‘Swachh Sagar, Surakshit Sagar Campaign’ to Celebrate International Coastal Cleanup Day

India has a long maritime history. The Rigveda was the first to mention marine activities, and references to the interrelationships of the ocean, sea, and rivers can be found in the Indian Puranas. The great marine traditions of India are attested to by diverse evidence from Indian socio-spiritual traditions, literature, poetry, sculpture, painting, and archaeology.

Our vast ocean resources are reflected in India's 7,500-kilometer coastline. Above all, the Indian Ocean is the only ocean named after a country, namely India.

The natural wealth of the sea and ocean has continuously benefited human society. However, in recent years, plastic litter from land-based activities, tourism, and fishing has reached the coast and ocean via rivers and other waterways, posing a serious threat to the marine ecosystem.

R&D efforts will be made to collect scientific data and information on marine litter in a variety of matrices, including coastal waters, sediments, biota, and beaches. Every year on the third Saturday of September, the world celebrates "International Coastal Clean-Up Day."

This year, on September 17, 2022, the Government of India, in collaboration with other voluntary organizations and the local community, will launch the "Swachh Sagar, Surakshit Sagar" cleanliness campaign along India's entire coastline.

This campaign will include the Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES), the Ministry of Environment, Forests, and Climate Change (MoEFCC), the Indian Coast Guard, the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), and other social and educational institutions.

This campaign will see massive public participation, both physically and virtually, with the goal of raising awareness about reducing marine litter, using less plastic, segregating at the source, and waste management.

It will be the world's first and longest-running coastal cleanup campaign, with the greatest number of people participating. The participation of the common man will spread the message of "Swachh Sagar, Surakshit Sagar" for the prosperity of the entire country, not just the coastal areas.

This year's event also coincides with the 75th anniversary of the country's independence; the coastal cleanup drive will take place on 75 beaches across the country. A 75-day campaign will begin on July 3, 2022, to raise awareness about "Swachh Sagar, Surakshit Sagar," culminating on September 17, 2022, with "International Coastal Cleanup Day."

A mobile app called "Eco Mitram" has been launched to raise awareness about the campaign and to encourage people to volunteer for the beach cleaning activity on September 17th, 2022. The goal of this campaign is to create a mass behavioural change among the general public by raising awareness about how plastic usage is destroying our marine life.