Latest news with #SuchitwaMission
Time of India
4 days ago
- Business
- Time of India
How 28 women from a small Kerala village turn rubbish into rupees 25,000 a month, and a greener future
In a quiet corner of northern Kerala, a group of 28 women are redefining environmental activism and women's empowerment, one bag, pot, and repaired LED bulb at a time. In the village of Kannapuram in Kannur district, the women of the Haritha Karma Sena (HKS) are leading a silent green revolution. Traditionally confined to waste collection and sanitation work, they have now become entrepreneurs, environmental stewards, and community leaders, turning trash into income, dignity, and climate-positive action. The HKS team has embraced upcycling and waste reduction in ingenious ways. Old clothes, collected from households, are repurposed into eco-friendly bags, home décor pots, and composting aids. Discarded LED bulbs are carefully restored and reused, and single-use plastics at weddings and functions are being replaced by rentable steel plates and glasses under their Haritha Mangalyam initiative. 'These activities not only reduce the village's carbon footprint, but also offer meaningful income to the women,' said Sujna M, Kannur District Resource Person for the Suchitwa Mission , speaking to PTI. The grassroots innovations have been so successful that the women's average monthly income has jumped from approximately Rs 15,000 to Rs 25,000 since the project launched in October 2024. Live Events Headed by Nishita, the 28-member team operates across 14 wards, working in four clusters. They collect non-degradable waste from households within the first two weeks of the month. The remaining days are spent running micro-enterprises based on community orders. "Since starting these initiatives, our income has increased significantly. It's also rewarding to know we're helping both the environment and the local community,' said Nishita, who has been with HKS for six years. Items are affordably priced: eco-pots cost Rs 50–Rs 100, reusable bags are just Rs 5, and LED bulb repair services are offered for Rs 40 per unit. The repaired bulbs are either returned to households or used internally by the team. Beyond eco-products, HKS members also operate a profitable dishwashing and house-cleaning unit, further adding to their income and making them less reliant on the fees from waste collection alone. Training Behind Bars and in Classrooms Beyond just production, these women are educators. The HKS team has been invited to train students in schools, colleges, and even inmates at the central prison in Kannur, passing on their skills and vision for a greener future. "This initiative isn't just about income. It's about building confidence and showing that waste can be a resource when handled with creativity and responsibility," said Rathi, president of the Kannapuram Grama Panchayat. A Model for the State Kannapuram is one of five panchayats chosen for a pilot green initiative programme in Kannur district, along with Chapparapadavu, Payam, Kadirur, and Peralassery. These models aim to demonstrate how HKS-led initiatives can achieve complete waste management , reduce landfill burden, and lower emissions at the community level. 'Chapparapadavu, for instance, achieved total waste collection in just 10 days,' said Sujna. 'Now we're setting up organic waste collection units to convert kitchen waste into fertiliser for crops.' The Bigger Green Picture Kerala has increasingly embraced 'Haritha' (green) reforms across various sectors. Kannur district now boasts the first green-certified railway station and the first eco-conscious jail in the state. 'These HKS-led microenterprises give women a reliable, sustainable income during the half of the month when waste collection work is paused,' said Sujna. 'Due to the possibility of urgent assignments, they cannot take up regular jobs or even MGNREGA work. These in-house initiatives keep them engaged, empowered, and earning.' With participants aged between 37 and 65, the programme is proving that age is no barrier to innovation. Through sustainable practices and community-rooted enterprise, the women of Kannapuram are not only helping clean up their village, they're showing the rest of the state, and the country, how waste can be turned into worth. Inputs from PTI
New Indian Express
5 days ago
- Business
- New Indian Express
Kerala govt plans tax incentive to boost source-level waste management
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The state government is planning to introduce a 5% discount on property tax for households with source-level waste management systems in a bid to encourage people to adopt processing of biodegradable garbage at the place of origin. Disposal of biodegradable waste remains a major challenge for the local self-government department (LSGD) and its source-level management remains low despite the state government's flagship cleanliness campaign, 'Malinya Muktha Nava Keralam'. A recent survey by the LSGD revealed that only 23% of households currently manage waste at source, prompting the government to think about incentives to woo the people to its processing at place of origin. The survey launched by the Suchitwa Mission in 94.58 lakh households found that only 25.12 lakh households possess some kind of waste management infrastructure like kitchen bins, ring compost, biogas plant or composting pits. LSGD Minister M B Rajesh told TNIE that the 5% discount is under government's serious consideration. 'Though the (Malinya Muktha Nava Keralam) campaign helped the local bodies in improving overall waste management, it failed to generate the expected impact on households. We want more households to adopt source-level waste management systems,' he said. Centralised waste management facilities are only for major cities and will focus only on bulk waste generators, Rajesh said. 'A final decision on the tax discount will be announced next week after analysing its financial impact on the local bodies,' the minister added.
