Plastic Free Malakkappara through Livelihood enhancement of the plantation labourers Brief Report of the Programme (9th – 13th October 2016) By Hornbill Foundation NSS & Research Department of Botany MES Asmabi College TATA Coffee Ltd. Kerala Forest Department, Vazhachal Forest Division Athriapilly Grama Panchayath 1 Plastic Free Malakkappara through Livelihood enhancement of the plantation labourers Brief Report of the Programme (9th – 13th October 2016) By Hornbill Foundation A collaborative Event of Hornbill Foundation, TATA Coffee Ltd and NSS & Research Department of Botany MES Asmabi College, Kodungallur with the support of Athirapilly Grama Panchayath and Vazhachal Forest Division Kerala Forest Department. Rationale Traffic and visitors through the Athirapilly – Malakkappara – Valaparai interstate road within Athirapilly Panchayath, in Thrissur District of Kerala has been increased almost 10 times in the last one decade. There has been many issues to the people, environment and wildlife because of the increased tourist influx, disposal and overuse of plastic carry bags in the area. Elderly people in the plantation area are in need of livelihood support. The Western Ghats Hornbill Foundation has been working in the area since 2005 in community based environmental conservation, education and Research. A programme has been planned jointly by Hornbill Foundation, TATA Coffee Ltd with the support of Athirapilly Grama Panchayath, Vazhachal Forest Division Kerala Forest Department and NSS & Research Department of Botany MES Asmabi College, Kodungallur. I. Plastic use – health issues Survey A survey to understand the plastic usage and its health impact in the Malakkappara region was organised jointly by Hornbill Foundation, Athirapilly Grama Panchayath with the support of all the important agencies in the region. The survey was carried out by NSS Volunteers and PG students of the Research and PG Department of the MES Asmabi College. The survey was inaugurated by Mr. K. Karupayya, Vice President Athirapilly Grama Panchayath. CDS person Mrs. Suguna Meri presided over the function. Dr. K.H. Amitha Bachan of the Hornbill Foundation and Ms. U.R. Veelalakshmi, NSS Programme officers felicitated the function. Ms. K.T. Anitha of the Hornbill Foundation led the survey while dividing them into six groups of 7 volunteers and were send to six regions in the 9, 10 and 11th Ward of the Athirapilly Grama Panchayath. Each group was supported by Ward members, Asha workers and Kudumbasree workers. Inauguration Mr. K. Karuppusami, Vice President, Athirapilly Grama Panchayath 2 A pair of volunteers visited at least 10 houses or shops and completed the survey by noon. The process itself became an awareness programme for the rural people especially regarding the health hazards of plastic. Students at Houshold Survey 2. Training on paper bags making for the plantation labourers Plastic has become an integral part of life and also has become material reason for our green and healthy culture we traditionally inherited. Plastic carry bags became a threat to the environment and our health. Many plastic products displaced many traditional products and cottage industries and further displacing micro level livelihood options. Green replacements are necessary for practical eradication of plastics from our daily life. The Hornbill Foundation with support of TATA Coffee Ltd., Malakkappara planned a training on paper bag and cloth bag making for the old age and dependants of the plantation labourers as an important action for eradication of the plastic carry bags from the region as well as livelihood options for labour families. Mrs. Thankamma Vargheese, President Athirapilly Grama Panchayath Inaugurating the Training 3 The training was inaugurated by Mrs. Thankamma Vargheese, President Athirapilly Grama Panchayath on function organised at the Panchayath Community Hall. Mr. K. Karupayya, Vice President, Athirapilly Grama Panchayath presided over the function and both marked it as remarkable event for the people in the Malakkappara region. The president pledged to take it forward as an activity of Kudumbasree with its progress ahead. Mr. Delto L. Morokke, Range Forest officer, Shoalayar Range of Vazhachal Forest Division felicitated the function giving light on the increased tourism and increase of plastic waste in the region and offered all the support of the department and their staff for the programme for making the area at least a ‘Plastic Carry Bag Free Zone’. Mr. Prince, Labour Welfare Officer, TATA Coffee Ltd. Offered their full support for the programme as they are dedicated to make the plantation area plastic free and this attempt would become a successful model. Dr. K.H. Amitha Bachan founder of the Western Ghats Hornbill Foundation and