The National Cadet Corps (NCC) and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) on 22 September signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to tackle the issue of plastic pollution and achieve the universal goal of clean water bodies through their initiatives, ‘Puneet Sagar Abhiyan’ and ‘Tide Turners Plastic Challenge’ programme.
The MoU was signed between DG NCC Lt Gen Gurbirpal Singh and Resident Representative, UN World Food Programme Bishow Parajuli in the presence of Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and other senior dignitaries.
UNEP decided to join hands with the NCC following the growing support and success of NCC’s campaign ‘Puneet Sagar Abhiyan’.
Much like UNEP’s ‘Tide Turners Plastic Challenge” programme, ‘Puneet Sagar Abhiyan’ is an initiative that aims to clean seashores of plastic & other waste material, while raising awareness about the importance of cleanliness.
The aim of the MoU between NCC and UNEP is to synergise and collate efforts towards engaging youth for promoting clean water bodies. The objective is to engage in capacity building and awareness on environmental sustainability through information sharing and training initiatives; promote opportunities for NCC cadets to participate in appropriate national & international platforms related to environment and climate change and engage in and develop joint initiatives of mutual intent pertaining to environment and climate change.
The MoU will remain in force for a period of three years and aims at consolidating, developing and detailing their cooperation and effectiveness to achieve the common objectives in the field of environment.
Describing ‘Puneet Sagar Abhiyan’ as one of the noblest initiatives, the Defence Secretary Dr. Ajay Kumar, in his address, lauded the efforts of NCC in making the campaign a grand success. He asserted that 1.5 million NCC cadets have the ability to influence the thinking of youth across the world, exuding confidence that they will be instrumental in making the campaign a mass movement.
Dr Ajay Kumar thanked the UNEP for extending its support to NCC for the campaign, stating that “it is our collective responsibility to protect the environment for future generations to live a long and healthy life”.
