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Thiruvananthapuram: On the occasion of the launch of Swachh Diwali, Subh Diwali campaign, Union Minister of Housing & Urban Affairs, Manohar Lal Khattar commended Onam as a model to other festivals in the country in traditionally adopting basic principles of green practices, from time immemorial. He also appreciated the efforts taken by Suchitwa Mission as well as all the local bodies across the state under the Local Self Government Department in maintaining the green protocol while celebrating Onam this year in Kerala. Minister expressed his best compliments to the Executive Director of Suchitwa Mission U.V.Jose IAS(Rtd) for Kerala conducting Onam celebrations in the best eco-friendly way, with zero-tolerance to the green protocol violations, setting an example to the whole nation. Tokhan Sahu, Minister of State for the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, Katikithala Srinivas IAS, Secretary for the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, Roopa Mishra IAS, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs and other senior officials from the ministry attended the event.

In his reply to the Minister, Jose said that in this era where people are more likely to think of plastic flowers for floral carpets (Pookkalam) during Onam or even they tend to buy readymade synthetic floral carpets, it was a herculean task for the state to preach and practice the basics of green protocol adherence among the people. Suchitwa Mission could act as binding agent between the celebrations and environment protection.

He also added that the tradition of Onam spreads the core messages of green protocol and environmental protection, starting from the way the feast has been served on the plantain leaves to the floral carpets and multiple other customs related to Onam. Suchitwa Mission could largely demote the use of disposables during the festival, said Jose. The enforcement squad networks in the state, IEC messages and activities during the Swachhata Hi Seva 2024 campaign done by Suchitwa Mission in all 14 districts had added additional mileage to the efforts of the state to make the Onam celebration litter free. The state is targeting to achieve the position of zero waste state by March 30th this year, which is the International Zero Waste Day. Ongoing Malinyamuktham Navakeralam Janakeeya campaign since 02 October led by the Chief Minister is catalytically reducing the distance between our mission and its dream goal, said Jose.