Coastal Clean Up Campaign

6-Oct-2022: Union Minister Dr Jitendra Singh says, success of 75-day long Beach Cleaning drive vindicates 'whole of Government' approach

Union Minister of Earth Sciences Dr Jitendra Singh said that the success of 75-day long Beach Cleaning drive vindicates the "whole of Government" approach.

Chairing a review meeting on the recently concluded “Swachh Sagar, Surakshit Sagar” campaign from 5th July to 17th September which is observed as “International Coastal Clean Up Day'', Dr Jitendra Singh acknowledged the support of over a dozen Union Ministries for its grand success.

Dr Jitendra Singh thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who in his latest “Mann ki Baat” broadcast, mentioned the “Swachh Sagar - Surakshit Sagar” campaign and the mass public participation in it. Modi had congratulated all the people who took part in many cleanliness related programs for the entire two and a half months, he said.

Secretary, Ministry of Earth Sciences, Dr M. Ravichandran, Secretary, DARPG, V. Srinivas, DG, CSIR, Dr N. Kalaiselvi, DG Coast Guard, V.S. Pathania, Shri Gopal Arya from Paryavaran Sanrakshan Gatividhi and representatives of Environment Ministry and senior officials joined the review meeting.

Dr. Jitendra Singh said that India’s 7500 km-long coastline will play a vital role in shaping up India’s Vision @ 2047 and added that we need to leverage our underutilized oceanic resources in order to advance the economic growth of our nation. The Minister said, a high-level team constituted to organise yearlong activities on coastal clean-up will also coordinate in India’s Deep Sea Mission.

Referring to the Swachh Bharat Mission launched on 2nd October, 2014 after the Prime Minister’s announcement from the Red Fort during his first Independence Day address on 15th August, 2014, Dr Jitendra Singh said, the whole of government approach has combined with whole of nation approach to make swachhata a true Jan Andolan by bringing about the largest behavioural change in the world. He said, the SBM’s emphasis on behavioural change in rural sanitation at the grassroots level also led to rigorous verification and sustainability of the benefits accrued to rural communities.

Dr Jitendra Singh lauded the role of the Ministry of Earth Sciences in executing such a mammoth task of simultaneous coastal clean-up and sea beach cleaning across all the sea beaches along 7,500 km long coastline of India. The Minister pointed out that Governors, Chief Ministers, Union Ministers, MPs, film artists and celebrities participated in beach clean-up activities along with lakhs of volunteers from all walks of life. The Minister informed that more than 45 Deputy Commissioners/District Magistrates from 9 Coastal States made special efforts to make the campaign a grand success.

Dr Jitendra Singh particularly thanked the cooperation from the Ministries of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Jal Shakti, Health and Family Welfare, Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying, External Affairs, Information and Broadcasting, organisations and associations like National Service Scheme (NSS), Indian Coast Guard, National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), Seema Jagran Manch, SFD, Paryavaran Sanrakshan Gatividhi (PSG), along with other social organisations and educational institutions in the clean-up campaign.

17-Sep-2022: Swachh Sagar Surakshit Sagar campaign culminates with the largest coast clean up drive held at Juhu Beach in Mumbai

The largest coastal clean drive-up drive, on the occasion of International Coastal Clean-up Day today, was flagged-off by Maharashtra Governor Shri Bhagat Singh Koshyari, in presence of Union Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh at Juhu Beach in Mumbai. Indian Coast Guard (ICG) has conducted the International Coastal Cleanup drive in Mumbai. The ICG personnel along with more than 2000 children from various colleges and schools have cleaned the beaches at various locations of Mumbai like Juhu, Girgaon, Versova, Uttan, Madh Marve, Colaba, Bandra and Worli.

Speaking on the occasion, Maharashtra Governor Shri Bhagat Singh Koshyari said, Indians have a deep reverence for Mother Earth since ancient times. Today, however, people's sense of respect for the earth, sea and nature seems to be waning, he noted. The Governor regretted that not only land, but oceans have also been filled-up with plastics and filth and called for carrying out the coastal clean-up drive throughout the year. The Governor said, while the country is passing through the Amritkaal, we should keep a clean India as well as a clean sea coast to create a healthy India. He said that the term ‘Surakshit Bharat’ can be added to the drive of ‘Swachh Sagar Surakshit Sagar’ as cleanliness keeps the country safe.

