Bhupender Yadav Participates in ‘Swachh Sagar, Surakshit Sagar’ Campaign at Puducherry

Bhupender Yadav, Union Minister of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, inspected the beach infrastructure facilities at Eden Beach in Puducherry. A one-day beach clean-up campaign has also been organised at Puducherry's Promenade Beach. Bhupender Yadav inspected the beach infrastructure facilities, risk and safety measures implemented for the safety of beach users, and interacted with officials from the Government of Puducherry, the beach maintenance team, and tourists at Eden Blue Flag Beach.

The Beach Cleaning and Awareness Campaign was led by Union Minister of Environment, Forest and Climate Change Bhupender Yadav, the Lieutenant Governor of Puducherry Dr. Tamilsai Soundararajan, and the Chief Minister of Puducherry Thiru. N. Rangaswamy.

The Promenade Beach Campaign was commemorated by schoolchildren and beachgoers signing a pledge in English and Tamil titled "I Am Saving My Beach." This was followed by the awarding of prizes for the painting competition held on the occasion. The dignitaries kicked off a walkathon with 100 school students, cyclists, and a "Connecting with the Ocean" float.

A large beach cleaning campaign involving over 200 children from various Puducherry schools, NCC Cadets, Scouts, and Guides, as well as officials from the Government of Puducherry and general beach users, was held at the Promenade Beach. The campaign's primary goal is to raise public awareness about the importance of a "clean coast and safe seas" along the beaches and coast.

"Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav" is a Government of India initiative to celebrate and commemorate 75 years of independence, as well as the glorious history of its people, culture, and achievements. "Swachh Sagar, Surakshit Sagar/Clean Coast, Safe Sea" Campaign is a 75-day citizen-led initiative aimed at improving coastal and ocean health through community action. The campaign began on July 5, 2022, and will conclude on September 17, 2022, which is International Coastal Clean-up Day.

The Campaign's three strategic underlying goals are to change and save the environment through behaviour change. The campaign's three overarching goals are as follows:

Consume with Caution,

Separate your garbage at home, and

Responsible waste disposal

The campaign is led by the Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES), in collaboration with the Ministry of Environment, Forests, and Climate Change (MoEFCC), the Indian Coast Guard, the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), other central ministries/organizations, and other social and educational institutions.

The coastal clean-up campaign is taking place at 75 beaches along the coast line, with an average of 75 volunteers per kilometre of coastline. A national conference and workshop on coastal ecosystem conservation, marine environment conservation, safe beaches, and waste management are being held.

During the campaign period, various beaches and coastal areas will be visited by school children, Scouts, NCC cadets, NSS volunteers, NGOs, and beach users to raise awareness. The goal is to target lifestyle and behavioural changes that promote environmental sustainability, in line with the Hon'ble Prime Minister's Global initiative on the 'Lifestyle for Environment (LiFE) Movement, which calls for human-centered and collaborative efforts to strengthen sustainable development.

The Government of India's Ministry of Environment, Forests, and Climate Change has launched a scheme to certify Indian beaches as 'Blue Flag'. This certification is granted by the "Foundation for Environment Education, Denmark" and is based on 33 stringent criteria divided into four major categories:

(i) environmental education and awareness, (ii) bathing water, (ii) the quality of bathing water, (iii) environmental management and conservation, and (iv) beach safety and services. The 'Blue Flag' beach is an Eco-tourism model that aims to provide clean and sanitary bathing water, facilities and amenities, a safe and healthy environment, and long-term eco-development of the area to tourists and beachgoers. Among the first eight beaches, the EDEN BEACH in Puducherry has been designated a Blue Flag Beach since September 2020.