In line with Tamil Nadu government’s efforts towards protecting the environment and declaring plastic ban, effective from January 2019, Great Lakes Institute of Management, Chennai, organized a beach cleaning campaign on 20th January at Elliot’s beach in Besant Nagar. Chief Guest Dr C. K. Gandhirajan IPS, Director General of Police, State Human Rights Commission, Tamil Nadu, flagged off the drive and joined in the cleaning up process. Dr. Vaidy Jayaraman, Associate Dean & Principal, Great Lakes Institute of Management, Chennai along with 100+ students, faculty and staff members of Great Lakes participated in this initiative and pledged towards plastic free green environment.
Great Lakes, a leading B School in the country, has been active in the field of social responsibility through its green initiatives and Leadership Experiential Action Program (LEAP) Karma Yoga. There are 24 villages surrounding the institute’s campus that have been adopted by Great Lakes where students visit these Karma Yoga villages every week to enhance the self esteem and self efficacy of the villagers so that they are able to lead a better quality life. The program also supports community development and projects in rural areas over the years. Known for its LEED platinum rated campus, the institute kick started a clean up campaign a week before on 12th January, at one of its Karma yoga villages, where Dr Bala V Balachandran, Founder, Dean & Chairman, Great Lakes Institute of Management, inaugurated the campaign and praised the villagers for maintaining a clean environment. This winded up today in Elliot’s’ Beach with Mega clean up drive.
Addressing the gathering, Dr C. K. Gandhirajan IPS, Director General of Police, State Human Rights Commission, Tamil Nadu, said how plastic that seemed a boon is a bane to the humankind and nature. “I would like to thank Great Lakes for coming forward and conducting this clean up drive in one of the prime spots of Chennai. We often see these locations littered with plastic cups, covers and bottles among other garbage. With prime objective of creating awareness to public and enhance cleanliness, this initiative stands out as an example for all of us to take responsibility while dumping trash in garbage bins and also replace plastic with reusable products” he added.
Speaking about the campaign, Dr Vaidy Jayaraman, Associate Dean & Principal, Great Lakes Institute of Management, Chennai, said, “At Great Lakes, taking care of the community is OUR business. This has been inculcated well among every Great Laker. With State Government’s effort to eradicate plastic from Jan 2019, we have organized this drive to raise awareness, and encourage #notoplastics among general public. Dumping of garbage and solid waste in beach area not only destroys the environment , but also affects the marine ecosystem. People should be aware of the ill-effects of the same and hence, avoid using plastic and dispose other toxic substances only in bins.”
The cleaning campaign started at around seven in the morning and went on for a couple of hours. The volunteers were provided with hand gloves, caps and garbage collection bags. General public who were in for their morning walk and exercise by the beach too joined the students and signed up pledge to support plastic free environment.
