Manage waste well, say children too

by August 28, 2012 Environment

2000 students met BBMP Commissioner and appealed to BBMP to implement an effective solid waste management system for Bangalore. On their part, they promised to completely stop using polythene bags and littering.

Given the current garbage situation in Bangalore, it is interesting to take note of the future generation’s perspectives on the same. Around 2,000 civic club members from CMCA (Children’s Movement for Civic Awareness) voiced their opinion on the whole issue and students from 50 schools signed and submitted a memorandum to Shankarlinge Gowda, the then commissioner of Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP), on August 3rd.

CMCA civic club children handing over the memorandum to the then BBMP Commissioner Shankarlinge Gowda. Pic: CMCA

A few of the schools that took part in the drive are Sacred Heart Girls High School, Army Public School, St Josephs Boys High School, Prasiddhi School, Baldwin Boys High School, St Josephs Indian High School, St Aloysius Boys High School, Frank Anthony Public School and Delhi Public School.

They made a fervent appeal to the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike to implement an effective solid  waste management system for Bengaluru by:

  • Making waste segregation in homes, medical and commercial establishments compulsory.
  • Completely banning the use of plastic bags in the city.
  • Introducing effective systems to ensure E-Waste and toxic waste is collected and disposed safely.
  • Creating scientific landfills that don’t pollute and poison our own environment and that of surrounding villages, threatening our right to health and life.
  • Ensuring greater transparency in awarding and implementing garbage removal and disposal contracts.  
  • Ensuring that contractors collect and dispose our waste as per rules and law.
  • Ensuring Pourakarmikas employed by garbage contractors are secured of minimum wages and safe working conditions.  
  • Launching a massive and sustained public education drive in Bangalore to ensure citizens stop littering the streets and start segregating waste in their homes.

The children promised to stop the complete usage of polythene bags and littering. They also said that they would educate others around them to be sensitive to the problems and conditions of Pourakarmikas and treat them with respect and dignity.

CMCA is a 12 year old civil society organisation which runs an innovative civic club program across 6 cities and villages in Karnataka, to inculcate civic and democratic values in children. For more details visit www.cmcaindia.org⊕

Sections:

About Priya Krishnamurthy

Read more by Priya Krishnamurthy

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Similar Story

Namma Metro construction taking a huge toll on air quality and public health

by January 9, 2025 Environment
Guidelines and rules for management of construction waste and dust mitigation at Namma Metro construction sites exist on paper, but are mostly ignored.

For Emil Vinayaraj, a resident of Jayamahal, regular commute has changed. “I have to take a different route now, avoiding Pottery Road where Namma Metro construction is happening. The situation in the area is far from livable right now for residents, as the dust and pollution is just too much,” he says. Emil’s house is close to three new metro stations along the Pink Line — Shivaji Nagar, Cantonment Station and Pottery Town — and residents of this entire area have been facing the brunt of the ongoing work. Similarly, Sri Shanthini, who lives near the Electronic City metro construction…

Continue reading

Similar Story

Explainer: Where can you access data on air quality in Mumbai?

by January 7, 2025 Environment
Experts and activists say air quality in Mumbai must be treated as an emergency now. But both citizens and policymakers need data for that.

Mumbai may not yet be Delhi but it doesn't mean that the air we breathe in the city is healthy. Though Delhi stands out among the most polluted cities during winters with its smog and alarming levels of AQI, the toxicity of Mumbai air is considered to be higher, according to this report from The Times of India. This is because of the increasing concentration of PM2.5 from automobiles, industries, construction activities and garbage burning, all of which affect air quality. Read more: Mumbai’s air pollution: Smog chal raha hai Mumbai's proximity to the sea is no longer a guarantee…

Continue reading