Srinagar, Feb 28: ‘Give polythene and get reward’ is the slogan on which Farooq Ahmad Ganaie, a Sarpanch of Sadiwara-A village in Hiller Block of Anantnag is working aimed to clean up the village to prevent household plastic waste into fields and water bodies.
Ganaie, who is an advocate, started the initiative in 2021 by convincing the villagers to build garbage pits in their houses to ensure that solid waste does not get out. He had then also flagged the idea in during Back to Village program of the government.
He started with the idea of constructing garbage pits in each household. It took him two years to work on the idea and later the same concept was followed in other areas of the districts.
“I was very much passionate to get rid of plastic use in the village. I put forth the idea of banning plastic use and the village was appreciated. I started with the theme give polythene and take the reward,” he said.
The 50-year-old said Sadiwara village has 400 households out of which 300 have constructed garbage pits and rest are in process of doing it to make it polythene free.
After “give polythene and get reward” initiative he started getting much attention from the general public who pledged to make the village free form garbage.
Then Ganaie started another idea titled ‘give polythene and get gold and silver coin’.
“I have communicated people to give 20 quintals of polythene and they will get a gold coin. Those people who will give 10 quintals of polythene they will get silver coin even if someone will give a little they will also be rewarded,” he said.
After this idea his family also supported him. He said after segregation and recycling of waste a lot of material could be obtained if processed by using machines.
“This idea has changed people. Now, people keep calling that they have collected waste or polythene in their home and they don’t throw it openly now,” he said.
“Government alone can’t do everything. The credit goes to the people and other government departments who have supported and cooperated in this initiative. It was not possible without their support,” he said.
Ganaie said Sadiwara village will be the first panchayat in Jammu and Kashmir where use and selling of polythene will be completely banned from March 01, 2023.
“There are already bans that have been imposed but these do not work on ground. We will make it sure to implement the ban on single-use plastic,” he said.
Ganaie recounted that when he was appointed as Sarpanch in 2019, he was criticized by everyone even by his close friends.
“My message to people of J&K is come and start working in your respective areas so that our next generation may not suffer due to polluted environment or because of non-availability of water. We have to keep the water bodies clean,” he said.
He has been supported by Rural Development Department, District Administration. Ganaie’s novel idea may soon be replicated across villages in Anantnag.
After his voluntary initiative, now land has been identified in the village for the construction of segregation shed some 1.5 km away. “We are also planning for recycling of the same at the same place,” he said.
“I have also appealed to shopkeepers to give me 100 empty chips and biscuit packages for which they will get the cost of one chips packet,” he said.
“My target is that by end of 2023, there would be not a single polythene piece in Shadiwara village and it will be a model village,” Ganaie said.
Many youth from different communities have joined hands in the mission. The youth of the area have formed a club that helps implement innovative ideas for society’s betterment.
