THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: A recent meeting, chaired by Chief Secretary Jiji Thomson, has decided to intensify social media-based plastic-free Sabarimala campaign, with the support of the district administration, Sabarimala Sanitation Society and several other departments.
The government also decided to convene meetings of Ayyappa devotees in Bengaluru, Chennai and Hyderabad and take steps to stop them from carrying plastic articles during the pilgrimage.
Millions of Ayyappa devotees make a beeline to the shrine atop Sabarimala in Pathanamthitta during the mid-November to January annual pilgrim season.
Mr Thomson asked collectors to use social media platforms extensively to take the message to the maximum number of people, an official release said here on Monday.
An awareness campaign, launched last year under the aegis of the Forest Department and Kudumbashree, would continue.
The service of Eco Guards, deployed in around 40 points at the pilgrim town, would also continue with the support of Dewaswom Board.
The meeting decided to install more video screens displaying anti-plastic messages and open five plastic exchange counters in the temple town.
Pamphlet campaign through state-run KSRTC buses would be enhanced and extended to more buses this year.
Officials and representatives of various departments, including Devaswom Board, district administration, forest, health, KSRTC and Kudumbashree participated in the meeting.
