In an effort to make villages in Sonbhadra district plastic-free, one village head is setting an example. Parmeshwar Pal, the head of Raghunathpur village from Uttar Pradesh’s Sonbhadra district, personally collects single-use plastic from each household every day.
He uses an e-rickshaw to make his rounds, gathering plastic that villagers place in bags hung outside their homes. Raghunathpur, with a population of 2676 and 580 houses, has seen significant participation, with over 300 households actively involved.
Pal initiated the project after meeting with village members and dignitaries. He dedicates time every morning to this task, demonstrating his commitment to making Raghunathpur plastic-free. Inspired by his dedication, other villagers have started handing over plastic directly to him.
The collected plastic and other waste are sorted at a resource recovery center and sold, adding to the village's revenue. Pal's initiative has been lauded as an example for other villages to follow. Village secretary Shankar Yadav confirmed the community's support in making Raghunathpur plastic-free.