Along with livelihood, Odisha SHG leads way for sustainable environment

Koraput: While the government is fighting tooth and nail to curb use of polythene and make the State plastic-free, a self help group is not only in providing livelihood to the needy women but also leading the way in ensuring a sustainable environment.

A self-help group in Parabeda area of Koraput district has taken up production of paper bags or 'Thunga' while spreading awareness among their customers and locals about the ill-effects of plastic bags.

With the motto of 'Say No To Plastics', ten women members of Maa Samaleswari self help group (SHG) make seven kilograms of paper bags every day and deliver it to their customers themselves.

Ribika Hial, a member of Maa Samaleswari SHG said "Our aim is to create awareness among the people to stop the use of plastic bags, which degrades the environment."

"We are ten members in the SHG and per day we prepare around 7 kgs of paper bags. After completing our work at 5 PM, we visit markets to buy raw materials and deliver the packets," said the leader of the SHG, Kiran Bahadur.

Meanwhile, intellectuals have hailed the move and said this will be instrumental in curbing plastic menace and advised the concerned authorities to encourage such organisations.

"These types of paper bag-making industries have vanished with the rush of plastics bags in the markets and steps should be taken to revive them. Money, manpower and willpower are required to encourage it," advised Jatindra Prasad Panda, a Jeypore resident.