Students of Male' schools have submitted a proposal to the Parliament on ways to decrease the use of single-use plastic.
Lead by Ghiyasuddin International School, representatives from 16 schools on Sunday met with the Environment and Climate Change Committee of the parliament. Speaker of the Parliament, Mohamed Nasheed also attended the meeting.
During the meeting, the students presented a recommendation at the parliament, highlighting ways to decrease the use of single-use plastics. In this regard, the students proposed imposing a tax on plastic, and raising its price so that its no longer feasible to afford it. The students also requested parliament to take necessary steps within their mandate to decrease plastic use.
Dhaandhoo MP Yaqoob Abdullah suggested making a report based on the students proposal and submitting it as a resolution to the parliament floor. Committee members voted in favor of Yaugoob's proposition.
Committee chair, Hoarafushi MP Ahmed Saleem informed that the students that once the resolution has been sent to the parliament floor and put on the agenda, the students will be informed. He expressed hope that the students will the resolution being debated on the parliament floor soon.
Speaking at the meeting, former president of Maldives and the current Speaker of the Parliament Mohamed Nasheed said he will carry out due procedure to present the resolution based on the student's recommendations to the parliament floor. He further stated that the need to eliminate single-use plastics is imperative, even through introducing a tax on plastics as per the children's suggestion. He also emphasized the importance of creating awareness on the dangers of single-use plastic.
Furthermore, Nasheed stated that changes need to be brought to the current policies on the the implementation of development projects. The current policy of the government is to utilize natural resources instead of destroying it to carry out development projects.
To stop using single-use plastics, many government offices and ministries in Male' city have started the use of glass bottles instead of plastic water bottles. The Parliament has also made the decision to eliminate single-use plastics and opt for glass bottles. The parliament social club Pemaa recently gifted glass bottles to the parliament.
