Haritha Karma Sena members given training to increase efficiency
The Kudumbashree district mission organised the function at the Thrikkakara community centre. The district now has 4,024 HKS members. Presidents and secretaries of various HKS consortiums across various local bodies participated in the session in which the possibilities, challenges, and meaningful intervention by the agency were discussed.
Welfare fund board district executive officer S. Jayamohan spoke about the welfare schemes and benefits for the unorganised workforce. HKS members were trained in how to take online membership to benefit from the schemes. Clean Kerala Company Limited technical assistant P.A. Sabitha led the session on segregating non-biodegradable waste. HKS members were trained in auditing and maintaining accounts. They also shared their experiences.
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The Hindu
a day ago
- The Hindu
Local bodies told to ensure a ‘green Onam'
The Local Self-Government department has issued directions to local bodies regarding waste management measures to ensure a 'green Onam.' 'Haritha Onam' will be incorporated in the branding of the Onam celebrations by local bodies across the State this year. A door-to-door campaign to create awareness on waste management will be carried out with Mahabali presented as the 'King of Cleanliness.' In a circular issued on Tuesday, the department asked the local bodies to prepare action plans to weave in ideas on waste management to their respective Onam celebration programmes. The local bodies have to ensure timely collection of waste, especially from commercial centres, and also ensure that the commercial establishments have separate waste bins for segregated waste collection. Temporary common composting arrangements can be made under each local body considering the huge amounts of biodegradable waste that will be produced. The community bio waste processing bins have to be cleared and prepared to meet the demands during the festival season. Similarly, the material collection facilities have to be cleared up foreseeing the non biodegradable waste produced during the season. More waste bins Street hawkers and other temporary commercial establishments which function only during the festival period also should be factored in while planning for waste management. More waste bins have to be placed in areas where crowds are generally seen during the Onam festivities. A charge officer has to be given the responsibility of ensuring periodic cleaning. Various institutions, offices and organisations have to be sensitised to not use banned plastic products for decorations as part of Onam. The local bodies have to organise meetings with traders' representatives to make them aware of the green protocol. Plastic cups, plates, artificial plantain leaf and spoons have to be avoided for Onam Sadya. Steps also have to be taken to promote alternative products to plastic carry bags, such as cloth bags. All non-biodegradable waste, except e-waste and sanitary waste, have to be collected as part of door-stop collection from households before Onam. Vehicles for collection of waste and shifting to the material collection facilities on the same day have to be ensured for all Haritha Karma Sena units. The local bodies have to distribute awards to government and private institutions, commercial establishments, residents' associations and flat complexes which excel in waste management efforts.
News18
3 days ago
- News18
Women in Kerala village turn trash into triumph in grassroots green drive
Kannur(Kerala), Jul 27 (PTI) In a quiet village in this north Kerala district, 28 women are reshaping the narrative around waste—cutting down local refuse and carbon emissions through grassroots innovation, while earning money for a dignified living, in the process. Once limited to sanitation and waste management roles, these women belonging to the Haritha Karma Sena (HKS) at the Kannapuram Grama Panchayat have taken their mission a step further — transforming discarded materials into opportunity, income, and dignity. Under their initiative, old clothes find new life in their hands, reshaped into handmade pots, stylish bags, and eco-friendly home accessories. Broken LED bulbs, once tossed aside, are carefully repaired and made functional again. And instead of promoting single-use plastics at weddings and other local functions, they offer plates and glasses for rent — reducing both waste and cost for the community. The bags, pots, and inoculum — used to aid in composting wet waste — generate revenue by utilising the garbage collected from households, while the renting out of plates and glasses– under the Haritha Mangalyam initiative — helps to reduce the generation of waste such as used paper or styrofoam cups and plates. The repairing of LED bulbs helps reduce the carbon footprint and electronic waste, Sujna M, the Kannur District Resource Person under the Suchitwa Mission, told PTI. Additionally, the 28 women, aged between 37 and 65 years, also run house-cleaning and dishwashing units, which further help to augment their income, which was earlier entirely dependent on the user fee received from waste collection, she added. 