Latest news with #MeendumManjappai
Time of India
3 days ago
- General
- Time of India
Most manjappai vending machines lie idle in Coimbatore
A manjappai vending machine. Photo by P Sreedharan COIMBATORE: Automatic cloth bag vending machines, introduced as part of an eco-friendly initiative under the Meendum Manjappai scheme, are lying idle in Coimbatore. The machines -- each costing approximately Rs 1 lakh to Rs 1.5 lakh -- was installed in 15 locations in the district, according to the Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board (TNPCB) website. They were installed in places including the district collectorate, Gandhipuram bus stand, R S Puram Uzhavar Sandhai, the flower market on the Mettupalayam Road, Sulur and Pollachi. The machine's capacity ranges from 250 to 500 bags. Most of these machines are now non-functional and abandoned. The machines were installed to promote the use of cloth bags as a replacement for single-use plastic bags by the public. Despite an investment of more than Rs 10 lakh on these machines, public awareness about their existence remains low. As part of the campaign, an app integrated with GIS mapping of these machines was launched for public use. TOI visited the flower market, Gandhipuram bus stand, RS Puram Uzhavar Sandhai and collectorate to check the functional status of these machines. The machine on the collectorate premises had a few bags but was non-functional due to a disconnected electricity supply. The situation at the Gandhipuram bus stand was not different, with the machine showing clear signs of neglect. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like American Investor Warren Buffett Recommends: 5 Books For Turning Your Life Around Blinkist: Warren Buffett's Reading List Undo R Gomathi Devi, a commuter at Gandhipuram bus stand, said, "For more than a year, I have rarely seen this machine functioning. I believe many people are unaware of its existence. Regardless of usage, regular maintenance would attract people. Even if the machine is operational, its dusty appearance creates an impression of being defunct." A flower vendor at the bus stand added, "The machine's placement near the bus office is not ideal. It should be installed in areas with high purchasing activity like the Crosscut Road. This would encourage people to choose cloth bags over plastic covers." Responding to these concerns, a TNPCB official said, "While TNPCB handles the installation of machines, their maintenance is the local administration's responsibility. Corporation or panchayat should maintain it. We can inspect the condition based on public complaints, which can also be registered through the app."
The Hindu
05-07-2025
- General
- The Hindu
TNPCB ropes in influencers to promote Manjappai campaign
In an effort to expand the reach of the Meendum Manjappai campaign to a broader and younger audience, the Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board has partnered with social media content creators to promote eco-friendly alternatives to plastic. Launched in 2021, the campaign promotes the use of cloth bags and other eco-alternatives to reduce the production and consumption of single-use plastic bags in the State. Supriya Sahu, Additional Chief Secretary to the Department of Environment, Climate Change, and Forests, said that traditional public service messaging can often be didactic and information-heavy, making it difficult to engage the public, especially when the subject is as abstract as environmental conservation. 'Messages about education and the environment are harder to communicate than, say, topics like food, which have an instant appeal,' she said. 'Plastics have been in use for over five decades, so it is unrealistic to expect behavioural change in just a few years. But we are exploring new communication strategies to influence people's habits,' she added. Ms. Sahu said that involving digital creators was a conscious move to modernise messaging and make it more relatable. 'The Manjappai is a strong symbol; it is rooted in our culture and heritage,' she said. For Chennai-based lifestyle content creator Mahalakshmi, who has over 50,000 followers, the cloth bag is both eco-friendly and fashionable. 'These bags look really cool,' she said. She believes awareness around carrying cloth bags has grown significantly in recent years. 'It is high time we control the use of plastic bags. While it may not be possible to completely stop plastic production, we can definitely regulate it.' As an animal lover, Ms. Mahalakshmi also highlights the harmful effects of plastic waste on wildlife. Jones Vasanth, a 37-year-old content creator, said that he became aware of the campaign through social media. 'I'm not sure how effective it will be, but I do think sustainability is important,' he said. His interest in the topic was sparked by documentaries on global warming, overproduction, and plastic pollution. 'Sometimes it feels like there is nothing we can do. But this campaign is something small and practical,' he said, adding that its impact would be meaningful, only if the sale of plastic products was also curbed.
