Jajpur: As the state gears up to implement the ban on plastic items from October 2 on the auspicious occasion of Gandhi Jayanti, a grocery shop owner here in Jajpur town, has already started his campaign against use of plastics.
Krushnachandra Maharana, who runs a small grocery shop since 1992 at Shitaleswar Square here, has been doing his part over years. A simple notice in his shop ‘Please don’t ask for polythene’ has played a huge part in changing people’s mind about the use of plastic.
Curious customers ask him about the reason for such a notice in his shop. That’s when, Maharana, who is 53 now, takes the chance and tries his best to convince people of the grave dangers that plastic use poses to the environment.
Till now, he has convinced many people about the bad effects of plastic and managed to change their minds to use paper bags and cloth bags. His shop is often referred to as a debate spot for plastic because whenever someone visits the shop, the common topic would be about plastic.
“Yes, there are many who do not agree with me on the bad impact of plastic. But, I do not lose hope. I try to convince people and many have changed their habits and have started using paper bags,” Maharana quips.
Maharana, referred to as the crusader of plastic free campaign in the area, says he also was using plastic and polythene. However, he happened to come across a person who convinced him about the bad effects of plastic on health.
Plastic bags are usually made of colours and dyes, metals and other inorganic chemicals. These dyes and bright colours are associated with the possibility of causing cancer. Moreover, animals die after eating polythenes that are thrown in garbage.
“All of this changed my mind and I started to do a little to bring an end to use of plastic,” Maharana said.
He himself provides goods in paper packets and advises customers to carry cotton bags if they have to buy some heavier commodities. His customers not only praise his fight against plastic and polythene bags but also carry cotton bags whenever they come to his shop.
