Kollam: Kollam district has undergone a silent revolution in green protocol, thanks to the efforts of Mr G. Krishnakumar, the Suchitwa Mission district coordinator. The protocol has made its impact on all activities, including public and private functions and religious ceremonies. He has made the impossible possible in just nine months of his tenure by creating awareness among the people about the need to protect the environment.
The Green Protocol, a popular programme envisaging the reduction of solid waste produced, is part of the Swachh Bharath - Haritha Keralam missions of the central and state governments. The district administration has implemented plastic ban in accordance with the centre’s plastic waste (management and handling) rules of 2016.
The district Suchitwa Mission has carried out a slew of programmes, including the ban on plastic carry bags below 50 microns for the first time in the state. “We have received several enquiries on how to implement the Green Protocol. We could also make inroads into mass gatherings with our programmes,” Mr. Krishnakumar says.
According to him, during the last three decades the people have shifted to disposable items for convenience. The awareness campaigns could not shift the paradigm immediately. “The people were also suspicious about the practicability of avoiding their convenient options and going for alternatives. I met the people in person which helped me achieve this,” he adds.
The priests of all the mosques in the district chose a Friday sermon to read out the message of implementing the protocol while breaking the Ramzan fast. Several temples, including Puthi-yakavu, Koonambayi-kulam, and Kottankula-ngara, joined the green bandwagon led by Andavalleeswaram temple to implement the protocol in temple feasts.
The priests of the parishes under Kollam diocese have also read pastoral letters urging the faithful to implement the protocol in their religious functions. These initiatives were also taken up by banks and residents’ associations. The wedding reception of M.G. Archana and S. Deepu from Kareepra last month complied with the protocol at the intervention of Mr Krishnakumar. .
“The institutions have avoided disposables, thermocol plates, plastic glasses and even flex boards in their programmes. Several residents’ associations have switched over to the use of utensils collected from houses under them for all their functions,” Mr. Krishnakumar says.
The district Suchitwa Samiti headed by district panchayat president is all set to declare Kollam as a disposable-free district within five months.
“I got the wholehearted support of district collect T. Mitra and district panchayat president K. Jagadamma for my endeavours,” Mr. Krishnakumar adds.
He started his service as block development officer in 2014 after a short stint as a social science faculty at Sanskrit University, Kalady. He joined the Kollam office in September 2016 and is moving on to Pathanamthitta after being promoted as deputy development commissioner.
Mr Krishnakumar hails from Elengivelil Thekke-thil at Maruthoorkulan-gara, Karunagappally, and S. Viji is his wife. They have a daughter-- Anamika Krishnan. The man with the green achievements was honoured with ‘good service entry’ in 2014.