Dr. Jitendra Singh said that India’s 7500 km-long coastline will play a vital role in shaping up India’s Vision @ 2047. Dr. Singh informed that efforts are being made to remove 15 thousand tons of plastic waste from the sea. Emphasizing on cleanliness of beaches, he said, we need to leverage our underutilized oceanic resources in order to advance the economic growth of our nation. India’s bio-economy is growing fast and is projected to be around 1500 million dollars by 2025, he added. Stating that PM Shri Narendra Modi has been saying that different departments and organizations should not work in silos, Dr. Singh said that the Swachh Sagar Surakshit Sagar campaign has been implemented in a whole of government and nationwide manner, in which citizens across all coastal states participated. Dr. Singh also informed that in the next few years, Indians will go to explore the bottom of the sea just as they will explore the outer space.

The Director-General of Indian Coast Guard Shri VS Pathania delivered the inaugural address. He said that various organizations have come forward to show their concerns for the environment in this drive and thus “it is very encouraging to see huge turnout of volunteers”. He said that his organization ICG believes service to environment is their primary duty. ISG has leading this campaign since 2006, he informed. He further said that Swachh Sagar Surakshit Sagar has been successful in line with our commitment to UN’s Sustainable Development Goal No. 14. The campaign which started 75 days back, witnessed a variety of activities to increase awareness and public participation in the coastal clean-up drive.

The Secretary of Ministry of Earth Sciences Dr. M. Ravichandran said the health of oceans is degrading faster than before, and hence, it is imperative to protect our oceans. If oceans are not there, there will be less monsoon and oceans-lives will also be affected. We need to prevent pollution of oceans for our future generations, he said.

Member of Parliament (Mumbai North-Central) Poonam Mahajan, Playback singer Anuradha Paudwal, Satish Modh and volunteers of NCC, NGOs and Coast Guard were present.

International Coastal Clean-up Day

This year, the International Coastal Cleanup(ICC) Day has gained a positive momentum due to Prime Minister’s appeal for mass cleanliness and sanitation drive ‘Swachh Bharat Abhiyan’ and celebrations of ‘Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav’ on completing 75 years of Independence. The aim was to conduct cleanliness drive all along 7,500 km of Indian coast line at 75 beaches for 75 minutes with special emphasis on Plastic Free Ocean to commemorate 75 years of Independence.

The International Coastal Cleanup (ICC) day is conducted in various parts of the world in third week of September every year under the aegis of United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and South Asia Co-operative Environment Programme (SACEP) in South Asian Region. The Indian Coast Guard has been coordinating ICC activity in India since 2006 to generate awareness among coastal populace and students towards safe & clean beaches.

In addition to Indian Coast Guard, the ICC-22 is being spearheaded by Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES), Ministry of Environment Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC), National Services Scheme (NSS), National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) and various other central & state Govt. Departments and Non-Government Organisations (NGO).

This year being special due to ‘Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav’, the various activities have already been commenced with effect from 04 Jul 22 i.e. 75 days before September 17, 2022 as a run-up to International Coastal Cleanup day. At Mumbai alone, 22 awareness drives at colleges & schools were undertaken by Indian Coast Guard along with NSS and NGO My Green Society. Walkathons of 7.5 km, tree plantations of 750 trees, quiz competitions & Motor Cycle rallies were also conducted all along the West coast. Special Community Interaction Programmes with fisher-folks on the occasion of Independence Day were celebrated with hoisting of National Flag at various fishing villages. A mobile application called ‘ECO-Mitram’ has been launched by the Govt. Of India on 05 Jul 22 to take the drive to every individual and the over-whelming response being received is testimony to the commitment of our woke-citizens to become a part of ICC-22.

3-Aug-2022: “Swachh Sagar, Surakshit Sagar” campaign

The "Swachh Sagar, Surakshit Sagar/Clean Coast Safe Sea “campaign is a 75-day citizen-led campaign for improving ocean health through collective action. The campaign started on July 5th, 2022 and has 3 strategic underlying goals that target transformation and environmental conservation through behavior change. The three underlying goals of the campaign are to 1. Consume Responsibly 2. Segregate waste at home and 3. Dispose Responsibly.

This event also coincides with the celebrations of Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav in 75th year of the country’s independence; The coastal cleanup drive will be carried out at 75 beaches across the country with 75 volunteers for every kilometre of the coastline. The campaign will culminate with the largest beach cleaning event on Sept 17, 2022 (International Coastal Cleanup Day) covering 75 beaches across India’s 7500+km coastline.

This campaign will include Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES), Ministry of Environment Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC), Ministry of Education, Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, Ministry of Jal Shakti, Ministry of Fisheries and Animal Husbandry, National Service Scheme (NSS), Indian Coast Guard, National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), Paryavaran Sanrakshan Gatividhi (PSG), along with other government departments, social organizations and educational institutions.

