As part of steps to increase the involvement of youth and bring in fresh ideas to the ‘Malinyamuktham Navakeralam’ campaign, the Local Self-Government department (LSGD) will be forming youth committees at the State, district, block and local body level. Youth clubs will be organising community level swap shops, upcycling workshops and also organise digital and ground level campaigns to attract the younger generation to the campaign.
The increased awareness and concern among the younger generation regarding environmental issues could be channelled for the campaign, as per the understanding of the campaign organisers. The influence that youth can have on their peer groups and in larger online and offline communities could also be useful to spread the campaign ideas among a larger circle.
Part of the committees at various levels will be Youth Welfare Board members, Suchitwa Mission and Haritha Keralam Mission representatives, Kerala Institute of Local Administration (KILA) co-ordinators, National Service Scheme volunteers, arts and sports club, libraries and interested volunteers at various levels. At the district-level, a team of 14-21 people interested in working in the waste management sector will be formed, to work with the core team.
Workshops and zero waste events, community clean up drives and beach clean-up programmes targeted at the youth will be held at the district level. As part of the digital campaign, hashtag, poster and video campaigns as well as various challenges will be organised. Exhibitions of entrepreneurs dealing in alternative products to plastic carry bags are also being planned. Fun events centred on waste management will be organised for Kudumbashree Balasabha members and other children’s organisations.
Youngsters who are part of the National Service Scheme (NSS) units will play a key role in the restoration of garbage dumping sites and vulnerable points by turning them into small parks with vertical gardens, wall graffiti, installations and other amenities. They will also be deployed in door-to-door awareness campaigns especially for increasing awareness on waste segregation and treatment of biodegradable waste at source.
