Varadharajapuram's Pledge for Plastic-Free Living
The inspiration for starting this project in Varadharajapuram village stemmed from observing the escalating plastic pollution crisis affecting local ecosystems, water bodies and agricultural lands, combined with the opportunity to revive Tamil Nadu's traditional manjappai culture that promotes sustainability, and the vision to empower villagers—especially youth and women—to become environmental champions through community-driven action.
The project was implemented through partnership with village authorities and residents, distributing reusable manjappai bags to families and merchants, facilitating educational workshops on plastic's environmental harm, coordinating youth-driven awareness activities including cultural performances, establishing designated plastic waste collection sites, offering skill-building sessions for women in cloth bag manufacturing, and creating community-monitored plastic-free zones.
The project revealed that grassroots engagement with village authorities ensures sustained impact, youth participation effectively drives behavioral change, traditional eco-friendly practices can be successfully revived, consistent educational efforts outperform sporadic campaigns, skill development creates economic independence while advancing environmental goals, and community ownership through local champions guarantees longevity beyond external supervision
