KOZHIKODE: The swap shop Kozhikode Municipal Corporation opened at Kandamkulam Jubilee Hall as part of Haritha Kerala project has invited cold response from the public on the first day. While officials blamed lack of awareness among the public on the idea of a swap shop for the lack of response, the migrant labourers in city made use of them collecting dresses in sacks from the shop. “Some of our friends told about the shop where we can get dresses free of cost,” said Aishwarya, a girl, part of a migrant labourers team. “But there is no selection for kids dresses.”
Not many local residents turned up at the swap shop and those did chose to pick up electronics items. The swap shops are opened for promoting proper waste conservation where one can bring reusable products that are not useful them, but may be useful for another individual or can obtain things which are useful for them free of cost. All the 93 urban local bodies in the state in association with the Kerala Suchitwa Mission have launched the swap shops.
Speaking to Deccan Chronicle, Suchitwa Mission Kozhikode district coordinator Kripa Varier said nearly 100 people visited the swap shop on Thursday. “Apart from clothes and crockery, we have also received electronic items such as TV, mobile chargers, mixer etc which were soon picked up by those who needed them,” she said. “We are hoping to get more people involved with the swap shops during the next two rounds through extensive awareness programmes.”
