Port Blair, Jan 29: With a motto of keeping the islands eco-friendly and plastic free, a young islander in the year 2009 had ventured into plastic collection and recycling. The industry was christened as ‘Green Life Industry’, which over the past 12 years has been dedicatedly serving the islanders to dispose the waste generated in the islands.

Green Life Industry is a plastic recyclable unit, which is run by an islander Ashraf Hanif has been collecting plastics and also glass bottles, carton boxes etc. from different Islands. The industry recycles the plastics, compresses it and sends it back to the mainland India.

The Industry has not just restricted itself to the task of recycling but over the years has been successful in conducting several cleanliness camps at Swaraj Dweep with the help of the Police Department, SDM South Andaman and the concerned Panchayat.

As on date approximately 200MT of plastics has been recycled by Green Life Industry and transported out of Port Blair, which is recorded in A&N Pollution Control Board.

“As a young islander of mere 23 years, when I first started this company, I never thought it would come this far. With my self-interest of doing something good for the islands, I kept motivating myself to keep going”, said Ashraf, the Managing Director of Green Life Industry.

“The beauty of our islands is mesmerising. It is in our own hands as islanders to maintain the charm and aura of our beautiful islands”, he expressed. We all can contribute our bit for the islands to ensure our Islands, our pride remains green and beautiful.

While I have been doing my bit, my motto is to motivate the young generation to come forward and work towards the same with their new and innovative ideas. I strongly feel it is the youths of the islands who can work hand in hand with the Andaman & Nicobar Administration in maintaining a clean and green Islands to set an example for the people visiting our islands, Ashraf adds in a conversation with Andaman Chronicle.

With people like Ashraf Hanif taking the lead, Andaman Chronicle strongly believes that the mission Swatch Bharat can only be achieved when the youth take up their responsibility as the future citizens of the nation.