Srinagar, July 23: The Amarnath Yatra 2024 pilgrimage is set to be free of plastic and waste, largely due to unique initiatives by the Housing and Urban Development Department. The department’s extensive awareness campaign has greatly influenced the pilgrims, encouraging them to act responsibly during their journey.
The department has provided sustainable kits to the pilgrims, which include items like a steel water bottle, spoon, glass, bamboo toothbrush, cloth bag, cloth hand towel, and herbal soap, and have become immensely popular among pilgrims.
“This innovative experiment was conducted with a behavioural change approach, and the results have been incredibly successful,” said Mandeep Kaur (IAS), Commissioner Secretary of the Housing and Urban Development Department.
She said, “We are distributing 50,000 kits for free, and the pilgrims are highly enthusiastic and inspired by this program. Those who have gotten the kits have pledged to abandon plastic bottles and to adopt more eco-friendly practices.”
This new eco-friendly and sustainable package initiative is expected to cut the amount of plastic used by 30 to 40 percent during the entire pilgrimage, Kaur said. “This means there will be a big drop in the number of over 5 lakh plastic bottles, 15 lakh disposable items, and more than 1 lakh single-use plastic bags. This is very evident in the decreased single-use plastic waste along the yatra route,” she added.
The Commissioner Secretary said this experiment was very successful and is the first of its kind in India. Under the Swachh Bharat Mission Urban, this initiative will serve as a model for making all future pilgrimages completely plastic-free, she said.
Pilgrims can get these kits as gifts through IEC programs at 19 places, including Pantha Chowk in Srinagar, Bhagwati Nagar Yatri Niwas in Jammu, and other locations like Lakhanpur, Vijaypur, Hiranagar, Kathua, Samba, Udhampur, Ramban, Manigam, Ashmakam, Pahalgam, and Anantnag.
These kits have emerged as a solution for waste reduction. By promoting sustainable lifestyles and steel usage, the kits will encourage pilgrims to adopt a waste-free and single-use plastic-free approach in their daily lives as well, Mandeep said.
She said the Housing and Urban Development Department’s unique initiative is playing a pivotal role in making the Amarnath Yatra plastic and waste-free. The enthusiasm and positive response from pilgrims demonstrate that this initiative is a step in the right direction, she added.
The Commissioner Secretary expressed hope that similar initiatives will be implemented in other pilgrimages and large gatherings in the coming years, contributing to India’s transformation into a clean and plastic-free nation. Jammu & Kashmir will always be seen as a pioneer in this endeavour.
