Matters India Reporter
Sonada, February 7, 2020 — An NGO in the Darjeeling Hills working for clean environment has launched its first Zero Waste Store at 8th Mile Stream between Gorabari and Chattakpur villages on NH 55 (Hill Cart Road), on February 7.
The store located at tourist taxi stop at 8th Mile, and specialises in locally prepared snacks like potato chips, biscuits, channachur, some eight items in all, which are not packaged in plastic bags.
“We serve them fresh, without the plastic packages,”said CEO of the TIEEDI (Take It Easy, Easy Does It) NGO host Mr Utsov Pradhan.
They also sell items like comb, pipe, tooth brush, pen holder and other household items made from Bamboo; as well as home made marmalade, potted plants and book marks, book / laptop covers, purses and several other items made of ethnic fabric, hand woven side bags, coasters and other items made of jute.
“As social entrepreneurs we have been working on solutions that solve the waste management crisis in our hills and this store is a step towards that goal. Through our Zero Waste store we will link the consumer demand for everyday goods to the local self help groups, artists, craftsmen, and entrepreneurs,”
Mr Pradhan explained the concept saying, “Unlike the plastic packaging that comes from large corporations in large factories in a far away land, we will package the goods sustainably,”
He added, “We will also be promoting the works of local weavers, artisans and craftsmen who work on sustainable products.”
The store has a restaurant that caters to the taste buds of the customers by promoting food produced by organic farmers and by highlighting the benefits of the indigenous super foods.
Among the NGOs from the hills present at the event included Scavengers, a group consisting of young people, mostly students below 21 years from Darjeeling, as well as Mukh Bandh, Kaam Suru (Shut Up, Start Working) another youth based NGO from Darjeeling, as well as WWF Zero Waste Himalaya from Darjeeling, as well as NGOs from Kalimpong and Gangtok (Sikkim).
Also present were TieDdi partner Salesian College Gorabari Sonada faculty and Radio Salesian journalist Dikshit Tamang and Rdio Salesian Director Salesian rivuletFr C.M. Paul from first community radio of the hills – Radio Salesian 90.8 FM – The Voice of the Hills as well as other local journalists.
TieEdi’s ‘Save 8 Mile Khola’ is a crusade by the villagers living in and around the 8 Mile, one of the major living rivers in Darjeeling, to save their precious resource – 8 Mile rivulet started in 2016.