#QuitPlasticMovement: Every Little Step To Reduce Plastic Consumption, To Reduce Your Plastic Footprint Counts And Goes A Long Way, Says Ex-IT Minister Milind Deora

New Delhi: “75 years after Mahatma Gandhi launched the Quit India Movement, let’s join together to issue a clarion call against plastic. It’s high time we eliminated single use plastic from our everyday lives! Please join #QuitPlasticMovement”, reads a twitter post by Ex-IT Minister Milind Deora. On May 23 former politician Milind Deora posted a video on twitter urging people to come together and start a battle against plastic by refusing single use plastic products like plastic bags, plates, glasses, cutlery and many more.

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Talking about the Maharashtra plastic ban, Mr Milind said,

The Maharashtra government recently announced a ban on all single use plastics and thermocol items like cups, plates, spoons, straw, bags, etc. But this decision was taken without consulting locals because of which individuals had to face lot of problems because government has been unsuccessful in providing an alternative to plastic. And amidst this chaos, the government has already succumbed to lobby groups and issued a roll back on the ban. This was done in two parts, first they gave 3 months extension, and second, they exempted PET bottles and milk pouches.

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Mr Milind further shared the statistics on plastic waste generated in Mumbai alone and the plastic menace. He talked about how plastic pollution is a threat, not only to India’s over dying landfills, but marine ecosystem as well. He said,

The city of Mumbai generates about 7 lakh kgs of plastic waste daily. It is estimated that there is about 15,000 crore kgs of plastic in the world’s oceans and 1200 crore kgs enters the marine ecosystem every year which kills more than 10 lakh birds and 1 lakh sea mammals.

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He added,

This problem will remain until we come together and take an action. It is time for us as citizens to take up the cause of reducing our dependence on plastic. I invite all citizens to join the campaign- #QuitPlasticMovement.

In the end, he appealed citizens to start the battle in whichever way they can. He signed off by saying,

I believe that every story matters. No matter how big or small your contribution is. Do participate in the campaign by sharing the pictures and videos showing how you are reducing plastic in your life.

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On the same lines, Mr Milind shared another video of him on May 24 showing how he is reducing his dependence on commonly used plastic products. He tweeted, “Plastic is convenient but it’s harmful effects can no longer be ignored. Here’s one of many ways I’m trying to reduce my dependence on plastic. Every little step goes a long way. Please share your pictures & videos showing how you’re contributing to #QuitPlasticMovement”

In the video, he told that he always carries a thermos with him. Whenever he is thirsty or wants to drink something like soft drink, coffee, tea, he asks the restaurants and the establishment to serve him in his personal thermos. He urged individuals to follow the same suit and said,

Every little step to reduce plastic consumption, to reduce your plastic footprint counts and goes a long way.