Adhere to green protocol for eco-friendly elections

Social media is the biggest tool for the political leaders to canvas for their candidates and political parties. There is no need for banners, flags, pamphlets and posters. It seems to be a futile exercise to campaign using these age-old aids. In the today's era of technology, even political parties should not hesitate to make use of this platform. Moreover, the traditional ways of campaigning can only cater a few people, whereas the use of social media can connect these parties and their leaders to the young voters who play a decisive role in electing the government. The young voters vote on the basis of the performance of any political party at ground level. Social media platforms will also push the political parties to compete with each other. This is a good way to shun the use of plastic. The use of disposable plastic material should be done away with. The use of cloth is also a mere wastage. So, keeping in view the cleanliness and the environment, only eco-friendly material should be used by the political leaders.

Bir Devinder Singh Bedi

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Candidates should own up responsibility

India is considered to be the largest democracy in the world where election is a common and routine phenomena. Elections of MPs, MLAs, councillors and panchyats are held in different states at different time periods. Each party uses material for the campaigning purpose which is not generally eco-friendly. The best way is that this material should be provided by a single agency, duly established by the Election Commission of India in each and every state. The material which is used should be rationed so that each party uses only restricted material for one candidate for the campaigning purpose. This amount should be fixed by the Election Commission. This material should be recyclable. Parties or candidates not complying the order should be banned from contesting. Our political leaders should must use eco-friendly material honestly and prove that that they are not only just contesting elections for their ulterior motives, but are also concerned with the environmental issues.

Dr Mohd Saleem Farooqui

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Regulate the use of plastic

Political leaders must be persuaded to use eco-friendly materials during their poll campaigns essentially to save the environmental from pollution. Environment safety concerns both the politicians and public from the point of view of health of every one. Politicians use big paper posters for displaying on the walls, tree trunks, in the streets and crossings. They also use small paper posters for circulation as hand-outs and for distribution in the residential areas. The small paper posters fly out every where and are a great cause for environmental pollution. Both the big and small paper posters must be made from bio-degradable paper only. Like-wise, the politicians use cloth banners for hanging in the streets. Their use must be minimised. The EC must make this a part and parcel of the rules and regulations of the election and the local administration must ensure that the defaulters are punished. Another publicity mode used by the politicians is the loud-speakers, which is again a source of noise pollution. The use of loud-speakers must also not only be minimum but also restricted during specific hours. The politicians as future leaders must be concerned for both the environment as well as the  public. 

Dr G Dev

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Go for green options

Each state should be under the control of a body constituted by the Election Commission. The size of banners and pamphlet should be fixed. Each party should be restricted to use material on fixed days. The time span of canvassing should also be reduced. They should also be advised not to use loudspeakers as it amounts to noise pollution.  Political parties must use only print or electronic media for campaigning. They should not deface the walls and other government and private properties. All the material which political parties are using should be recycled.  

Farzana Khan

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Political leaders need to act responsibly

This election, people will like to vote for leaders who act responsibly and promote the use of eco-friendly material. Those going for non-plastic options and opting for paper and cloth as their banners will say a lot about owning up their responsibility. Instead of going for cost-saving options, they should go for eco-friendly options.

Paneet Kaur

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Go for sustainable options for canvassing

Plastic has become a nuisance for the environment and it has entered in every sphere of life. Everybody wants to go for cheaper options. The EC should sensitise the politicians to use of plastic. The use of plastic during the election process should be minimised. These efforts will definitely decrease the bulk of plastic load in the garbage. Sustainable options should be widely used for canvassing instead of the cheaper ones.

Dr Bikkar Singh Sidhu

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Go digital

Political leaders aim at becoming popular and known and be acknowledged by every citizen. Elections are the times when all the parties get into a race to get votes in their favor. Several campaigns are carried out which makes one forget the other side of the coin. Campaign, rallies and posters create so much waste, which turns harmful for our environment. In an era of internet, one can easily think of making use of social media platform for canvassing. One can also make online videos, recordings, posters and social media accounts to gain votes. Newspapers, magazines, tabloids and television have there own merits. Where the whole world is carrying out rallies to save climate, an eco-friendly campaign can go a long way to safeguard the environment.

