The blanket ban on plastic boards in Kerala has evoked a mixed response as a section of businesses involved in its production strongly oppose the state government’s decision.
Despite some reservations, a large contingent of Keralites supported the decision as the advent of flex boards had become a nuisance to the civic life.
Even for very small things, like selection to a rank list of the Public Service Commission (PSC), securing good marks in exams and selection to a music reality show of local TV Channel, number of flex boards are being displayed in public places. Big plastic bill boards have been creating traffic problems across the busy junctions, complain citizens.
Joy Joseph, an ex-serviceman, told Business Standard the government’s move was a welcome step as plastic boards were leading to the traffic concerns on busy roads. In some cases, flex boards were the villains in accidents as the sight of the drivers is partially or fully blocked by the huge bill boards. A major chunk of the boards are 5-6 feet height, and act as a hindrance to road traffic, he said.
Soumya KS, a post graduate student, said the huge flex boards is an environment concern. “It will not decay. In most cases, recycling is not possible. Most of these boards are abandoned in public places, making them a threat to the environment,” she said.
There is also a big campaign on the social media, praising the decision of the government. Most of the comments were on poor visibility on national and state highways.
Not happy with the government's decision, Roy Sebastian, who runs a small flex board-making unit, said that around 200,000 individuals, mostly young are employed in this sector. To my knowledge, around one million individuals were getting indirect employment in this sector.
What will they do when they become jobless on a fine morning ?, he asks. Government’s decision is unilateral and unfortunate. It does not propose an alternate arrangement for the people involved in this business. For bar workers, government announced rehabilitation measures. What in our case ? A major chunk of the units are running on bank loans and there is a huge financial commitment, he added.
Meanwhile, KP Ramachandran Nair, president of Kerala Small Industries Association (KSIA) urged the government to review its decision. He said the move would affect the industrial climate of the state and will badly hit around 2000 flex-making units across the state. Roughly Rs 10,000 crore is invested in this sector, of which, 60 per cent is accrued through bank loans. Other states are allowing flex printing and promote it through various self-employment schemes.
Office bearers of Sign Printing Industrial Association said the Cabinet decision was in haste and without a scientific study on the impact of flex boards. The decision will drag the units into a deep crisis, they said.
R Chandrashekaran, president of the state unit of INTUC told mediapersons the decision was unilateral and should be withdrawn. He even warned INTUC will keep using the plastic boards and if anybody removes them, it would be disastrous for them. The government should not take decisions on crucial issues just on personal whims and fancies of some political leaders, he said.
But CPI(M), the major opposition party of Kerala, is banking on the decision, following the footsteps of Congress party. The CPI (M) does not want to give the credit to KPCC chief VM Sudheeran, who announced flex boards would not be used for the party campaigns.
CPI (M) leader Kodiyeri Balakrishnan said the party will no more use flex boards for its campaigns. He added the party took this decision around three years back, but had not implemented strictly. Now, the party strictly directs its area, local and branch level units, not to use plastic boards for campaigns.Although KPCC chief gave strict instruction to party units, Kerala Students Union (KSU), the students wing of the party, will go on with the use of flex boards for their state-wide campaign rally.
VS Joy, president, said that the rally had been announced earlier and campaign had started weeks back. Government’s decision came only last week. So we will continue our campaign with flex boards, but will try to minimise its use, he added.
