ECO-FRIENDLY ROUTE FOR CITY CAMPUSES
Varsities across Delhi have taken the lead in shunning single-use plastic by adopting various measures
Addressing the nation from the ramparts of the Red Fort on the 73rd Independence Day, when PM Narendra Modi gave a clarion call to shun single-use plastic, it gave the countrymen just the needed boost to think about the environment. Acting on the same, in an attempt to discourage single-use plastic, college/university campuses in Delhi have taken the lead in becoming eco-friendly.
IN SEARCH OF ALTERNATIVES
At Jamia Millia Islamia (JMI), eco-friendly seems to be a way of life. The varsity had earlier installed solar panels, and is progressively inching towards adopting other possible means to become environment conscious. Professor Najma Akhtar, vice chancellor, JMI, says, “The university has been trying for the past two years to ban plastic use, and now each department and office has been notified not to use plastic publicly or privately. Also, a list of plastic items not to be used has been circulated, so that nobody is under the wrong impression. We started the ban on its use from October 2 as a mark of respect to Mahatma Gandhi, who emphasised on cleanliness and preservation of environment. He wanted India to be free from all kinds of evils... We will encourage students to come up with new ideas and suggestions.”
PLASTIC-FREE IGNOU
The South Delhi Municipal Corporation (SDMC) recently declared the Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU) campus in Maidan Garhi, the first single-use plastic-free educational institute in the city. Around 150 PhD students, faculty and other staff members recently took a pledge to not to use single-use plastic and also to discourage others from doing so. IGNOU, has, in fact, signed an MoU with SDMC to keep plastics such as polythene bags less than 55 microns, thermocol plates and cups, plastic spoons and straws, away from the campus.
DU’S COOL CAUSES
At PGDAV College, a postermaking competition was recently organised on the theme of single-use plastic. Sakshi Verma, convenor of Satark — the Consumer Club Of PGDAV College (Morning) — says, “If we are able to find a group that disposes plastic responsibly, then we can also make arrangements to collect plastic like we collect e-waste in our campus; the e-waste box we have is such a success that at times faculty members even bring electronic waste such as printers etc to college so that they can be collected as part of this initiative.” In DU’s Sri Aurobindo College (Morning), the Internal Quality Assurance Cell has taken initiatives to ensure a plastic-free zone. The college has also limited the use of non-biodegradable materials in the premises, including its canteen that either uses utensils made of stainless steel or paper plates that are ecofriendly and biodegradable.