Context
Recently, the National Cadet Corps (NCC) and United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to tackle the issue of plastic pollution.
Key-highlights
- This MoU will help achieve the universal goal of clean water bodies through ‘Puneet Sagar Abhiyan’ and ‘Tide Turners Plastic Challenge programme’.
- It is aimed to synergise efforts toward engaging youth for promoting clean water bodies.
- Objective: To engage in capacity building and awareness on environmental sustainability through information sharing and training initiatives;
- Promote opportunities for NCC cadets to participate in appropriate national and international platforms related to environment and climate change and
- Engage in and develop joint initiatives of mutual intent pertaining to environment and climate change.
About Puneet Sagar Abhiyan
- Launched on December 1, 2021
- It is a nationwide campaign to clean sea shores of plastic and other waste material and to raise awareness about the importance of cleanliness
- It was started initially for one month and was subsequently extended as a pan-India round-the-year campaign
- It covers rivers and other water bodies as well.
- Achievements: Since the launch of ‘Puneet Sagar Abhiyan’, over 100 tonnes of plastic waste have been collected from nearly 1,900 locations by more than 12 lakh NCC cadets, impacting 1.5 crore people. Of the approximately 100 tonnes of collected plastic waste, more than 60 tonnes have been recycled.
