Eloor Municipality scores with football-themed cleanliness campaign

Kochi: As football fever grips Kerala with giant cut-outs and banners dominating public spaces, Eloor municipality found an innovative way to channel the sporting excitement towards promoting cleanliness and responsible waste management.As part of an awareness drive against littering and to encourage proper waste segregation, the civic body installed special flex boards at locations including Pathalam and Kambanippady within municipality limits. The boards feature popular football stars alongside sanitation-themed messages aimed at catching the attention of football enthusiasts.The campaign combines the passion for the game with civic responsibility through slogans such as “Kick Out Waste, Lift the Cup”, “One City, One Team, One Goal” and “Eloor Municipality in Rainbow Colours”.“When the health wing decided to launch a football-based awareness initiative, it received wholehearted support from the sanitation staff of the local body, helping turn the idea into reality. We also started social media campaigns as part of the initiative,” said James S P, Clean City manager of the municipality.According to municipality chairperson Laiji Sajeevan, the initiative seeks to communicate messages on cleanliness and waste segregation in a manner that is engaging and easily relatable.

“Football enjoys immense popularity in Eloor, particularly among fans of teams and players from Argentina, Brazil and Portugal. We hope this initiative helps young people connect with the message,” she said.Eloor municipality has received several awards for its efforts on waste management. Last year, the municipality was declared the best local body in district as part of state govt’s Malinya Muktham Navakeralam campaign under Haritha Kerala Mission.The municipality was also awarded the Silver Award instituted by state pollution control board in recognition of its achievements in environmental protection and pollution control.