Chennai: There are people who throw waste on the road and then there are those who pick them up. Most often, conservancy workers and rag-pickers are not given the respect they deserve. We litter and they clean but do not have dignity. Oh boy! What an irony.
Changing the custom, here is B Gowtham, a lad from Villivakkam here in Chennai, with an engineering degree, spearheading and driving the movement ‘Walk for Plastic’, that has branched out to a few districts in a brief time.
An artist by profession, Gowtham has been voicing out his concern for several causes. This time it is plastic waste.
“In the past, for dispelling social evils through my art, I would collect waste materials for my art work from the streets of Chennai. This simple act in itself has been encouraging and people in the locality started knowing about the problems. Only when we have action, the circle is complete – mere knowledge is not enough. That pushed me beyond the boundaries and I began collecting plastic waste for a better environment,” he told News Today.
Gowtham’s regular route covers Villivakkam, Anna Nagar, Choolaimedu, Padi and Valasaravakkam – a target of 4 km a day. However, to his surprise, the 2-kg bag that he carries gets filled within 2 km. “When I was observing, I found that the waste is found aplenty in the vicinity of religious shrines, TASMAC shops, hospitals – it is omnipresent!”
Ideated almost two years ago, Gowtham felt the need as there has been a ban on selective plastic items in Tamilnadu. Finding that it is very much in use, he has been taking up the cause for the past 27 days. “I bet I would not have got supporters had I shouted two years ago. Now, I have around 70 volunteers in Trichy, Thanjavur, Coimbatore and different places of Chennai.”
Being an engineering graduate, it has not been easy at all. “My friends and very own family were unhappy and mocked at me. But as they witnessed the impact, they accepted my action and are doing their bit.”
Sharing an example of how volunteers came calling, Gowtham makes a special mention of Laan Swick, a volunteer from Thiruvaiyaru, who has been doing this activity continuously for 25 days, covering 32 km.
Gowtham actually wanted to reduce his weight and was searching for a good reason to go for a walk. “It has double benefit – the place gets clean and I give my body some work,” he chuckles.
The artist has a different perspective about improper waste disposal. He attributes it to our psychology. “Littering is a psychological chain. It gives us pleasure, showing our superiority. The chain can be broken when we pick his / her waste right under their nose, that incites their conscience,” he adds.
He says that he began the movement primarily to spread awareness about plastic recycling. “The point I convey here is recycling. If not discarded properly, plastic ends up in a crushed state in a landfill and cannot be recycled easily. If it goes in a good condition, it can be recycled,” explains Gowtham.
Through this activity, the volunteers have saved more than 115 kg of plastic waste from ending in landfill in Chennai alone and more than 200 kg in Tamilnadu.
However, it is not just that. “Apart from making the place clean, it helps engage with the community and, of course, has health benefits.”
Gowtham sells the plastic items to wastepaper mart and ensures they are sent for recycling. “The money collected through this activity will be used for educating the children of rag-pickers,” he adds.