Berhampur (Odisha): As candidates gear up for campaigning in the Odisha Assembly and Lok Sabha elections, green activists in Ganjam district appealed to all political parties to use eco-friendly materials during electioneering. Candidates and political parties are requested to use only eco-friendly campaign materials which can be recycled and to avoid non-biodegradable poll materials like plastic flags, banners and flexes, said Sudhir Rout, an environmentalist. He said,
In the last several elections, we have seen candidates and political parties use several non-biodegradable materials during the campaign. This practice causes harm to the environment.
Also Read: Odisha Bans Single-Use Plastic In National Parks, Sanctuaries From April 1
Mr Rout, the director of Aryabhatta Foundation, an organisation that works for raising awareness on protection of environment, said much before the poll announcement, they had written to the Election Commission to ensure the green protocol in polling stations and counting centres. He said,
We are happy as ECI has directed the election officers to make some eco-friendly polling stations as model booths in districts and asked political parties to adopt eco-friendly measures during the campaign.
He said,
We are now appealing to candidates to adopt such a step to protect the environment.
Sabuja Bahini, a city-based organisation which campaigned against nailing banners and flags on trees in the last election, also appealed to candidates to avoid such practice of nailing banners or flags in trees in the elections.
Ramesh Chandra Chaupatnaik, BJD Ganjam district president said his party do not use the plastic flags during campaigning. He said,
We use party flags made in cotton clothes.
Subash Sahu, BJP Ganjam district president also made similar claims.
Also Read: Odisha Special Relief Commissioner Calls For Heatwave Contingency Plans Ahead Of Elections
(This story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
NDTV – Dettol have been working towards a clean and healthy India since 2014 via the Banega Swachh India initiative, which in its Season 10 is helmed by Campaign Ambassador Ayushmann Khurrana. The campaign aims to highlight the inter-dependency of humans and the environment, and of humans on one another with the focus on One Health, One Planet, One Future – Leaving No One Behind. It stresses on the need to take care of, and consider, everyone’s health in India – especially vulnerable communities – the LGBTQ population, indigenous people, India’s different tribes, ethnic and linguistic minorities, people with disabilities, migrants, geographically remote populations, gender and sexual minorities. In a world post COVID-19 pandemic, the need for WASH (Water, Sanitation and Hygiene) is reaffirmed as handwashing is one of the ways to prevent Coronavirus infection and other diseases. The campaign will continue to raise awareness on the same along with focussing on the importance of nutrition and healthcare for women and children, fight malnutrition, mental well-being, self-care, science and health, adolescent health & gender awareness. Along with the health of people, the campaign has realised the need to also take care of the health of the eco-system. Our environment is fragile due to human activity, which is not only over-exploiting available resources, but also generating immense pollution as a result of using and extracting those resources. The imbalance has also led to immense biodiversity loss that has caused one of the biggest threats to human survival – climate change. It has now been described as a “code red for humanity.” The campaign will continue to cover issues like air pollution, waste management, plastic ban, manual scavenging and sanitation workers and menstrual hygiene. Banega Swasth India will also be taking forward the dream of Swasth Bharat, the campaign feels that only a Swachh or clean India where toilets are used and open defecation free (ODF) status achieved as part of the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2014, can eradicate diseases like diahorrea and the country can become a Swasth or healthy India.
