SCCN combats Plastic Pollution

Participants from Fergusson College:

Dr. Tanuuja Marathe (Officiating Principal and Head of Geology Department, Fergusson College)

Dr. Swati Joglekar (Vice Principal)

Ms. Rupali Gaikwad (HOD Environment Science)

Students (50) and Faculty (5)

Participants from TERRE SCCN:

Dinah Gengmei, Project Leader

Sourav Dutta, Project Coordinator

An interactive session was held on 'Beat the Plastic Pollution' on 1st October 2019 in Fergusson College. The session was jointly organised by the Department of Environment Science, Fergusson College & TERRE Policy Centre under its Smart Campus Cloud Network (SCCN) initiative SCCN to emphasize on the awareness of the devastating effects of Single-Use Plastic with the recent regulations and measures coming over the use of it.

The session started with Dr. Marathe addressing the students on the theme of the session 'Beat Plastic Pollution' and drawing attention to the need of action by the students and faculties as a team.

The session proceeded with Dinah Gengmei, Project Leader TERRE introducing the Smart Campus Cloud Network (SCCN) project of TERRE. She elaborated on the importance of youth to be change makers and that the self awareness plays crucial role in addressing the global issues. She further introduced the SCCN's initiative of single-use plastic free campus. Students were encouraged to register on the SCCN's website to initiate and participate in the discussions and suggestions on creating smart campuses. (Click here for students registration portal)

Sourav Dutta, Project Coordinator TERRE further addressed the participants on making Fergusson College single-use plastic free campus with the latest regulations and guidelines of UGC (University Grants Commission) and MHRD (Ministry of Human Resource Development) towards plastic pollution. He reiterated PM Modi's announcement on bringing a revolution of becoming plastic free nation. He spoke about the responsibility of students as an individual and as team to work on such environmental crisis. The students acknowledged the importance to curb down the usage of single-use plastic and come up with their own sustainable solutions. Hence, a request was made to all the students to form an eco-club in the college campus and spread awareness of the devastations faced by the usage of single-use plastic. 

Lastly, Ms. Rupali Gaikwad, HOD Environmental Science Department, Fergusson College gave an enlightening talk on the usage of plastic in our day to day life. A detailed presentation was made on the types of plastics around us and its affects on several sections of the society starting from health to marine life. This gave a comprehensive understanding of social as well as environmental crisis emerged from extensive use of various categories of plastics.

Pledge taken by all the participants:

'We pledge to stop the use of plastic bags, instead use the reusable cloth bags only. We pledge that we will educate our community people to save our environment. We will share the possible solution of plastic pollution with community people'.