Udupi: The Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services (INCOIS), under the ministry of earth sciences, is organising a nationwide coastal cleanliness and public awareness programme under the Swachh Sagar Surakshit Sagar (SSSS) campaign from Sept 12 to 19 at around 40 coastal locations across India.
The programme is being organised in association with the Manipal Academy of Higher Education (MAHE), Manipal Institute of Technology (MIT), NSS units, the Centre for Climate Studies (CCS) and the Centre for Smart Coastal Sustainability (CoE-SCS), with the support of the district administration.
On Friday, an awareness programme initiated by the INCOIS Research Scholars Collective (IRSC) will be held for more than 500 students at Malpe and Udyavara. The campaign aims to raise awareness about marine litter and plastic pollution, and encourage collective responsibility for keeping India’s beaches, coasts and oceans clean, healthy and sustainable. Fishermen, students, researchers, local residents, NGOs, NSS volunteers, govt officials and INCOIS representatives will participate. The programme will cover marine litter, microplastics and plastic pollution; INCOIS ocean information and advisory services; interaction with fishermen and coastal communities; and waste collection and segregation practices. INCOIS is further strengthening its efforts through the Nirmal Sagar programme, which promotes sustained coastal cleanliness, scientific awareness, stakeholder participation and responsible stewardship of the marine environment.