Schools in Mysuru to take up ‘Beat Plastic Pollution’ campaign

In view of the growing threat to the environment from non-biodegradable plastic material, schools in Mysuru will be embarking on a unique “Beat Plastic Pollution” campaign under which students will be asked to collect discarded plastic pieces and deposit the same at a designated place in the school.

A note issued by the office of Deputy Director (Administration) of School Education Department in Mysuru said the Beat Plastic Pollution campaign envisages the collection of 10 pieces of discarded plastic daily by the students, who will deposit the same in a designated place in the school. “After 10 days, the officials from the City Corporation, Municipality, Town Municipality, Gram Panchayat, Town Panchayat should be called to arrange for the disposal of the collected plastics” said the note.

All schools to implement

The Beat Plastic Pollution campaign is to be implemented in all Government, aided and unaided schools in Mysuru as part of an initiative to create awareness against plastic.

The note issued by the Deputy Director of School Education Department in Mysuru has asked all Block Education Officers of the district to implement the campaign in all government, aided and unaided schools in their respective jurisdictions. The heads of the institutions should be given appropriate guidance in the regard so that use of plastic is gradually reduced.

The note cites a message received by the School Education Department from environmentalist Vasanth Kumar Mysoremath with regard to the Beat Plastic Pollution campaign.

In his suggestion to the Education Department, Mr. Mysoremath, who is also a leading anti-tobacco campaigner in Mysuru, said children can be made ‘achievers’ by asking them to bring 10 pieces or more of discarded plastic from their homes or anywhere and place them in a designated place in their respective schools.

“If there are 1,000 schools with 200 students in each school and if the students bring 10 pieces of plastic every day for 10 days, we will be arresting 2,00,00,000 (two crore) pieces of discarded plastic from our environment in 10 days”, he said while adding that no expenditure is incurred for achieving this “innovative, doable, replicable, economical and sustainable” environment plan of action.

After ten days, the heads of institution call the municipal authorities and request them to collect the plastic pieces gathered by the students of their school. Mr. Mysoremath also suggested that the authorities may consider using the discarded plastic stock for laying roads with the available technology.

The authorities may also consider awarding certificates of honour to the schools and children for collecting the maximum quantity of plastic, said Mr. Mysoremath.