An estimated expenditure of about Rs 10 crores is envisaged for this programme. 75 beaches have been identified all over India and from Tamil Nadu about 8 beaches have been identified. The major beach cleaning activities will be carried out on 17 September 2022. The pre campaign activities have started on 05 July 2022.

Key audiences for the campaign include local communities that rely on oceans and beaches for livelihood, school and college students, youth and citizens in-general. The campaign will combine both virtual and physical formats for delivering key messages and engaging the target audience in adopting lifestyle and behavioral changes that promote environmental sustainability. Examples of virtual activities include quizzes, pledges and challenges. Physical activities will include the actual beach clean-up along with rallies, skits and contests etc.

It is the first-of-its-kind and longest running coastal cleanup campaign in the world with highest number of people participating in it. Through this campaign, a mass behavioural change among the masses is intended by raising awareness about how plastic usage is destroying our marine life. A mobile app “Eco Mitram” has been launched to spread awareness about the campaign and also for the common people for voluntary registration for the beach cleaning activity on the 17th September 2022. The target of the programme is to remove 1,500 tonnes of marine litter from the sea-coasts which will be a huge relief to marine life and the people staying in coastal areas.

2-Aug-2022: Union Minister Dr Jitendra Singh interacts with 46 District Magistrates from 9 Coastal States, reviews the ongoing countrywide 75-day Coastal CleanUp campaign and asks them to assist in this mass campaign

Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) Science & Technology; Minister of State (Independent Charge) Earth Sciences; MoS PMO, Personnel, Public Grievances, Pensions, Atomic Energy and Space, Dr Jitendra Singh today interacted with 46 Deputy Commissioners/District Magistrates from 9 Coastal States, reviewed the ongoing countrywide 75-day Coastal CleanUp campaign and asked them to assist in this mass campaign, which has been initiated by the Union Ministry of Earth Sciences and involves all the concerned Central Ministries, State Governments as well as civil society organisations.

The Minister said, the District Collectors can create a sustainable campaign and truly build a crescendo by involving all sections of society as the “Swachh Sagar, Surakshit Sagar” campaign is the longest and largest beach cleaning campaign in the world, which has already caught the imagination of the masses and nation.

Underlining the "whole of government" approach to make the coastal clean-up campaign a grand success, Dr Jitendra Singh asked the District Collectors to rope in NGOs, citizen groups, children and youth forums, corporates, non-profit organisations, the Municipal Corporations of the Coastal States and environment activists. He also lauded the role of District Collectors for making a multi-department campaign to have maximum participation from all sections, particularly the student community and youth of the country.

Dr Jitendra Singh informed the District Magistrates that 75-day long campaign launched from 5th of July by Ministry of Earth Sciences will culminate on "International Coastal Clean-up Day" on 17th September 2022. He said, on 17th September, which incidentally is also birthday of Prime Minister Narendra Modi celebrated as “Sewa Divas” in the country, a massive clean-up drive will be carried out at 75 beaches across the country with 75 volunteers for every kilometre of the coastline. He sought active cooperation from all stakeholders to achieve the target to remove 1,500 ton of garbage, mainly single use plastic from the sea coasts on 17th September 2022. He also added that this year’s event also coincides with the celebrations of Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav in 75th year of the country’s independence.

Dr Jitendra Singh asked the Collector, South Goa to involve local performing troupes and celebrities to create general awareness among the masses about beach cleaning operations and come out with a Goa-Model of Coastal Clean Up campaign in all the four identified beaches.

Similarly, The Minister asked the Collector, Porbandar, Gujarat to mobilise full resources to undertake various activities including garbage cleaning along the 100-kilometre coastline of Porbandar and Madhavpur. He said, all seven coastal districts of Gujarat have pledged full support to “Swachh Sagar, Surakshit Sagar” campaign.

District Collector of Chennai informed that 4 major beaches including the largest beach in Asia the Marina beach and 29 kilometres of coastline are already witnessing cleaning operations and will gain momentum in coming days. District Collectors of Diu, Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Thiruvananthapuram, Ernakulam, Kollam from Kerala and from other districts presented their roadmap and future activities before the Minister.

Dr Jitendra Singh reiterated that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has taken a lead in the cleanliness campaign and has motivated the entire nation to keep the 7500 Kilometres long coastal line of India clean, safe and healthy for mankind. He called upon all to join the massive clean-up drive on 17th September to be carried out at 75 beaches across the country with 75 volunteers for every kilometre of the coastline.