'All these enterprises have helped the women increase their income from around Rs 15,000 per month to Rs 25,000 since October last year, when these initiatives were launched as part of a pilot project," Rathi, president of the Kannapuram Grama Panchayat, told PTI. She further said that using cloth collected from households to make bags and pots is an important initiative run by the members of the HKS who have also gone to the central prison here as well as schools and colleges to impart training about it. 'Another profitable unit run by the HKS members is the dishwashing unit. It has turned into a good source of income for them," she added. According to Sujna, Kannapuram is one of the five panchayats in the district that were selected for the pilot project. 'Five grama panchayats — Kannapuram, Chapparapadavu, Payam, Kadirur and Peralassery — were selected as models to implement the green initiatives as part of the overall aim to use HKS for complete waste disposal in the areas under them. 'We are collecting non-degradable and plastic waste from the households. Of all the panchayats in Kerala, Chapparapadavu is the one which has the distinction of completing the work in 10 days," she said, while speaking to PTI. Soon we will be establishing a unit in these panchayats for collection of organic waste and converting it into fertiliser for crops, she added. At Kannapuram, the 28-member HKS unit functions in four clusters in the 14 wards of the panchayat. Giving details of the work done by them, Nishita said that collection of non-degradable waste from households is usually completed within the first 15 days of a month, leaving the remaining days for them to run these enterprises. 'Rest are run on the basis of orders received. There has been a good increase in our income since we began working on these initiatives," Nishita, who has been part of the HKS for the last six years, told PTI. The pots cost between Rs 50 to Rs 100 based on their size, the bags are sold at Rs 5 a piece and one LED bulb is repaired for Rs 40 and the 28 members have been provided with an office space and room to carry out these activities, she said. The LED bulb repairs benefit the house owners who do not have to buy new ones, she said, adding that LED bulbs discarded by people are repaired and used by the HKS for itself. The overall aim behind these initiatives is to reduce the waste generated in a panchayat and the carbon footprint, Sujana said. Kannur district has taken up these initiatives as a model, as it has led the way in implementing various other green measures — like the first 'Haritha' railway station, and the first 'Haritha' jail, she said. Another reason behind the move is the fact that the HKS members are free for more than half the month after they complete the waste collection process. top videos View all 'During that time, they do not have the option to go for any other work, including under the MGNREGA scheme, as they may have to work if their services are suddenly required. 'So, all these initiatives were launched to help them earn extra income when they are free," she said. 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Hindustan Times
3 days ago
- Hindustan Times
Gurugram: MCG to penalise bulk waste violators, launches enforcement drive
The Municipal Corporation of Gurugram (MCG) will launch a city-wide enforcement campaign against Bulk Waste Generators (BWGs) found violating the Solid Waste Management Rules, 2016, in a bid to improve sanitation and enforce environmental norms. To be sure, BWGs—defined as establishments generating 100 kilograms or more of waste per day—are legally obligated to segregate waste at the source into wet, dry, and hazardous categories. (HT Archive) The civic body will start issuing fines to non-compliant establishments from Monday, with the initial round involving issuance of notices and strict fines for continued violations. 'Entities not following the solid waste management norms will now face strict penalties. Initially, notices will be issued, and if non-compliance persists, heavy fines will follow,' said MCG commissioner Pradeep Dahiya, adding that the initiative is part of a broader awareness campaign. 'Despite repeated awareness campaigns, compliance remains poor. Now is the time for strict enforcement,' Dahiya said. To be sure, BWGs—defined as establishments generating 100 kilograms or more of waste per day—are legally obligated to segregate waste at the source into wet, dry, and hazardous categories. These include large housing societies, hotels, industrial units, institutional buildings, and office complexes. While wet waste must be composted on-site, dry and hazardous waste should be handed over to authorised recyclers, the MCG said. Officials clarified that the drive is not meant to be punitive alone but also aims to strengthen compliance and awareness among high-volume waste producers. The civic body has also urged all BWGs to implement proper segregation and disposal systems, promising technical assistance for those who need it. The move, authorities believe, will improve Gurugram's waste management ecosystem and position it as a model for sustainable urban living.
