Agartala, November 13: In line with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision to eliminate single-use plastic in India, Prashad Rao, an Indian Forest Service official who at present is the Managing Director of Tripura Rehabilitation Plantation Corporation (TRPC), has designed a unique reusable bamboo broom handle to replace plastic.
This initiative addresses the global issue of plastic pollution, offering an eco-friendly alternative and providing sustainable livelihood opportunities for indigenous households, particularly women, in Tripura.
TRPC’s focus on socio-economic empowerment and skill-based employment has led to the development of these bamboo handles, contributing to both environmental conservation and local economic growth.
This innovative solutions not only aim to shift towards eco-friendly alternatives and mitigate environmental problems caused by the rampant use of single-use plastic but also income generation through value addition of locally available raw materials – bamboo.
The indigenous population who went through skill development said that are not only benefiting as have been provided with an income sources but are able to earn extra by selling bamboo.
Rao said that annual in India due to plastic broom handles 40000 MT plastic waste landfill takes place and which can be minimised by replacing it with the bamboo handles.
He emphasizes that this effort not only minimizes plastic waste but also aligns with sustainable development goals by creating jobs and adding value to locally available resources like bamboo.
The market response has been positive, indicating a growing demand for these eco-friendly alternatives.
