IGNOU commemorates 150th Birth Anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi; pledges to eliminate single-use plastic from the campus

Media Release

IGNOU commemorates 150^th Birth Anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi; pledges to eliminate single-use plastic from the campus

On the occasion of Mahatma Gandhi’s 150th birth anniversary, Prof. Nageshwar Rao, VC, IGNOU urged IGNOU employees to eliminate single-use plastic and use cloth and jute bags instead. Prof. Nageshwar Rao said that it is a step towards the Prime Minister’s call to the nation to make the country free from single-use plastics by the University. He paid floral tributes to the “Father of Nation” by offering flowers to the portrait of Mahatma.

IGNOU also has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with South Delhi Municipality Corporation to keep plastic items such as polythene bags, thermocol plates and cups, plastic spoons and straws away from the campus. IGNOU faculty members and employees also took the pledge to eliminate single-use plastic and make the IGNOU campus plastic-free.

Indira Gandhi National Open University organized number of activities to observe Gandhi Jayanti and Swachh Bharat Abhiyan. The activities included Safai Abhiyaan by all the Regional Centers and the Maidan Garhi Headquarter. Prof. Nageshwar Rao, VC along with other faculty members and employees took part in the cleanliness drive to make the campus free of plastic waste and other waste materials.

As part of activities to create awareness and also celebrate Mahatma’s 150th birth anniversary, IGNOU organized painting competition for children with theme of Swachh Bharat and promoting elimination of Single-use plastic. The prizes and certificate of participation were distributed to the children who had participated in the competition to encourage them and imbibe the cleanliness habits for better India.

A nukkad natak was staged by the students of School of Performing and Visual Arts (SOPVA) on the theme. To mark the occasion, a Kavi Sammelan was also organized at the Baba Ambedkar Saheb Converntion Center at the IGNOU HQ.

Swachh Bharat Mission was launched by Government of India in the year 2014. It is nation-wide campaign of largest clean up drive with the major objective to clean up the streets, construction of toilets etc to achieve an Open-Defecation Free (ODF) India.