Each year, at the start of the academic session, children and parents indulge in a buying spree, so much so that it has become a tradition of sorts. In Varkala though, schoolchildren are being encouraged to shun the new goodies in favour of reusable bags, shoes, lunch boxes, water bottles, and umbrellas under the ‘Old is my gold’ scheme.
The scheme is part of the ‘Zero Waste Beacon Varkala’ waste management project, being implemented by the Pelican Foundation, a non-governmental organisation approved by the District Suchitwa Mission, with the support of the district administration and the Varkala municipality.
Under the ‘Old is my gold’ scheme, a bank account will be started in the name of each student with a deposit of ₹500. The money they would save on by reusing products will be added to the deposit, thereby helping students learn to save and manage finances too.
Minister for Tourism Kadakampally Surendran inaugurated ‘Old is my gold’ on Saturday. Scientific and easy ways of waste disposal were needed, the Minister said, adding that ‘Zero Waste Beacon Varkala’ was a model for the world. It would improve the tourism potential of Varkala, he said.
The Tourism Department was drawing up a number of schemes to achieve the mission of a waste-free Varkala beach, Mr. Surendran said. “The government has drawn up an action plan for a ₹10-crore project for comprehensive development of the Varkala beach, the Minister said.
District Collector K. Vasuki said waste management in Varkala had become a huge success through the zero-waste project. The next goal was to turn into an international model. This was possible if waste management projects were made a part of tourism development. The project had become a self-sufficient business model, she said.
The Minister also flagged off non-biodegradable waste, which had been collected and segregated, being sent for reuse, and inaugurated a clock tower at Papanasam.
V. Joy, MLA, presided over the function. Municipal chairpersom Bindu Haridas was present.