Taking benefit of plastic ban, SHGs up cloth bag production
JALANDHAR: Though the complete ban on plastic carry bags gave a huge blow to the plastic manufacturers, the municipal corporation (MC) is now using it to intensify the National Urban Livelihood Mission (NULM) by imparting training of manufacturing cloth bags to self-help groups (SHGs).
The state had imposed the ban on the use and manufacture of plastic carry bags on April 1, 2016, on the directions of National Green Tribunal (NGT).
Over last three years, the MC has formed over 700 SHGs under the NULM. The civic body here has recently collaborated with the dress designing department of HMV College for giving training of making cloths bags to women belonging to the poor section of the society. The women that are currently receiving training belong to SHGs based in Santokh Pura, Lama Pind, Abadi Jallowal, Ladowali Road, Mithapur and Bhargav Camp.
"The plastic ban has resulted in the demand for a viable alternative for shopping purpose. To help us strengthen our war against the use of plastic carry bags, the dress designing department provides training in cutting, tailoring and screen printing of cloth bags to the women who already have some skills in stitching," said NULM city's project manager Nirmaljeet Kaur.
“Women from around 40 SHGs are taking training in making cloth bags. We will continue with the training programme and include more groups,” she added.
"These women will get a parttime job to do after their household works. If we get orders for these bags from other cities, it will definitely become a full-time job for us," said Reema Soni, member of a SHG group.
"We are proud to become a part of this noble initiative of reducing usage of plastic carry bags. These bags are totally reusable and washable," she added.