https://indianmasterminds.com

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT

Unique Check Posts Making Rameswaram Plastic-Free

A community movement underway in Rameswaram is ending plastic pollution Two crore annual tourist footfall close to a rich biosphere reserve added to a man-made menace 2017 batch IFS officer Jagdish S. Bakan-led movement is instituting permanent behavioural changes
Indian Masterminds Stories

A self-sustainable model to ensure a plastic-free tourist destination in Rameswaram Island of Ramanathapuram district in Tamil Nadu is doing wonders.

In less than a year, the eco-development committee (EDC)-run-plastic checkposts have been successful in curbing marine plastic pollution.

UNIQUE TOLL CHECKS

The Plastic Check Post workers check all passing vehicles for plastics. They replace the tourists’ plastic bags with eco-friendly free cloth bags.

These “plastic monitors” are positioned every 2 km.

They have made the model self-sustainable by charging an environmental fee of Rs 20 for every four-wheeler.

Plastic Check-post

MAN WITH MISSION

The brain behind this unique endeavour to keep one of the 12 Jyotirling site’s clean is of 2017-batch IFS officer Jagdish S. Bakan, the Wildlife Warden and DFO in Ramanathapuram.

Mr. Jagdish S. Bakan got the idea of Plastic Check Posts during a meeting of ‘Green Rameswaram Project’ when he was asked to do something about the increasing plastic trash at this beautiful spiritual retreat.

Speaking with Indian Masterminds, Mr Bakan said, “The initiative was started in June, 2022. when I was asked to control plastic pollution.”

IFS Jagdish S Bakan (In black T Shirt) conducting a cleanliness drive along with students at Rameswaram

After the opening of the Rameswaram – Dhanushkodi – Arichanmunai Road, there was a huge influx in the tourist population and the plastic waste just burgeoned affecting the marine environment on this island strip.

“We have set up the plastic check post at the start of the 22km-long strip of Rameswaram,” he said.

SOURCE OF LIVELIHOOD

The check posts through their community-based governance have linked livelihood with Biodiversity conservation.

Fifty-nine direct green jobs and hundreds of indirect green jobs were created by this model. The alternatives to plastics, cloth bags, are provided by a local women’s self-help group (SHGs). These women get Rs 5 rupees per bag.

edded Plastic, SHG members getting livelihood through stitching cloth bags, Under Water clean up-2

The EDC that operates the check posts is a 10-member body that coordinates with the Forest Department.

Mr Bakan is proud of the self-sustainable model. “No separate fund had to be created for this. The money for the salaries of the workers comes out of environmental fees and sale of the plastic, which is used for road construction.

“We do not need external support, everything about these check posts is community operated, so the department only supervises, it does not have to deploy its own manpower,” Mr. Bakan added.

REMOVE AND RECYCLE

Since this initiative started, 26,800 kg of plastic has been collected and 11 km of road has been constructed with shredded plastic material.

Mr. Bakan said the plastic collected is sent to the Rural Development Department. The plastic is
shredded in the gram panchayat units and sent to other departments. The EDC generates a revenue of Rs 10 per kg of shredded plastic.

Plastic watchers cleaning the project area – Dhanushkodi

IMPACT

The Ramsar site of Marire Biosphere Reserve and the beach in the area is now plastic-free.

This has only made the tourists happier as it has enhanced their experience.

In the last 10 months, 17.8 lakh tourists have been checked and given cloths bags for use by the EDC.

More than 4,220 species in Gulf of Mannar will benefit from this exercise.

Replicability of the project at another area -Ervadi

Indian Masterminds Stories
ADVERTISEMENT
Related Stories
ADVERTISEMENT
NEWS
ED _Enforcement_Directorate
ACC Extends Tenure of IPS Officers Ms. Sonia Narang and Mr. Abhishek Goyal in ED
PESB
PESB Selects Surjit Mishra as Director In-Charge of Burnpur & Durgapur Steel Plants
smita_sabharwal-resized
Senior IAS Officer Smita Sabharwal Responds to Gachibowli Police Notice in Land Dispute Case
DFCCIL logo
Successful Trial Run on DFCCIL’s New Umbergaon-IR Saphale Section Marks Major Milestone
NTPC
NTPC Bongaigaon Supports Bodoland Artisans with New Dormitory Facility
BHEL_resized
BHEL’s Bangalore Electronics Division Receives GreenCo Gold Rating
SJVN
Rajendra Prasad Goyal’s Appointment to SJVN as Director (Finance) Extended - Know More About Him
Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers Ltd
GRSE Unveils New Logo on Its 66th Raising Day
ADVERTISEMENT
Videos
IRS Padmapani Bora UPSC
IRS Padmapani Bora’s 16-Year-Long Journey in Governance
WhatsApp Image 2025-04-13 at 1.46
This Collector Finds Happiness In Squeaks Of Children With Hearing Impairment Who Start Hearing After Surgery
Meghashree D R IAS
How Wayanad’s Women Turned a Disaster into a Dream Project
UPSC Stories
IRS Padmapani Bora UPSC
IRS Padmapani Bora’s 16-Year-Long Journey in Governance
IRS officer Padmapani Bora's 16-year career transcends typical bureaucracy. Discover his surprising journey...
IAS T Rahul Kumar reddy
How This IAS Officer Overcame 4 Consecutive Mains Failures & 1 Interview Rejection
IAS Officer T. Rahul Kumar Reddy’s journey to success was marked by perseverance through six UPSC attempts....
Indrajeet Sirra IFS new
How This IFS Officer’s Journey Teaches Aspirants to Never Miss Any Opportunity in Their UPSC Dream
Indrajeet Sirra’s journey to becoming an IFS officer after five UPSC attempts teaches aspirants the importance...
Social Media
Himanshu Nagpal IAS
Varanasi's Beggar Rehabilitation Initiative Recognised by UIDAI, CDO Himanshu Nagpal Shares the News
Mr. Himanshu Nagpal is a 2019-batch IAS officer
IAS Vaishali Chopra
Young IAS Vaishali Chopra Takes a Stand Against Caste Bias During Field Training in Uttar Pradesh
While the issue itself may seem small, the post is resonating widely online for its honest reflection...
Tiger
IAS Officer Sanjay Kumar Shares Mesmerising Tigress Patrol Video from Dudhwa Tiger Reserve
In the video, the tigress is seen cooling off in her preferred waterhole before embarking on her evening...
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Latest
ED _Enforcement_Directorate
ACC Extends Tenure of IPS Officers Ms. Sonia Narang and Mr. Abhishek Goyal in ED
PESB
PESB Selects Surjit Mishra as Director In-Charge of Burnpur & Durgapur Steel Plants
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Videos
IRS Padmapani Bora UPSC
WhatsApp Image 2025-04-13 at 1.46
Meghashree D R IAS
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT