Thiruvananthapuram, June 15 (FN Representative) Pitching for scaling up the sustainable waste management drive across Kerala as it rolls on into its second year, Minister for Local Self-Governments and Excise M B Rajesh said let the performance in the vital domain set the agenda for the next local body elections. The Minister was addressing a workshop organised by the Kerala Institute for Local Administration (KILA) here for district level functionaries of the Malinya Muktham Nava Keralam campaign. “Waste management is one of the basic responsibilities of the local bodies, and let the people make it the most important criterion for judging their performance when the elections take place next year,” he said on Friday. Noting that the state has made commendable progress during the first year of the campaign, the Minister said this should not lead to complacency, as much more needs to be done in the days to come. He appreciated the role of the ground level functionaries in the achievements and sought their wholehearted cooperation as the campaigns moved on to the second year, setting more ambitious targets to be secured. “Malinya Muktham Nava Keralam campaign has created a positive change in society since its launch.
But we need to maintain the momentum in 2024–25 as well to achieve the ultimate goal. We have learned lessons from the previous phase, and now we have a better idea of our strengths and weaknesses. In order to maintain the thrust, we have to focus on the areas that need further improvement,” the minister said. “Saturation and sustainability can’t be achieved without behavioural change, and a mass movement similar to Janakeeya asoothranam is the need of the hour,” the Minister said, suggesting that more IEC activities need to be undertaken with the participation of students, youth, and civil society outfits. “Developing the necessary infrastructure is required for waste management. Similarly, total digitisation will ensure proper monitoring and timely interventions. Also, more attention needs to be paid towards managing special waste like septage, e-waste, and construction and demolition waste,” he said. Sarada Muraleedharan, ACS, LSGD; Seeram Sambasiva Rao, Principal Director, LSGD; Anupama TV, Special Secretary, LSGD; UV Jose, ED, Suchitwa Mission, Joy Elamon, DG, KILA, G. Suresh Kumar, MD, CKCL and Sandeep S, Chief Engineer, LSGD were also present.