Attractive prizes and cash incentives for segregation of waste

Thoothukudi Corporation has embarked on a strategy to motivate households for segregation of waste by offering them attractive prizes such as gold coins and cash incentives.

The idea behind the concept of waste segregation is to improve sanitation and hygiene in households, according to Corporation Commissioner Alby John Varghese.

Waste segregation plays an integral part in the ‘Clean Thoothukudi’ campaign, which was launched a month ago in line with the district administration's campaign on 'Open Defecation-Free Thoothukudi'. The households were sensitised to segregation of bio-degradable and non-degradable waste for an effective disposal, he said.

Prize coupons had been provided to households. Two households would be selected in a lucky draw every week to award one gram of gold coin each. Prize coupons were issued to households by the Corporation authorities in association with Tamilnad Mercantile Bank Limited.

It was not an easy task to achieve 100 % initially, but over the last few days, 75 tonnes of recyclable waste collected by the sanitary workers were sold for ₹3 lakh, Mr. Varghese told The Hindu here on Wednesday.

At the end of this programme by October, the bumper prize of ₹1 lakh would be given to the 'best household', besides providing consolation prize of ₹5,000 each to 20,000 households. Supervisors and Sanitary Inspectors would check the performance of households to award prizes, he pointed out.