The Delhi government has launched the ‘Arpan’ campaign to promote the reuse of old and usable clothes and reduce textile waste. Under this initiative, special collection centers have been set up at five metro stations in the capital, where people can donate their old clothes. The idea behind this scheme is environmental protection. According to experts, on an average, about 3,781 liters of water is consumed in manufacturing a pair of jeans. Apart from this, the textile industry is also considered to be one of the most polluting sectors in the world. In such a situation, reuse and recycling of clothes can play an important role in reducing the pressure on natural resources.
‘Arpan’ scheme launched at 5 Delhi Metro stations
The Delhi government has launched the “Arpan” scheme to promote clothing reuse and environmental protection. Chief Minister Rekha Gupta on Monday inaugurated “Arpan Kendras” at five major metro stations in the capital, where people can donate their old but usable clothes. Under the scheme, Arpan Kendras have been set up at Punjabi Bagh West, Shalimar Bagh, Mayur Vihar Phase-1, Shahdara, and Rohini West metro stations. This initiative has been launched in collaboration with the Delhi government, Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC), and the Delhi Metro Ladies Welfare Organization. The government says the scheme aims to collect clothes that are no longer useful to people but are still in good condition. These clothes will be distributed to needy people or reused through recycling.
What is ‘Arpan Kendra’ scheme?
“Arpan” textile collection centers will be established at 10 Delhi Metro stations. The first phase has already been launched at five metro stations. People will be able to donate their old but usable clothes at these centers. The collected clothes will be sorted and recycled. After recycling, these clothes will be used to make bags, new garments, decorative items, yarn, and other useful products.
How can you donate clothes?
The Delhi government has completely digitized the clothing donation process. QR codes will be installed at all donation centers. Donors will be able to enter their information by scanning the QR code. They will also be provided with a digital receipt after donating the clothes. The digital system is being used to make the entire process easy and transparent.
Why was there a need for the ‘Arpan’ scheme?
New Delhi. The Delhi government’s ‘Arpan’ scheme is not just an initiative to collect old clothes, but also an effort to tackle the rapidly increasing textile waste and environmental challenges. The government believes that reusing and recycling clothes can promote environmental protection as well as social cooperation. According to the United Nations, the growing trend of fast fashion has led to a massive increase in clothing consumption and textile waste worldwide. Compared to the year 2000, people today are buying more clothes and are also discarding them after using them for a shorter period. As a result, a large amount of clothes is ending up in landfills or being incinerated, putting additional pressure on the environment.
Increasing pollution from the textile industry
According to the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), the textile and fashion industry produces approximately 2 to 8 percent of global carbon emissions. Furthermore, clothing production consumes significant amounts of water and energy, putting pressure on natural resources. According to the report, millions of tons of clothing are discarded as waste worldwide each year. A large amount of this ends up in landfills or is incinerated, contributing to environmental pollution. Microfibers released from synthetic clothing also end up in rivers and oceans, posing a threat to aquatic ecosystems.
In light of these challenges, the Delhi government has launched the “Arpan” scheme. Under this scheme, people can donate their old but usable clothes to Arpan centers set up at Delhi Metro stations. After sorting, the collected clothes will be reused or recycled to create bags, new garments, yarn, decorative items, and other useful products. Chief Minister Rekha Gupta has stated that recycling old clothes is not only a way to reduce waste, but also helps conserve water, energy, and natural resources. She says that every donated piece of clothing can not only save the environment but also bring positive change to the lives of those in need.
Women will also get employment through ‘Arpan’ scheme
The Delhi government’s “Arpan” scheme is not limited to environmental protection and reducing textile waste, but will also create new employment and self-employment opportunities for women. The government states that the initiative will ensure the active participation of women, achieving both environmental and social objectives. Under the scheme, women will be involved in the process of sorting, recycling, and creating new products from old clothes collected at metro stations. This will provide them with respectable livelihood opportunities and economic empowerment. According to the government, bags, new garments, yarn, decorative items, and other useful products will be made from old clothes. Emphasis will also be placed on increasing the participation of self-help groups (SHGs), women entrepreneurs, and locally based women’s groups in this process.
Why was the ‘Arpan’ scheme launched?
The Delhi government recognizes that a large amount of clothing remains in homes and is discarded despite being usable. This increases textile waste, while producing new clothing requires more water, energy, and resources. The Arpan scheme aims to collect such clothing and distribute it to those in need, ensuring its reuse, and reducing the negative impact on the environment.