Fri Nov 14 15:15:51 UTC 2025: ## News Article:

Kerala Elections Aim for Green Future: Handbook Released to Curb Waste

Thiruvananthapuram, India – November 14, 2025 – As Kerala gears up for local body elections in 2025, the State Election Commission (SEC) is pushing for an environmentally conscious approach, releasing a comprehensive “Handbook on Green Local Body Elections 2025.” The SEC projects that the upcoming elections could generate a staggering 6,711 tonnes of non-biodegradable waste if traditional campaigning methods prevail.

State Election Commissioner A. Shajahan unveiled the handbook on Friday, highlighting the potential waste stemming from banners, hoardings (1,800 tonnes), flags and festoons (1,400 tonnes), plastic bottles (1,826 tonnes), and disposable cups/banned plastic products (1,685 tonnes). These figures are based on the projected participation of 117,880 candidates across 23,576 wards in 1199 local bodies, utilizing 33,746 polling stations.

The handbook, developed in collaboration with the Local Self-Governments department and the Suchitwa Mission, provides guidelines for adhering to a green protocol throughout the election process. Speaking at the release, Mr. Shajahan emphasized the election’s core message: “Vote by protecting the earth.”

The SEC is urging candidates and political parties to prioritize eco-friendly alternatives, such as cotton cloth for campaign materials and recycled or recyclable substitutes. Digital campaign options are also strongly encouraged. The handbook further recommends utilizing locally sourced, biodegradable materials like bamboo, grass mats, coconut palm fronds, and cane for campaign structures. Plastic garlands should be avoided, and flags and festoons should be made of cloth or paper, according to the commission’s guidelines. The Hindu.

Summary of the Text:

The State Election Commission in Kerala has released a “Handbook on Green Local Body Elections 2025” in anticipation of the upcoming elections. The commission projects a massive amount of non-biodegradable waste resulting from traditional campaign methods. The handbook encourages candidates and political parties to adopt eco-friendly practices and materials throughout the election process, promoting alternatives like digital campaigning, recycled materials, and biodegradable options. The ultimate goal is to reduce the environmental impact of the elections.

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