Time of India
6 days ago
- Business
- Time of India
Civic body faces heat over bio-composter contracts
T'puram: With just three months left in its tenure, the city corporation has come under fire for alleged irregularities in awarding contracts for bio-composter kitchen bins meant for household waste management. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Documents received by TOI alleged that the civic body was bypassing standard procedures, including e-tendering norms, in selecting service providers for the installation and maintenance of bio-composter bins. The allegations point to systematic favouritism towards two companies, Coimbatore-based Omega Ecotech Products India Pvt Ltd and Palakkad-based IRTC, since 2016. According to sources, instead of floating a formal tender, the corporation invited expressions of interest (EOI) to sidestep mandatory procurement rules. Omega was given the contract during the first five years from 2016, while IRTC handled it for the next three years. In Jan 2025, despite objections from BJP councillors, the corporation reappointed Omega through a council decision. The controversy deepens with revelations that Omega is not accredited by Suchitwa Mission. Despite this, the companies received contracts worth a total of Rs 15.37 crore between 2016 and 2024, including Rs 4.87 crore for the ongoing year. The contracts were awarded based on invoices from Omega, allegedly bypassing the requirement for e-tendering in purchases exceeding Rs 5 lakh, sources said in the document. In response to mounting protests, the corporation finally initiated an e-tendering process this year. Four companies submitted bids: Omega (Rs 1,876 per unit), Ram Biologicals (Rs 1,653), Radico (Rs 1,928), and Green Village (Rs 1,975). While Ram Biologicals quoted the lowest rate, the corporation disqualified it, citing the company's prior blacklisting by Suchitwa Mission for failing to implement kitchen bins in 2017 and 2022. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now The firm is also reportedly under vigilance investigation following audit reports, sources alleged. Interestingly, Ram Biologicals also submitted the lowest bid in 2022–23, yet the contract went to IRTC. Critics claim this repeated pattern points to a deeper problem. However, health standing committee chairperson Gayathri Babu refuted the allegations. "Omega was chosen purely on merit. A technical committee comprising Suchitwa Mission officials evaluated all bids based on 10 selection guidelines and Omega came out on top. It was not the decision made by the corporation alone. They are not just suppliers but service providers who offer chatbot-based assistance and have good user feedback. I am willing to defend our decision publicly. That said, I cannot comment on decisions made in previous terms," she told TOI. She also added that the contract with IRTC was not renewed as they did not provide an end-to-end solution for users.
Time of India
22-07-2025
- General
- Time of India
Strict green protocol to be followed for Vavubali
Thiruvananthapuram : The annual Karkidaka Vavubali ritual, scheduled for Thursday, will be held in full compliance with green protocol guidelines issued by the district Suchitwa Mission. The aim is to ensure the event remains eco-friendly and free from non-biodegradable waste. This year, the district administration has imposed a total ban on bottled water and single-use items like plastic cups and plates at all Vavubali sites. Instead, drinking water kiosks will be installed at as many locations as possible. Devotees are encouraged to use steel or ceramic utensils provided at these kiosks for both water and refreshments. Artificially sweetened soft drinks are discouraged. Natural alternatives like tender coconut water, lemon water, and neera will be promoted and served in reusable containers. Plastic straws are strictly prohibited. All flex and plastic banners have been banned. Organisers have been advised to use banners made of cloth, paper, banana leaves, or palm leaves to maintain environmental harmony. Waste bins made from natural materials such as bamboo, coconut fronds and palm leaves will replace plastic bins. Traditional offerings and light meals like ada and kozhukatta will be served on banana leaves or similar natural alternatives. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Up to 70% off | Shop Sale Libas Undo Buffet counters using steel or ceramic serving dishes will replace the use of packed meals, helping to reduce disposable waste. The guidelines also mandate strict waste segregation. Organic and inorganic waste must be separated at the source. Onsite facilities should handle organic waste processing, while cleaned and dried inorganic waste is to be handed over to local bodies or authorised scrap dealers. Plastic decorations, artificial flowers and buntings are not permitted. Only eco-friendly materials are to be used. Public announcements and signage will be used to educate participants on the environmental impact of plastic. The Suchitwa Mission stressed that public participation and cooperation are crucial for the effective enforcement of these guidelines. The ritual will be conducted mainly at Thiruvallam Parasurama Temple, Shankhumugham Beach, Aruvippuram Temple, Varkala Papanasam Beach and at many temples in the district.
The Hindu
18-07-2025
- General
- The Hindu
Proper records help Kozhikode, Payyoli climb ranks in national cleanliness survey
The Kozhikode Corporation and Payyoli municipality have made impressive gains in the Swachh Survekshan 2024 rankings released on Thursday (July 17, 2025). The Corporation rose from 3,367 in 2023 to 70 this year, while Payyoli jumped from 3,707 to 596. Payyoli was also listed among the 20 cities awarded 'one star' in the 'Garbage Free Cities' category. 'It is not about what we did this year to improve the ranking, but about what we did not do in the previous years,' said S. Jayasree, health standing committee chairperson of the Corporation, who stressed that proper documentation and timely entries under the guidance of the Suchitwa Mission made all the difference this time. 'We have been doing our work well over the past few years, and the results were evident. However, we never gave much importance to the Swachh Survekshan Survey, and as a result, failed to present our achievements effectively during the inspections. All that changed this year,' she added. Payyoli municipal chairman V.K. Abdurahman believed that sustained efforts to maintain cleanliness in the town over the past few years had now paid off. 'We worked diligently to achieve the best possible results under the State government's 'Malinya Muktha Navakeralam' project,' he said. The municipality houses a material recovery facility (MCF) considered a model for the entire State, in addition to having a mini MCF in every division. Funds have already been earmarked for setting up more MCFs wherever needed. 'Installing awareness boards in public spaces, conducting awareness drives through mural paintings, and placing CCTV cameras at locations prone to illegal dumping helped us meet the target,' Mr. Abdurahman added. The intervention of the Suchitwa Mission in preparing local bodies for the survey has yielded results across the State, evident from the number of local bodies, including major cities, that have made significant leaps in the rankings. This is the first time any urban civic body in Kerala has come within the top 1,000 ranks since the survey began in 2016.