Secretary, MoES, Dr M. Ravichandran and Secretary DARPG V. Srinivas assured Dr Jitendra Singh that there will be regular interaction with District Collectors of all the 9 Coastal States to further strengthen and boost the coastal clean-up campaign. Gagandeep Singh Bedi, Greater Chennai Corporation Commissioner and Amitabh Sengupta, Special Secretary, Home Department, West Bengal also shared their inputs to widen the campaign. Nodal officers from MoES, Representatives from Coast Guard, Ministry of Shipping and NGOs including Paryavaran Sanrakshan Gatividhi took part in today’s meeting along with senior officials.

The meeting with the District Collectors comes in the wake of an important meeting convened on 22nd July by Dr Jitendra Singh of Union Ministers and Members of Parliament from coastal states of the country for seeking their suggestions and support to make it a mass campaign. Union Ministers Bhupender Yadav, Minister of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, Jal Shakti Minister, Mansukh Mandaviya, Minister of Health and Family Welfare, Parshottam Rupala, Minister of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying, V Muraleedharan, Minister of State for External Affairs, L. Murugan MoS attended meeting along with MPs from large number of coastal States.

25-Jul-2022: Union Minister Dr Jitendra Singh informs that more than 200 ton of garbage, mainly single use plastic was removed from the sea coasts during first 20 days of the ongoing 75-day Coastal Clean-Up Campaign launched on 5th July, 2022

Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) Science & Technology; Minister of State (Independent Charge) Earth Sciences; MoS PMO, Personnel, Public Grievances, Pensions, Atomic Energy and Space, Dr Jitendra Singh today informed that more than 200 ton of garbage, mainly single use plastic, have been removed from the sea coasts during the first 20 days of the ongoing 75-day Coastal Clean-Up campaign launched on 5th July, 2022.

Taking a review meeting of the campaign, Dr Jitendra Singh also noted with satisfaction that so far more than 5200 volunteers from 24 States have already registered for the 75-day long campaign to raise awareness about “Swachh Sagar, Surakshit Sagar”, which will culminate on "International Coastal Clean-up Day" on 17th September 2022.

The Minister directed the officials of the Ministry of Earth Sciences to rope in NGOs, citizen groups, children and youth forums, corporates, non-profit organisations, consular staff as well as the Municipal Corporations of the Coastal States to convert it into a Jan Andolan.

Secretary, MoES, Dr M. Ravichandra informed Dr Jitendra Singh that coastal clean-up campaign were carried out at Digha and Haldiya in West Bengal, Bhawanipatna in Odisha Paschim, Thiruvananthapuram and Manjeshwar in Kasaragod district of Kerala, AsmawatiGhat in Porbandar and Gir, Somnath in Gujarat, Mangalore, Udupi in Karnataka and Chatham for Shore Road in Andaman and Nicobar Islands. He said that apart from removal of garbage from the sea coast, activities like campaign pledge, Nukkad Natak, Cycle Rally for Plastic se Azadi, Beach cleaning and Plantation, Sensitization of local communities about the coastal clean-up campaign were carried out in the last 20 days.

Dr Jitendra Singh sought active cooperation of members of civil society to achieve the target to remove 1,500 tonnes of garbage, mainly single use plastic from the sea coasts on "International Coastal Clean-up Day" on 17th September 2022, which incidentally is also birthday of Prime Minister Narendra Modi celebrated as “Sewa Divas” in the country. He called upon all to join the massive clean-up drive on 17th September to be carried out at 75 beaches across the country with 75 volunteers for every kilometre of the coastline. He also added that this year’s event also coincides with the celebrations of Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav in the 75th year of the country’s independence.

On 22nd July, Dr Jitendra Singh had convened a meeting of Union Ministers and Members of Parliament from coastal states of the country and sought their suggestions and support to make it a mass campaign. Union Ministers Bhupender Yadav, Minister of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, Jal Shakti Minister, Mansukh Mandaviya, Minister of Health and Family Welfare, Parshottam Rupala, Minister of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying, V Muraleedharan, Minister of State for External Affairs, L. Murugan MoS attended meeting along with MPs from large number of coastal States.

The Ministers and the MPs pledged full support to the first-of-its-kind and longest running coastal clean-up campaign in the world and they also advised the Ministry of Earth Sciences to undertake a cycle rally, students rally by involving local NGOs.

