Citizen's Response to a State's Environmental Management through Enforcement of Ban

Abstract

Single use plastic bags have been banned by many countries, states and cities globally in an attempt to curb the massive impact of plastics on the environment. Plastic bag litter can clog drainage systems and result in those systems failing and flooding breaking out, which can result in damage. This litter is also a serious threat to animals and their habitats. Tamil Nadu, on January 1, 2019, became the fourth state in India to implement a ban on single-use plastics. Maharashtra was the first do it on March 23, 2018, Telangana followed the feat in June and Himachal Pradesh in July. This paper tries to bring the opinion of 150 sample respondents from Tirunelveli District on the awareness and response of Plastic usage and avoidance. The researcher used Trend analysis, t test, means, ANOVA, Rotated Factor Analysis, transformation matrix and Confirmatory Factor Analysis after the completion of suitable reliability test. This study brings to light the steps taken by the Government of Tamilnadu to reduce the usage of plastics and the opinion of the sample respondents regarding the ban of plastics. The study reveals that there is considerable improvement in the steps taken in the reduction of plastics in different zones. The opinion of the sample respondents in respect to the ban of plastics is highly significant in different dimensions such as personal, awareness, environmental and the availability of substitutes. The model framed is fit as per confirmatory factor analysis. Hence it is concluded that wider spread of awareness on environmental protection along with the introduction of proper substitutes for the plastics will wipe away the usage of plastics among the public and thereby the environment will be protected for a better tomorrow.