Ramakanta Biswas

The University Grants Commission (UGC) has requested all higher educational institutes (HEIs) to organise awareness programme in order to avoid the use of single-use plastics as part of 'Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav'.

In a letter to Vice-Chancellors of all Universities and Principals of all Colleges/institutes, UGC Secretary Rajnish Jain said the awareness programmes to avoid the use of single-use plastics has been identified as one of themes for the 'Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav' campaign.   

"As you are aware, the Government of India has launched a 75 weeklong campaign 'Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav' to celebrate the achievements of the country and its people. This campaign not only commemorates the achievements but also motivates and encourages citizens to take positive steps for the growth of the country," Jain stated in the letter.

"Awareness programmes to avoid the use of single-use plastics has been identified as one of themes for the campaign with a view to gather momentum, scale visibility and outreach," he added. 

The UGC secretary said awareness generation may also be brought out on the recently notified Plastic Waste Management Amendment Rules, 2021, wherein, identified single-use plastic item, which have low utility and high littering potential, will be phased out by 2022.

"All the Universities and affiliated colleges/institutes are requested to organize the awareness programme impactfully in order to avoid use of single-use plastics as part of 'Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav' and share action taken report on the list of activities undertaken on University Activity Monitoring Portal (UAMP) of UGC (https://www. ugc.ac.in/uamp)," he added.

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