Ms Bharati Chaturvedi is an environmentalist, who has worked in the area of plastics, toxics, toxic wastes, solid waste management, recycling and informal recycling sector for the last eight years. Her latest achievement is her book Polybags: The Enemy Within.

The book, she says, is a result of the Say No to Plastic Bags campaign. The campaign, which started as a small gesture in 1998, rolled into a major campaign with even the government stepping in to take some steps. And a mail from Jammu or a letter from Bihar inquiring about stopping the use of plastic doesn't come as a surprise to her anymore. But what is amazing is the fact about how the simple campaign mass-rolled into a big movement. Says Ms Chaturvedi: "The basic reason could be the fact that people knew that plastics are doing great harm, but they didn't really know what to do about them. The campaign struck a chord with everyone."

It was in early 90s when she started thinking about the matter. But it was only when she went abroad for a year that she finally realised that the consumption patterns in the country had changed widely. "There was a complete transformation in the way people were using polybags." Towards the end of 1997, she prepared a small report on the subject and met teachers from various schools. Meanwhile National Foundation of India (NFI) also wanted to do something in the area. The issue was discussed and street plays, interactions and little programmes were started. The movement slowly gained pace and as many as three lakh school students of Delhi became a part of the campaign.

The way plastic industries are growing and the way plastic is being used, says Ms Chaturvedi, is "highly unacceptable". Another sad thing, says she, is the way the government has been responding to the whole situation. "They have been sitting over the Bill for two years now. Something needs to be done at the policy level very urgently. For once, we need a fiscal policy as well as a packaging policy."

Ms Chaturvedi is also a founding member of Chintan, an environmental research and action group. The NGO is working on solid wastes, environmental education and advocacy at the grassroot level. A major study on rag-pickers is also being undertaken. The rag-pickers, she further points out, are being trained to treat waste in Delhi. This will further expand to other areas.

Her book, says Ms Chaturvedi, is the result of the campaign and is for everyone who is concerned with the increased plasticisation of lifestyles in India and the use of polybags in particular. The book has two sections: the first deals with the issues relating to polybag usage, environmental and social damage, poor legislation as well as solutions which can be implemented both by the government as well as individuals. The second section focusses on campaigning strategies amongst the most prolific users of plastic bags, the middle class. It details the campaigning carried out by the NFI and offers ideas for starting similar campaigns. "It's for all of us to take steps to remove this enemy," she concludes.