Ours is perhaps the only division in the State where QR code-based user fee collection has been fully implemented. Elsewhere, scanning the QR code only reveals whether a household is giving its waste to Haritha Karma Sena or not. In our case, multiple households in the same multi-storeyed buildings have been brought under the QR system using separate building numbers issued by the Corporation,' said Dipin Dileep, division councillor. The waste collected is scientifically and hygienically converted into organic manure, without leaving any room for residents to complain about issues such as foul odour. Two months ago, HPS began marketing its organic manure under the brand name Heal Environment. The enriched manure is sold at ₹30 per kilogram and the raw manure form at ₹20 per kilogram through a small outlet near the Vyttila flyover. The product has received a positive response, with repeat customers generating ₹31,726 in sales during the period. 'We are also engaged in organic farming using our own manure on vacant plots, based on agreements with the landowners. Currently, we are cultivating vegetables on 76 cents spread across four such plots in the division. The produce is sold under the brand Heal Harvest, which has brought in ₹57,158 so far, along with ₹12,481 from the sale of grow bags. The initiative also addresses complaints about vacant plots turning into dumping yards,' Mr. Dileep added. The Kochi Corporation has also granted HPS permission to collect waste from small establishments that are not classified as bulk waste generators. The income from these initiatives helps HPS cover its operational expenses, including staff wages.
Time of India
30-05-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Kochi city to be declared waste-free in Aug
Kochi: Kochi corporation decided to take steps to declare the city waste-free in Aug. Corporation council, held on Thursday, gave its nod for the same. Mayor M Anilkumar suggested an action plan to achieve this goal. "Declaration will be made in Aug, adhering to all state govt guidelines," he said. Each division will be allocated Rs 1 lakh for waste clearance. Health insurance cover will be provided for Haritha Karma Sena members and they will also be given uniforms, gloves, etc. QR codes, as part of Clean Kochi app, will be installed in all households and establishments to ensure proper removal of waste and payment of collection fees. Roads will be beautified with cooperation of various political parties and organizations, starting from Mangalavanam to Durbar Hall. "Councillors should go to each household in their divisions and ensure that QR code for waste collection is installed there. Checking should be conducted at shops and other institutions as well," he said. "A calendar-based waste collection system will be ensured to make the process efficient and accurate," mayor said. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Accounting Automation Software Might Help You To Earn More Accounting Automation Software | Search ads Undo "Commercial establishments operating without licence will be identified. More vehicles and facilities will be made available for waste removal and collection. Strict instructions will be given to all institutions to ensure green protocol while conducting events and daily operations. Vacant plots in the city will be taken over for cleaning as per Disaster Management Act. A Rs 5-crore project is being prepared to clean and beautify areas, including Fort Kochi Beach, with the support of state govt and tourism department," Anilkumar said. A monitoring committee led by secretary will be responsible and they will be accountable if the goal is not achieved within the specified time. Opposition has expressed support for the activities aimed at making city waste-free. "But before making the declaration, there should be measures to ensure that city is really waste-free," opposition leader Antony Kureethara said. "Waste remains piled up in many places and we should ensure its proper removal," he said.
The Hindu
18-05-2025
- General
- The Hindu
Seed balls to heal forests and prevent wildlife conflicts in Kerala
The Forest department is set to roll out an innovative ecological restoration initiative using 'seed balls', made from a mix of native plant seeds, soil, compost, cow dung and natural fungicides like turmeric. Designed to germinate wherever they land, these eco-friendly capsules (vitthundas, in local parlance) offer a low-cost solution to reviving degraded landscapes. Beyond reforestation, the effort aims to mitigate human-wildlife conflict by enriching natural food sources within forest areas, thereby reducing the incentive for animals to venture into human habitats. Focus on native species The ambitious initiative 'Vitthoot', which will be conducted from June 15 to August 15, has been integrated into the department's comprehensive Mission Food, Fodder and Water project which aims to enhance wildlife habitats by ensuring water and food availability in forests. It will focus on local species such as bamboo and fruit-bearing trees like Syzygium cumini (jamun), Ficus genus (figs) and jackfruits, which are vital food sources for wildlife. 'Seed balls are usually employed in remote and inaccessible areas, including deserts and regions hit by fires or invasive species,' an official said. 'This method has never been implemented before in Kerala, where we traditionally plant saplings as part of afforestation drives.' Collaborative efforts The seed ball programme will focus on degraded forests, exposed hilltops, abandoned plantations, weed-infested areas, fire-burnt and landslide-hit zones and dam catchment areas. The department has identified specific regions, with each forest section considered as a unit for planting. For every identified site, which can range from 10 cents to 3 hectares, approximately 2,000 seed balls will be planted per acre. At least five identified locations will be covered each day during the two-month-long project. The Vitthoot initative will be carried out in collaboration with the Kerala Forest Research Institute, which is overseeing training in seed ball preparation. The initiative will also see wide community involvement with Kudumbashree, Haritha Karma Sena workers, Eco-Development Committee and Vana Samrakshana Samithi members, NCC and SPC cadets, and local schools and colleges playing active roles in the preparation and distribution of the seed balls.
