ForWard 69: Juhu raises awareness against plastic use

The local corporator along with residents from Juhu have started the ForWard 69 initiative in a bid to make the ward environment-friendly. While the campaign is divided into different phases in order to reach all the localities that come under the ward 69, the campaign has been started at Nehru Nagar and gaothan area. The initiative will soon reach out to other areas of the ward.

Speaking about the initiative, Renu Hansraj, founder, ForWard 69, who started the campaign to ban plastic bags, said, "We are reaching out to all residents from high-rises to slums as well as local vendors for this cause. We are providing them with paper and cloth bags instead of plastic bags in order to make them aware of the availability of such solutions as an alternative to plastic bags. 

While the local vendors have given a positive response, they wanted to finish off the stock of plastic bags they have before making use of the paper and cloth bags we gave them."

According to the group, they will not only raise awareness in different localities of the ward throughout the ongoing campaign but also conduct follow-ups in localities where they have already conducted the campaign drive to make sure the cloth and paper bags are being put to use.

Mehjabeen Barwani, a resident of Juhu and member of Juhu Welfare Beach Committee, said, "It is important to follow-up with the local vendors and residents to see if they are facing any problems in working out the concept. This initiative will help to reduce the use of plastic by people and help in keeping the ward environment-friendly."

Through ForWard 69, the local corporator Renu Hasraj gathered various resident associations of Juhu in the ward to come together for various social cause project such as 'Save Ocean — Nullah clean up' and 'Ban Plastic Bags'.