Thiruvananthapuram: More people are carrying their own bags when they go grocery shopping – a good fallout of the ban on plastic carry bags above 50 microns. Deepthi Ravindran, a homemaker from Pattom who has recently taken to the habit, says, “Before the ban, I was not this particular about carrying a bag.”
A few were taken by surprise. Anju Pramod, who lives abroad, had no clue about the ban when she returned for a vacation. A fruit vendor had handed out fruits wrapped in newspaper. “Holding a cover was easier,” she said.
At a shopping centre at Vellayambalam, the customers were given cardboard boxes. The guards here had the additional responsibility of lugging those boxes and stopping autorickshaws for the customers. Folk singer Parvathy Baul was one of those who used the service. “Normally I carry cloth bags, as plastic is bad for the soil and trees. I influence others to do the same. I don’t usually come to this place. But nowhere else would I get food for my puppies,” she said.
Many were not recent converts. Fathima Suhra, an advocate, and Sudarsanakumar A., a retired professor, said they never used to use plastic as it is difficult to dispose of it. Most sounded like they are supportive of the idea. However, the staff at a shopping centre said that many would be miffed when they say that people have to bring their own bags.
While most welcome the initiative, software engineer Vinod Namputhiri says that the government should provide more eco-friendly alternatives. Many are bringing polythene covers, which can be reused. Many others were spotted carrying special grade polypropylene bags, which almost look like a cloth bag. This reminds one that more people should be made aware of the kinds of plastics available.
