Sadiwara, a small village in South Kashmir’s Anantnag district, has come up with a unique initiative to tackle plastic waste and protect the environment. The village Panchayat has launched a campaign called ‘Give Plastic and Take Gold,’ offering a gold coin to anyone who collects 20 quintals of plastic waste. The initiative was started by Farooq Ahmad Ganai, a lawyer by profession and Sarpanch of the village.
In just 15 days, the whole village became plastic-free, thanks to the efforts of the locals. Speaking to ANI, Ganai said, “I started a slogan in my village, give polythene and get a reward. I took the initiative to clean the rivers and streams. Now everyone in the village helped us to clear the sites.” The campaign has gained popularity and has been adopted by other panchayats as well.
The collected plastic waste is handed over to Panchayat members for proper disposal. The village is now completely clean, with no heaps of plastic littering the roads and streets. Sadiwara has become an inspiration for other villages, and the government is attempting to replicate the initiative in every village of the Union territory.
Riyaz Ahmad, the Assistant Commissioner Development Anantnag, stated, “Under Swach Bharat Abhiyan 2, we have to make our village’s polythene and garbage-free, and in this regard, Sadiwara Panchayat, along with the District administration, has started this model. This is not a government scheme so that people get motivated to clean their villages.” The initiative has been praised and appreciated by all.
Shakeel Wani, the President of the Sadiwara Youth Club, said, “Locals of all age groups had shown interest when the Panchayat exhorted them to collect plastic waste from garbage dumps, rivers and roads.” The campaign has been successful in raising awareness about the harmful effects of plastic waste on the environment and encouraging people to take action.
Sadiwara’s unique initiative shows that simple ideas can have a significant impact on the environment. The campaign has not only made the village clean and free of plastic waste but has also motivated other villages to take similar steps. The success of the initiative lies in the participation of the locals, who have worked together to make their village a better place to live.
The ‘Give Plastic and Take Gold’ campaign is an excellent example of how rewards and incentives can be used to promote environmental awareness and action. The initiative has shown that it is possible to tackle plastic waste effectively, and it is a reminder that we all have a responsibility to protect our environment.
