The Economic Survey 2023–24, presented to Parliament by Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Monday, praised the innovative "bartan bank" initiative from Siddipet district in Telangana. This concept aims to tackle the issue of plastic waste, especially from disposable utensils, through a sustainable approach. The idea emerged during the 2022 Kanti-Velugu program, a statewide universal eye testing initiative that involved setting up medical camps in various villages, which required daily meal provisions for 15-20 staff members.

The Economic Survey describes the steel bank concept as providing a variety of steel utensils—including plates, spoons, glasses, bowls, and basins—which are kept at the Gram Panchayat office. This initiative has significantly reduced plastic waste, raised community awareness about the harmful effects of plastic consumption (such as cancer and digestive problems from microplastics), and created additional income sources for communities, Self-Help Groups (SHGs), and Gram Panchayats. The revenue generated is used for the operation, maintenance, and expansion of the program.

Bartan Bank Initiative
Image Source: The Better India

This concept has led to a significant decrease in plastic waste, cutting down on collection, dumping, and burning activities. It is estimated that each event reduces plastic waste by 6–8 kilograms, totaling 28 quintals per month. Additionally, the bartan bank initiative has been adopted by local bodies in several other states.

Bartan Bank Initiative
Image Source:
Consultancy.in

In 2022, the initiative to reduce plastic use in Siddipet district was launched by the then minister and Siddipet MLA, T. Harish Rao. The Economic Survey highlighted that Telangana is a significant player in India's pharmaceutical sector, contributing over 30% of the nation's pharma production and hosting more than 1,000 life sciences companies. Additionally, Telangana boasts over 200 FDA-approved sites for the production of both innovative and generic medicines.

The Economic Survey noted that various states, including Telangana, are adopting a multi-faceted strategy to enhance the Global Capability Centers (GCC) ecosystem by identifying high-potential industries. The survey said, “For example, the state governments of Karnataka, Telangana, and Tamil Nadu have launched research and development (R&D) policies to expand the GCC landscape in sectors such as auto and electric vehicles, electronics, pharma, and life sciences in the states. These policies aim to develop innovation hubs in the states by leveraging the existing industry presence and the academic and R&D ecosystem.”

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