MGP shares its plan at monthly meeting

Mysuru: The Mysore Grahakara Parishat (MGP) has urged the State Government to issue strict instructions to local authorities to ensure the scientific disposal of waste generated in schools and colleges.

A resolution to this effect was passed unanimously at MGP’s monthly meeting on ‘Clean Mysuru City,’ held at its office in Yadavagiri yesterday. The meeting stressed the need to spread awareness about ‘Beat Plastic Pollution’ campaign across educational institutions.

Participants noted that the DDPI had already directed teachers to ensure that students collect plastic waste from school premises for 10 days and subsequently inform local authorities for its disposal.

MGP members said, Local Bodies should take immediate responsibility for scientific waste management in Govt., aided and unaided schools and colleges.

Administrators, principals and teachers from more than 10 leading schools showed keen interest in MGP’s proposal to involve 10,000 youths in the campaign. They agreed that inculcating the habit of keeping one’s surroundings clean should begin at the kindergarten level.

However, participants expressed concern over asking children to monitor and prevent others from littering. Some questioned what protection would be provided to students if they faced rude behaviour or were hurt while performing such duties.

Representatives of the schools said, eco-clubs and other student clubs were already creating awareness against littering, but acknowledged that maintaining cleanliness even within school campuses remained a challenge. They felt that the initiative would have a better chance of succeeding if self-motivated teachers, rather than those appointed merely to fill official positions, took the lead and inspired at least 50 students each to participate.

MGP Founder-President Bhamy V. Shenoy said that MGP plans to involve at least 10,000 students as ‘Mysuru Clean City Wardens’ to strengthen civic cleanliness efforts.

Responding to a suggestion that schools and colleges adopt the same waste segregation practices followed by municipal workers by separating dry, wet and medical waste, Zone-4 Environmental Officer Sridevi said, MCC would collect up to 100-kg of waste generated by an institution. Institutions generating more than 100-kg would have to make their own arrangements for disposal. She also announced that MCC would organise a quiz contest on environmental issues for students in December.

MGP President S.K. Dinesh, Secretary Prabha Nandesh and Members D.V. Dayananda Sagar, Rakesh, K.G. Mohan, Ravichandra Bekal, Beena Joseph, Vani Prasad, F. Mansoor Ahmed, N. Latha, Dr. Roopa Kadambaiah, S. Harish, Prakash Mullur, Roy Joseph, Harshida Harikumar, V.S. Sethuram, K.G. Shashidhar, Kiran of Parisara Ulisi Samithi, Sridharan, Vijaya Vittala Vidyashala President R. Vasudev Bhat, S. Roopashri, G. Geetha, Mohit R. Bekal, Sharath Kumar and others were present.