Kerala school tackles plastic waste with rewards for students | Fusion - WeRIndia

A unique project in Kerala’s Wayanad district is teaching students about environmental responsibility while addressing the plastic waste crisis.

The Government Higher Secondary School in Vaduvanchal has launched an initiative where students are rewarded with prizes, including chicken biryani, for collecting plastic waste and submitting it to the school.

This initiative, spearheaded by the school’s National Service Scheme unit, has been running successfully for seven weeks.

Students are encouraged to pick up plastic litter from public spaces, their homes, or neighbourhoods.

In return, they receive thoughtful rewards designed to promote teamwork and sustainability.

The main goal of the school is to make students participate actively in environmental protection. In addition, the initiative helps them keep the surroundings clean while protecting the environment.

Wayanad, known for its exemplary hygiene practices, provided the perfect backdrop for this initiative.

The school administration hopes to inspire the younger generation to adopt sustainable practices and reduce plastic usage in their daily lives.

Out of the school’s 2,000 students, nearly 1,000 have actively joined the program, most of them from lower and upper primary grades.

The children collect items like plastic bottles, bags, and wrappers, which they bring to school to earn rewards. To emphasize sustainability, prizes like chicken biryani are packed in eco-friendly plantain leaves.

The project’s impact goes beyond cleaning the environment.

It has fostered unity among students as they often work in groups after school hours to gather plastic waste.

Teachers believe that this project has planted the seeds for a greener future.

The project has not only fostered unity among students but has also encouraged them to reflect on their own plastic use and advocate for reduced plastic consumption within their communities.

The school’s model is gaining attention as a practical solution to environmental issues.

It serves as an inspiration for other schools and communities to come together and work toward a cleaner, plastic-free world.

Image Credit: Anilphotojournalist, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Image Reference: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Biryani_of_Hyderabad.jpg