We’re All Up For Tamil Nadu Officers’ #CarryYourOwnBag Challenge To Tackle Plastic

#CarryYourOwnBags challenge invites people to post pictures of the cloth bag on social media that they carry with themselves

By: Kanishk Singh |
January 7, 2019 3:15 pm

From #WhatTheFluffChallenge (which bamboozled dogs) to Kiki challenge, that had people dancing outside their cars, 2018 proved that the best way to make something a trend is to create a challenge out of it. So that’s what IAS and IPS officers of Tamil Nadu thought when they were confronted with the plastic ban issue. The #CarryYourOwnBags challenge invites people to post pictures of the cloth bag on social media that they carry with themselves.

The challenge was started by Tuticorin corporation commissioner, Alby John, after he found out that people were not using the cloth bags that were distributed in his office. He clicked a picture of cloth bags in his car and posted it on social media, tagging the collector of Tuticorin.

Rajendra Ratnoo, an IAS officer who is the commissioner for disaster management, told TOI,

“Through this campaign, we are trying to change the perception of a cloth bag and add pride to it. When something becomes a trend, people follow it. I was more than happy when they challenged me to post the picture of the bags as I have been carrying a cloth bag in my car for the past ten years.”

Here’s how people took up the challenge on Twitter:

Be a part of the #CarryYourOwnBagsChallenge. Buy a few cloth bags and ensure that it is kept in your bag/ vehicle and never again search for another container when you buy something. Post a pic & challenge your friends to do the same. I challenge @Sandy_Nanduri and @sameerangs pic.twitter.com/NRxPR3uLBc

— Alby John (@albyjohnV) January 2, 2019

#CarryYourOwnBagsChallenge All fish stalls,kiosks,Restaurants,Mobile restaurants,Ready to eat corners run by #TNFDC will encourage customers to bring their own bags@albyjohnV @rsunkara @rratnoo pic.twitter.com/BIZKuk8dL4

— Sameeran (@sameerangs) January 2, 2019

Be a part of #CarryYourOwnBagsChallenge by Mr @albyjohnV Dt.Commnr of #Thoothukudi..
I’ve posted pic of #JuteBag in my bag and challenge @Jaiharshan @ramyamohan @sureshramanan @BalaMatangi @mpln4u 2 share pic andchallengeurfrnds #PlasticFreeTN #PlasticBan @PlasticPolluti9 pic.twitter.com/gJWs9FnnOc

— ShreeVidhya Raghu (@LovablePassions) January 5, 2019

Thanks Sneha! @snehadivakaran Switched over to the eco-friendly cloth bag. #Srirangam #Tiruchirapalli #ecofriendly #PlasticBan #PlasticFreeTamilNadu #CarryYourOwnBagsChallenge Your turn @SriniMaama16 @ravimaestri @venkylooby @ravimaestri pic.twitter.com/WoetXD6sEW

— Sibi Adhithya (@SibiAdhithya) January 4, 2019

Thank you Anu! Your turn, @SibiAdhithya and @tayalpratik 🙂#BringYourOwnBag #Coimbatore #CarryYourOwnBagsChallenge #PlasticFreeTamilnadu pic.twitter.com/CwbZnp6UZz

— Sneha Divakaran (@snehadivakaran) January 2, 2019

The Tamil Nadu government enforced a statewide ban on single-use plastic from January 1 which outlawed the production and use of plastic products such as plates, cups, bags, plastic packaging material, plastic-coated items, non-woven bags, straws and plastic sheets.