Indian Express
15-05-2025
- Politics
- Indian Express
How Kerala's Eloor municipality turned landfill site into football field
Until 2015, the landfill site in Kuzhikkandam in Kerala's municipal town of Eloor was the place where the town dumped its waste. Teeming with mounds and mounds of perishables, paper and plastic, the landfill's putrid stench that hung in the air for kilometres. Today, the dump yard has turned into a newly-built football turf — complete with lush green lawns, paved pathways and gleaming green grills – all thanks to the local civic body's scientific and decentralised waste management. Undertaken under the state government's Ambedkar Village Development Programme for the integrated development of Dalit settlements, the new football ground was thrown open to the public Monday. Significantly, the site is close to a Dalit settlement. While inaugurating the ground, Industries Minister P Rajeeve, the Communist Party of India (Marxist) legislator from Kalamassery assembly constituency under which the town falls, said there were many who raised doubts about whether a dumping yard can be turned into a playground. The landfill — measuring 0.49 acres — was closed in 2015 following protests from locals. 'When the local body closed down the yard (in 2015), many continued to dump their waste there in breach of decision. The municipality took action against it, even as it rolled out many steps for scientific waste management. Now, Eloor municipality has become a role model in waste management,' the minister said. According to the minister, the state government chipped in Rs 40 lakh for the football turf while the CPI(M)-ruled municipality paid Rs 20 lakh. 'Over a decade back, local CPI(M) leaders, including me, had led agitations against dumping of the waste near the Dalit settlement,' municipal chairperson A D Sujil told The Indian Express. 'In 2015, the municipal council decided to close the garbage yard and we launched the Clean Eloor project, which led to a makeover of the municipality.' According to officials, following the 2015 closure of the landfill, the local body set up aerobic compost bins in various parts of the town as part of its 'Clean Eloor' project. The civic body's initiative to engage women to collect plastic waste from houses later eventually evolved into one of Kerala's flagship programmes – the Haritha Karma Sena, a force of women employed by a local body for collection of non-degradable domestic waste, Sujit says. In 2018, Eloor became among the first municipal bodies to launch the Haritha Karma Sena. According to Sujil, the idea of converting the garbage yard into a football ground came after P Rajeeve became legislator in 2021. 'Legacy waste in the yard was segregated into degradable and non-degradable and taken out. Members of Haritha Karma Sena collected all types of non-biodegradable waste from 12,000-odd houses in the municipality. The sena covers around 99 percent of households in the municipality. For processing biodegradable waste, the municipality has biocomposite bins in houses and public places as well,' he said, adding that it was after this that work on the football field began. Still talking about Haritha Karma Sena, Sujitv said the civic body currently has 32 women as members of the body. 'A member of the Sena earns at least Rs 21,000 from the user fee collected from households and the sale of non-biodegradable waste, including plastic, glassware and e-waste, collected from households. These women, mainly from BPL families, also get a bonus from the consortium,' he said. Last week, a team of officials from the Goa State Livelihood Mission visited Eloor to study the functioning of the Haritha Karma Sena.
New Indian Express
14-05-2025
- General
- New Indian Express
Thiruvananthapuram Corporation to equip Haritha Karma Sena members with electric tricycle
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: In an effort to strengthen, improve efficiency and service delivery of Haritha Karma Sena members, the city corporation is gearing up to distribute 15 modern electric tricycles for waste management in the state capital. The project, being implemented in collaboration with Social Alpha, University of Toronto India Foundation, KDISC and KILA is expected to help Haritha Karma Sena members in managing waste. At present there are around 1,170 Haritha Karma Sena members engaged in door-to-door waste collection in 100 wards. Official sources say, they cover around 88 per cent of households in the state capital. 'The coverage has exponentially increased and there are a lot of gaps in infrastructure. Lack of pick-up vehicles to move waste is a major challenge faced by them. The electric tricycles are purchased with CSR funds,' said an official of the health wing under the city corporation. Each electric tricycle costs around Rs 65,000. 'The vehicles will be distributed to 15 Haritha Karma Sena units and will be used for waste management in 15 corporation wards. The civic body is planning to procure 75 more pick-up vehicles for Haritha Karma Sena units this year,' said the official. The selected beneficiaries are being trained by the Indus Cycling Embassy. SheCycling senior national project coordinator Seenath M A gave training for the Haritha Karma Sena members.
