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Time of India
13 hours ago
- General
- Time of India
Volunteers hold a 4-hour placard vigil every day on Padil–BC Road to curb waste dumping
Mangaluru: In a unique citizen-driven initiative, volunteers have united under the campaign 'Swachategagi Nammondige Neevu, Nimmondige Naavu' to combat the growing issue of waste dumping along the national highway from Padil to BC Road. Launched on World Environment Day, the campaign is a collaborative effort by the Dakshina Kannada district administration, zilla panchayat, Swachh Bharat Mission (Rural), and the gram panchayats of Adyar, Pudu, Thumbe, and Kallige, along with Hasiru Dala, a social impact organisation. Last year, for more than three months, from 5.30am to 9.30am, Nagaraj Raghav Anchan, project manager at Hasiru Dala, stood holding placards at Adyar, urging citizens to stop dumping waste by the roadside, reminding them that it could eventually pollute the Nethravati River. He took up a similar exercise in 2021 when he stood for over three hours daily near the Kallapu stretch of the Nethravati bridge with a similar appeal. He told TOI, "Despite such efforts, illegal dumping between Padil and BC Road worsened, with 20 to 30 black spots identified. Concerned over the growing menace, Anchan approached zilla panchayat deputy secretary Jayalakshmi Raikod. Jayalakshmi is taking the lead in this campaign and has launched 'Waste Dumping Control Squad'. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 오스템 임플란트 받아가세요 임플란터 더 알아보기 Undo These squads, comprising gram panchayat members and Hasiru Dala volunteers, are now stationed at black spots every morning, holding placards and discouraging irresponsible waste disposal. So far, about 20 teams have been formed with support from local panchayats, in addition to a Hasiru Dala team. Plans are also in place to involve schools, youth clubs, and community organisations, encouraging them to dedicate at least one day to the cause. The campaign will continue for the next three months." Anchan said volunteers are also documenting reasons cited by offenders for dumping waste. "Eventually, if violations persist, the panchayat will begin imposing fines. We are hopeful of reducing roadside dumping by at least 90%," he added. The team is also considering deploying volunteers from 8pm to 11pm, a period identified as peak time for illegal dumping. MP takes note The campaign drew attention from Dakshina Kannada MP Capt Brijesh Chowta, who spotted Nagaraj with a placard at Arkula on Friday evening. In a post on X, the MP wrote, "In a world where everyone talks of problems, there are few who take it upon themselves to be part of the solution. Glad to have met Nagraj, who was standing by the roadside at Arkula, holding a placard urging people not to throw garbage by the roadside. More power to such thoughtful citizens who are ensuring Swachh Bharat, as envisioned by our Prime Minister is a reality by relentlessly pursuing it. "The MP said that NH development works are expected to be taken up on this stretch soon and assured him of his support in getting the area cleaned.
Time of India
4 days ago
- Health
- Time of India
Menstrual waste management gets a sustainable shift in DK panchayats
Mangaluru: As part of a zero-waste model initiative, 10 gram panchayats in Dakshina Kannada were identified for waste management interventions through Hasiru Dala. However, managing sanitary waste emerged as one of the most pressing and often overlooked challenges. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now "We receive about 200kg of sanitary waste every day, including diapers and pads. Some panchayats alone generate 100–300kg of such waste daily," said Nagaraj Raghav Anchan, project manager, Hasiru Dala. He said that this kind of waste poses a major environmental and logistical challenge. In response, Hasiru Dala launched a proactive campaign promoting the use of menstrual cups. "We distributed menstrual cups in seven panchayats so far. Wherever we conduct meetings on menstrual hygiene, we create WhatsApp groups, collect feedback, and even have a doctor on hand to address women's concerns. Nearly 90% of the women who where present during wareness shifted to menstrual cups," he added. Beyond menstrual waste, the project focused on improving waste collection systems. "There is no point blaming only the public. We must set up a functioning system," said Anchan. Working closely with Sanjeevani self-help group, the initiative ensured door-to-door collection and awareness drives through IEC activities. The project is supported by SBI Foundation. "We realised that once a proper system is in place, we collect nearly one tonne of waste per day. Wet waste is managed at composting units, while dry waste is routed to Material Recovery Facilities (MRFs)." The campaign also includes educational outreach in schools through sessions on Trashonomics, fostering environmental responsibility from a young age. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now DK zilla panchayat deputy secretary Jayalakshmi Raikod said that awareness is happening, but it will take some time for public mindset to change. 2.5 tonne waste cleared in Neermarga A significant clean-up drive was carried out in Neermarga, recently, by volunteers from Hasiru Dala, with active support from residents. The team cleared nearly 2.5 tonnes of waste from a steep black spot that became an unofficial dumping site. Nagaraj Anchan said that the area was used for waste disposal due to irregular waste collection services. The pile-up led to a strong stench and posed health and environmental concerns. "The situation was quite severe. The terrain made it challenging, but with the help of the community, we managed to clear the spot," he said. Hasiru Dala is also planning a month-long awareness programme in the region. The campaign will focus on educating citizens about responsible waste segregation, proper disposal, and the importance of community involvement in keeping their surroundings clean.
