New Delhi: The Defence Ministry is launching a massive plogging programme at more than 400 locations throughout the country on December 7 as part of the activities of Swachhta Pakhwada. All the three Services, various other defence establishments have chalked out detailed programmes to be held at different locations.
The main event will be flagged off by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh from Delhi Cantonment at 1230 hours where around 3,000 people are expected to join and collect waste plastic and participate in other Swachhta related activities.
Indian Army, Navy, Air Force, Indian Coast Guard (ICG), Defence Public Sector Undertakings, Ordnance Factory Board, Cantonment Boards, National Cadet Corps (NCC), Border Roads Organisation (BRO) and other affiliated organisations have chalked out action plans to conduct special plogging (picking up of litter while jogging) events.
The number of units and locations of defence establishments participating are as follow: The Army will clean up waste at 17 locations across the country from Siachen to Jaisalmer and Bhuj to Bairengte (Mizoram). Similarly, Indian Navy will clean up waste at 30 locations from Mumbai to Karwar (Karnataka) and Kolkata to Visakhapatnam. Indian Air Force will also clean up waste at 150 locations from Hindon to Upper Shillong (Meghalaya) and Nagpur to Trivandrum. Apart from the three Services, Indian Coast Guard has identified 47 locations, Cantonment Boards – 62 locations, NCC – 18 locations, Sainik Schools – 31 locations, BRO – 18 locations, Comptroller General of Defence Accounts (CGDA) – 20 locations across the country.
The aim of this massive exercise is to raise awareness among the community, collect plastic waste and make the surroundings clean. The slogan for this event is ‘Plastic Se Raksha – Swachhata Hi Suraksha’. Swachhta anthem will be played in all the events across the country. Community awareness programmes such as nukkad nataks, debates, quizzes, painting competitions among students will also be organised.
These events will be conducted towards spreading awareness against ill-effect of plastic on environment, bring about behavioural change with respect to sanitation and to give up use of plastic including carry bags, plastic cutlery, plastic water bottles.
There will also be competition among the units. The winner will be selected based on number of participants mobilised for plogging and the amount of plastic collected.
Swachh Bharat Mission is one of the flagship programmes of the Government, launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi throughout the country on the birthday of Mahatma Gandhi in 2014 to realise his dream of ‘Clean India’.