Assistant Professor, Research and PG Department of Botany MES Asmabi College said it as the remarkable event happened as part of last few years of interaction and thought with various stakeholders in the region. He also mentioned increase plastic mixed garbage dumping as an important reason for increase human wildlife conflict in the plantation and tourist areas. Student volunteers from NSS uits of MES Asmabi College volunteered their help for the training programme. Mr. Delto L. Morokke, Range Forest officer, Sholayar Range of Vazhachal Forest Division Felicitation by Mr. Prince, Labour Welfare Officer, TATA Coffee Ltd. Malakkappara 4 An initial training session was conducted for the participants with the leadership of Mr. C.S. Aneesh and Mr. Ali Akbar, Programme coordinators of the Hornbill Foundation just after the inaugural session. The areas were divided into five according to the clusters of habitation (Divisions) in the plantations. Participants from each division made into five groups, NSS volunteers joined them for the training session. Paper Bag Making Training Session Participants of the Training with Volunteers Distribution of tools for paper bag making by Mrs. Suguna Mery 5 3. Anti Plastic Campaign A campaign along with a public precession was organised by the Hornbill Foundation and Vazhachal Forest Division, Kerala Forest Department with the support of NSS Volunteers of MES Asmabi College involving public, representatives of the Panchayath and plantation labourers. The campaign started from the Malakkappara Community hall and the precession gone through all the main centres, Kerala Forest Check post and upto the Tamil Nadu Border and Tamil Nadu Forest Check Post. Students made placards with anti plastic slogans in English and Tamil apart from Malayalam. They sang environment friendly songs and slogans on plastic awareness. Also campaigned in all the shops and tourist vehicles along the Malakkapparai- Valaparai road and distributed stickers and pamphlets. Precession through the Malakkapparai – Valparai Road Campaigning the tourists.. Campaign at Kerala Forest Check post and Tamil Nadu Forest Check Post 6 4. Interaction with TATA Coffee Ltd. Staff and Labourers and future planning The NSS Student Volunteers and members of the Hornbill Foundation had interaction session with Labourers and Staff members of the TATA Coffee Ltd. at the staff club in the Malakkapparai estate in the 10th October 2016. Mr. Prince, Labour Welfare Officer, TATA Coffee Ltd. welcomed the gathering. Mr. Bibin, Assistant Manager addressed the gathering and shared their previous experience in attempts to eradicate plastic from the plantation area. Dr. K.H. Amitha Bachan briefed about present plan of the Hornbill Foundation for management of plastic waste linking all the main stake holders in the region such as Plantation labourers (constitute about 93 % of the population), Shop owners, Panchayath, TATA Coffee Ltd and the Forest Department. The present plan is to train the plantation labourers to make paper and cloth carry bags for one month and make it available in the region especially to the shops and then legal banning of the use of plastic carry bags in the region. Officials of the company and the labourers offered all support for the process. Ms. Veenlakshmi, Staff and Programme officer, MES Asmabi College offered continuous support of the MES Asmabi College for the process in future as well on behalf of the Principal Dr. ajims P. Muhammed. Mr. Aneesh C.S., Mrs. Anitha and Ali Akbar of the Hornbill Foundation shared their views. The plantation labourers also had an interaction session with Dr. k.H. Amitha Bachan regarding health and environment hazards of plastic in the region. The knowledge on the impact of plastic mixed garbage on wildlife and possibility of increased attraction and human animal conflict was new for them. 7 Mr. Bibin, Assi. Manager, TATA Coffee Ltd. had an interaction session with the college students regarding the history, working, performance and issues of the plantation sector. He has explained their requirements for quality and environment friendly production for developing international standared Tea and their commitment towards that. Ms. Gouthami, MSc Botany Student of the Research and PG Department of Botany, MES Asmabi College mentioned the experience as a great practical one along with their reply speech. Students had a photos session with the labourers and officials as the concluding session. 5. Distribution of Education package to the students of Malakkappara Government UP School and interaction with students Hornbill Foundation had developed a multilingual education package incorporating Adivasi language, Malayalam and English based on a scientific experiment for organic education with the leadership