Suchitwa Mission’s green protocol initiative in Ernakulam gets a big thumbs up

KOCHI:  Going by the overwhelming response here  to the State Suchitwa Mission’s green protocol initiative, it appears the stakeholders have given a big thumbs up to the ambitious go green campaign.  The Green Protocol follows eco-friendly methods and avoid using any form of plastic in public functions.
As per the official statistics, over 50 events held in the district adhered to the green protocol following its enactment in January 2017. Suchitwa Mission district mission officer Siju Thomas told Express the project had evoked a massive response from the general public and event planners. 

“Several event organisers have approached the authorities concerned saying they will adhere to the mission’s protocol in their respective functions. They are given a certificate of excellence after the event which will encourage more companies to adopt the method,” he said. However, since it is difficult to keep tabs on all the events organised in the district,  some others which do not adhere to the green protocol indeed take place. 

Thomas said it is necessary for people to inculcate a feeling and start practising eco-friendly methods. To draw the public’s attention, eco-friendly marriages were attended by District Collector K Muhammed Y Safeerulla and later due to his time constraints, members from Suchitwa Mission participated in such events. This was done to get the message across to the maximum number of people.
Thomas said  as the Haritha Keralam project and its programmes are simultaneously going on, they are getting less time to focus on this proposal. 

“By December we will have a joint discussion with maximum event management companies here, asking them to switch to eco-friendly methods and thereby encourage the initiative,” he said. Kochi has a large number of wedding and event planners and it is crucial to bring them under the project and spread awareness, he said.  Nonetheless,Thomas said since adhering to the green protocol is not mandatory in the district and the initiative can only be encouraged and not enforced. Thomas, however, emphasised efforts will be made to widen the project’s reach and dissuade the people from harming the environment while holding a public event.

Day Maker Events and Entertainments, an event management company run by Justin Joseph, has been a sort of trailblazer in this regard having made headlines for the innovative use of coconut leaves and non-plastic materials for decoration at a recent wedding. Joseph said more clients have been opting for a greener wedding now.