It may also be recalled that on 23rd July, Indian Merchants’ Chamber (IMC) President Anant Singhania, who is also CEO J. K. Enterprises today met Dr Jitendra Singh and extended support for Mumbai sea beach cleaning as a part of the 75-day Coastal Clean-Up campaign initiated by the Ministry of Earth Sciences. Mr. Singhania, who was accompanied by Managing Committee Members of the IMC, said that they not only pledged to join the campaign but also to mobilise their resources for the rejuvenation and beautification of “Queen Necklace”, which is the popular name by which the Marine Drive Beach is known.

Dr Jitendra Singh said, this is a mass campaign and sought everybody's view as to how best to further strengthen the campaign which has already caught the imagination of the masses and the nation. He said, the Ministry of Earth Sciences is spearheading it but at the same time seeking a "whole of government" approach.

22-Jul-2022: Coastal Clean Up Campaign launched by the Ministry of Earth Sciences from 5th July, 2022

Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) Science & Technology; Minister of State (Independent Charge) Earth Sciences; MoS PMO, Personnel, Public Grievances, Pensions, Atomic Energy and Space, Dr Jitendra Singh today convened a meeting of Union Ministers and Members of Parliament from coastal states of the country to discuss the ongoing countrywide Coastal Clean Up Campaign launched by the Ministry of Earth Sciences from 5th July, 2022.

Among the Ministers, Bhupender Yadav, Minister of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, Jal Shakti Minister, Mansukh Mandaviya, Minister of Health and Family Welfare, Parshottam Rupala, Minister of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying, V Muraleedharan, Minister of State for External Affairs, L. Murugan MoS attended meeting along with MPs from large number of coastal States.

A brief presentation was also made. A mobile app “Eco Mitram” has been launched to spread awareness about the campaign and also for the common people for voluntary registration for the beach cleaning activity on the 17th September 2022. Through this campaign, a mass behavioural change among the masses is intended by raising awareness about how plastic usage is destroying our marine life.

Dr Jitendra Singh informed the Central Ministers and MPs that 75 days long campaign launched from 5th to raise awareness about “Swachh Sagar, Surakshit Sagar” will culminate on "International Coastal Clean-up Day" on 17th September 2022. He said, on 17th April, which incidentally is also birthday of Prime Minister Narendra Modi celebrated as “Sewa Diwas” in the country, a massive clean-up drive will be carried out at 75 beaches across the country with 75 volunteers for every kilometre of the coastline. He also added that this year’s event also coincides with the celebrations of Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav in 75th year of the country’s independence.

All the participants in the meeting supported the idea of Dr Jitendra Singh to achieve the target to remove 1,500 tonnes of garbage, mainly single use plastic from the sea coasts on 17th September by mobilising more than 75,000 people, students, civil society members and environment activists among others.

It was also recalled that in line with the clarion call given by Prime Minister to phase out single use plastic items by 2022, Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Government of India notified the Plastic Waste Management Amendment Rules, 2021, on 12 August 2021 and the Ministry announced on 28th June that India will ban manufacture, import, stocking, distribution, sale and use of identified single use plastic items, which have low utility and high littering potential, all across the country from July 1, 2022.

All the related agencies have come together to sensitise over 200 ports, fishing harbours and 6100 lighthouses about the ongoing coastal clean-up drive and they should pitch in a big way on 17th April to make the "International Coastal Clean-up Day" a grand success.

Fish landing centres in all coastal areas in the country are being aligned with the coastal Swachhata drive. On 17 September, 75 fish landing centres will take part in the clean-up campaign by mobilising all resources.

Ministers and MPs from Kerala and Tamil Nadu promised to give full support to the coastal clean-up mission even during the ongoing monsoon season. They said, volunteers along with students will be mobilised in coming weeks.

Many Members of Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha from Coastal States also came up with noble suggestions which the Union Minister of Earth Sciences Dr Jitendra Singh promised to integrate with the coastal swachhata campaign.

In his concluding remarks, Dr Jitendra Singh reminded the Ministers and MPs about the Prime Minister’s address from the ramparts of the Red Fort on 15th August, 2019, when he called upon the countrymen, “Remembering revered Bapu, we should move out of home collecting single-use plastic from homes, streets, chowks, and drains. Municipalities, Municipal corporations, Gram Panchayat should make arrangements to collect single-use plastic. Can we take the first big step on 2nd October, towards making India free from single-use plastic”? Modi also requested start-up organizations, technicians and entrepreneurs to see what could be done to recycle this plastic and at the same time urged the people to promote jute and cloth bags.

This campaign is being spearheaded by Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES), Ministry of Environment Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC), National Service Scheme (NSS), Indian Coast Guard, National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), Seema Jagran Manch, SFD, Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP), Paryavaran Sanrakshan Gatividhi (PSG), along with other social organizations and educational institutions.