Indira Gandhi Centre for Atomic Research observes Swachhata Pakhwada

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Swachhata Pakhwada at IGCAR

Indira Gandhi Centre for Atomic Research observes Swachhata Pakhwada

Swachh Bharat Mission is an umbrella concept encompassing not just hygiene and sanitation but also drinking water, solar energy, solid and liquid waste management and recovery of useful materials from e-waste.

The idea is to bring behavioral changes in communities to practice swachhata so as to achieve sustainable development.

Ministries and Departments have been involved in Swachhata related activities and observe Swachhata Pakhwada to bring in a fortnight of intense focus on improving the cleanliness of offices and surroundings. Department of Atomic Energy is observing Swachhata Pakhwada from February 16 to February 29, 2024.

Indira Gandhi Centre for Atomic Research (IGCAR) will be observing Swachhata Pakhwada at Kalpakkam.

On 17.02.2024, collection of e-waste and books was arranged in DAE Township at Kalpakkam as a community activity. The event was coordinated by Shri N Suresh Associate Director CEG, Smt Jussy Jacob, AOIII, IGCAR and other Senior Officers of IGCAR.  Students from DAE schools and Kendriya Vidyalayas & around 50 employees from IGCAR along with the assistance of CISF & Nuclear Employees Sports & cultural organization (NESCO) participated in the activity. 400 Kgs of E-waste collected was handed over to a designated vendor specialized in handling and disposing e-waste in an eco-friendly manner. 350 Books collected were handed over to NESCO for distributing among the needy people, schools, and libraries.

The Swach Bharat cell, IGCAR organised a tree plantation drive at Anupuram Township on 18.2.2024. The event was presided over by Dr B Venkatraman Director IGCAR. Director, IGCAR led the event by planting the first sapling. Dr Sivaraman Director MC&MFC Group, Dr R Divakar Director MMG, Shri B K Sreedhar, Director FRTG, Dr Sandip Kumar Dhara, Director MSG, Dr Ponraju, Director HSEG, Shri N Suresh Associate Director CEG ,  Smt Vanaja AD, GSO, Smt Jussy Jacob, AOIII, IGCAR and other Senior Officers from IGCAR also planted the saplings.

More than 100 saplings of guava, amla, jamun, sapota, and flower sapling were handed over to the students and teachers of AECS 3 school of Anupuram for plantation, in the event. Director IGCAR cited that biological name of the tree, along with the name of the student, who planted it would be catalogued for records and reference.  Further, each student would be photographed with the tree planted by them and this picture retained for recording the progress over years.

To create awareness about Swachhata, technological intervention to reduce creation of waste & cultivate Swachhata as a habit, street play by employees of IGCAR has been arranged in schools in Kalpakkam Township. During the fortnight, activities like cleaning of office premises, removal of obsolete items, weeding out of old records is being taken up.

To promote the concept of upcycling waste materials into valuable resources, fostering environmental sustainability and economic empowerment, a craft making competition is being organized apart from other competitions like Poster, Essay & Slogan writing conducted for the employees.  Prizes will be distributed to the winners of the competition.

Apart from all the above, as part of the activities, bio- toilets are being installed for the benefit of contract workers.