Pick up your plate, say XIC students

With the intention of keeping the canteen clean and to inculcate a sense of responsibility among students, a bunch of students at Xavier Institute of Communications (XIC) are currently running an initiative called 'Pick your plate'.

Started by students in Post-graduate Diploma in Communications for Development at the institute as part of an assignment, the initiative appeals to students in the college canteen to pick up their own plates after they are done.

"We had to take up a social awareness campaign as part of our curriculum. We decided to stay hyperlocal. The canteen of St Xaviers college is quite popular, but we noticed that students often left their plates on the tables after they were done eating. The canteen staff then had to pick those plates up after them. We realised that if students pick their own plates, the staff would save a lot of their time and effort," said Sunny Chheda.

The group started spreading awareness on the issue through social media and mouth publicity. With a hashtag #trashyourtrash several posters were also put out on social media and near the canteen premise.

"We did a small survey and realised that between 75-90 per cent plates sold at the canteen are left on the tables after eating. 

Showing this data, we appealed to students to do their small bit in order to make their canteen a better place" added Chheda.

Agnelo Menezes, Principal, St Xaviers college said that it was a welcome initiative. "Our college has always tried to inculcate a sense of responsibility in the minds of students and this is one such initiative" added Menezes.

ON SOCIAL MEDIA

• The group also spread awareness on the issue through social media with a hashtag #trashyourtrash. Several posters were also put up near the canteen.