CHIMPU, Jan 29: Plastic waste bins were donated to Vivekananda Kendra Vidyalaya here by the Regional Outreach Bureau, Itanagar during its special outreach programme (SOP) on Swacchta Hi Seva under Swacchta Action Plan (SAP) on Sunday last, to mark the occasion of Republic Day.
Students also cleaned the school’s premises on the occasion.
Later, addressing the students, ROB Itanagar Director Dr HR Keshava-murthy informed that the Government of India launched the Swacch Bharat Mission on 2 October, 2014 for bringing about a comprehensive approach to cleanliness and hygiene through basic infrastructure development and behavioural change.
“This was to be completed by October, 2019 but has been extended till March, 2020 as part of 150th birth anniversary celebration of Mahatma Gandhi,” he said and urged students to not only practice personal hygiene but also keep their home, surrounding neat and clean.
UD & Housing and state nodal officer for SBM (urban) Superintendent Engineer Marcony Potom underlined the need to eliminate plastics like water bottle, cutleries, straw from daily use.
“India produces 9.4 million tonne of plastic per annum out of which 60 percent is recycled and 40 percent goes into drains and landfills, thus, polluting water bodies and environment. By 2050 aquatic wealth in seas and oceans may be lesser than plastic waste,” Potom said and urged students to spread the message of ban on single use plastics among family, friends, relatives and public.