Nimarta Mehrok

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Shun cheaper, harmful canvassing material

The popularity of plastic is not only due to its low production cost but also its numerous practical characteristics like low weight and flexibility. As standard plastic is not biodegradable, yet the tremendous consumption of plastic also leads to numerous problems. To minimise the use of plastic by the political leaders, we have to stop choosing the ones going for non-greener options. Use of plastic should be given up to prevent its adverse effects on environment.

Manpreet Kaur

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Single-use plastic more harmful

All political leaders should take adequate steps and measures to not use single - use plastic as campaign material. A number of alternative options such as compostable plastic, natural fabrics, recycled paper material etc can be used. The commission should take initiative and make certain rules for using eco -friendly material  by the political parties , such as fixed amount of fine to be charged from political leaders for using non-eco-friendly material during election campaigns. 

Nidhi Jain

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Make election campaign eco-friendly

As elections are round the corner and all the leaders have pulled up their socks to win the elections and  have started campaigning, it is essential to understand that they are major influencers and mind changers. They should understand the fact that the masses look up to them as their ideals. If they themselves use environment friendly techniques, people will follow them. So, they should urge people not litter the areas while attending the campaigns,should come in vehicles by pooling in and avoid using plastic where ever necessary. By incorporating these steps ,the leaders can create a wider impact on the voters. 

Neha Jindal

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Election Commission's role vital   

Discouraging the use of environmentally-hazardous materials such as plastic while campaigning, the CEC advised parties to refrain from reckless use of loudspeakers and crackers. Police officers and election officials would ensure clampdown in this respect.

Political parties across the globe are learning that along with advertising on traditional mediums such as television and newspapers, they must invest in digital marketing if they want to compete with their rival parties. 

Vanshika

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Social media interaction more useful

All political parties should take adequate steps and measures to not use single-use plastic as campaign materials (posters, banners etc) during the elections in the interest of human health and environment. Activists suggest it is time for the political parties to act more responsibly to make the best out of the opportunity. The politicians should realise that these tools ensure better public interaction to fetch more number of votes than screaming posters. 

Khushboo Singla

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Follow guidelines of EC on eco-friendly elections

In a bid to encourage the use of eco-friendly materials in electioneering and to address all related queries, the District Suchitwa Mission opened a stall at the Kollam collectorate. The stall also promotes the use of plantain and colocasia leaves instead of plastic signages. Also, Punjab Chief Electoral Officer Dr S Karuna Raju has asked all the political parties not to utilise single-use plastic material for electioneering and encouraged them to use eco-friendly material during the ensuing Lok Sabha Polls as per the directions of Election Commission of India and Kerala high court's decision. The CEO said a number of alternatives such as compostable bags, natural fabrics, recycled paper and other material can be used during the campaign which has a lesser environmental impact. Jute rolls are available in all measurements and they can also use woven coconut fronds to make banners. The District Collector has directed not to use disposable material for office purposes and switch to reusable plates and glasses. India has already committed to do away with the use of single-use plastics by 2022. 

Shubhangi

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Sensitise candidates to environmental concerns  

Using eco-friendly materials will not only help the environment to be cleaner but will also help to change perspective of people towards the candidate. Using eco-friendly materials will help the candidate to gain popularity as well as reduce costs. The image of the candidate will also improve as people will notice that the candidate is actually doing something beneficial for them before getting selected and there are chances that she/ he will bring a concrete change in society. This also shows that the candidate is aware of the environmental issues and is working on them even before winning, showing his dedication to serve the society. The eco-friendly campaign will become his Unique Differentiation Point (UDP) which will leave a long-lasting impact in the minds of the valuable voters.

Rattandeep Singh

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Cleaner environment top-most agenda 

The ECI has instructed all recognised political parties to take up sustainable practices and use environment-friendly campaign materials during the elections. This can be dealt by avoiding the use of non-degradable, or single-use, plastics and other hazardous materials during campaigns and adhering to noise pollution norms in the use of loudspeakers. 

Arushi Puri

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Environmental advocacy need of the hour

Tremendous use of plastic presents numerous problems. A large part of plastic quickly ends up in garbage. Standard plastic is not bio-degradable and pollutes our environment. In the Lok Sabha elections, an environment-friendly approach will go a long way in tackling the use of single-use plastic in campaigning. 

Sakshi verma