Megha Das 
On International Coastal Clean-up Day, the Gopalpur branch of the Tata Steel Foundation (TSF) organised a large awareness campaign on marine pollution at Bhateswar Sea Beach in the Kantiagad village of the Ganjam district of Odisha. Volunteers numbered in the hundreds, and they included students and officials from event sponsors. The campaign’s goal was to get people thinking about the need of preventing marine pollution and protecting coastal habitats.
TSF collaborated with district officials, the Indian Coast Guard Station in Gopalpur, the Indian Army, the Forest Department, the National Cadet Corps, and the Notified Area Council in Gopalpur to reach out to local children and recruit them for this important initiative. Event organisers used the slogan “Sea the Change” as a rallying cry for the community-building goals they had in mind.
As the event’s keynote guest, Lieutenant General UV Talur, commandant of the Army Air Defence College in Gopalpur, spoke about the increasing pollution that has been damaging beaches throughout the world. He praised TSF for its advocacy for better beach maintenance and protection. The event called on everyone to do their part in making the world a better place for future generations by conserving the environment.
It was also attended by Mr. Pratip Modak, the commandant of the Indian Coast Guard.
Members of the National Cadet Corps and students from nearby schools and colleges took part in a beach cleaning activity, along with Ambika Nanda, Head, CSR,Tata Steel Odisha, officials from Gopalpur Port, Tata Steel SEZ, and Tata Steel Ferro Alloys and Minerals Division, and many more.
Also present were top officials from the district government, notable dignitaries, and Rockey Martin, head of the Tata Steel Foundation in Gopalpur.
They hammered home the value of protecting the environment and called on everyone to do their part to make the world a better place for future generations.
The event was a huge success and highlighted the need of taking care of our coastal habitats.
