“Ask not what your country can do for you — rather ask yourself what you can do for your country."
- JOHN F KENEDDY

From our mesmerizing landscapes to our rich heritage, from unique culture and diverse history to joyful festivals, India is a gorgeous amalgamation of traditions, languages, people, and their way of living. Being a multi-cultural, multi-lingual, and multi-religious society, India has been called the golden sparrow which always believed in “Unity in Diversity“

Sustainable development is an overarching paradigm of the United Nations. This concept was described by the 1987 Brundtland Commission Report as “development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations.” Thus, it envisages a future agenda that balances the four pillars i.e. social, economic, cultural, and environmental objectives.

Through a wide process, the UN Sustainable Development framework consisting of 17 Goals and 169 interlinked Targets within these Goals are framed in an ambitious, pragmatic, and concrete way to renew and integrate efforts to meet the national and global aspirations in a defined time frame by 2030. The vision involves social spheres like gender equality, education and health, economic issues like growth, infrastructure, and sustainable consumption, the environment through climate change, and peaceful partnerships for sustainable development. "If we make cities more efficient, we make the world more sustainable."

Are we, the citizens, not responsible for the betterment of our own country?

The simplified definition is an act of simple living with high thinking and intent on not harming the environment and preventing as much harm from occurring to the environment. It’s about changing the mindset of how we live.

It’s a dire need to tackle these huge challenges by promoting the rights and aspirations and increasing the participation of youth in decision-making. One of the major causes of environmental hazards in this century is plastic pollution.

Plastic pollution has affected the health and life of mankind, marine life, and wildlife in a very bad way in recent years. Owing to its versatile use starting from basic household chores to industries, from stationery items to spaceships we have been dependent on plastic as an affordable, easily modifiable, moisture-resistant, and durable material. We begin our day by using plastic in the form of buckets, water bottles, combs, milk packets, carry bags, gift wrappers, and packaged foods. This must change to ensure a safe, healthy, and sustainable future for our planet. The attitude and behavior towards plastic disposal have caused enormous damage as it has been frequently dumped carelessly on land, rivers, and oceans and clutters almost every landscape.

DISADVANTAGES OF PLASTIC

1. Daily use practices in form of plastic containers for food storage are made up of PVC, or other phenolic compounds that cause cancer or other ailments.
2. The trash dumped by the mariners and sea goers in the sea is harming the aquatic ecosystem by entangling the creatures and causing the death of many sea creatures like turtles due to ingestion of this non-biodegradable plastic.
3. Pollution of water bodies due to sewage outfalls, merchant shipping, commercial fishing operations, or beach goers and improper disposal of plastic wastes.
4. Urbanisation leads to a choked drainage system and results in stagnation of sewage pathways welcoming the breed of mosquitoes that can spread many diseases.
5. It affects the groundwater recharge by preventing the percolation of rainwater into the water table and in turn affects the structure of the soil.
6. Cattle ingest the plastic polybags and die as a result
7. Burning of plastic releases toxins that are deadly and it occurs year-round.
8. Plastic bags and bottles create significant environmental and social burdens as they consume an enormous amount of energy and use natural resources.

STEPS TO CUT DOWN ON PLASTIC

To save the environment from pollution, we should become minimalist and think sustainably. We all should practice and use the 4 R’s in our daily lives.

• Refuse :
• Say no to single-use plastic
• Start from every household chore like putting litter in paper bags, fiber bags, or cloth bags that are biodegradable.
• Carry your bag for marketing and uses tiffin boxes for food storage rather than plastic containers.
• Avoid plastic water bottles and use glass bottles. Bottled water costs more than the water from the tap.
• Reduce:
• Limit or reduce the use of plastic in daily life.
• Practice and promote paper disposal at home and beaches.
• Never dispose of plastic in the sewage system
• Refill the pens after use rather than buying new
• Never throw plastic or litter from the car and do not drop it on the broads or pavements.
• Reuse: 
• Reuse plastic products as much as possible before disposing of them.
• Recycle: 
• Plastic products should be recycled into other usable products. which would reduce the demand for manufacturing plastic required to make various plastic products. We should support various recycling schemes and promote awareness
• Awareness
• Dispose off the plastics and other litter in proper places.
• Local authorities and NGOs should take part in this initiative.
• Pick any litter on beaches or parks and dispose of in proper places
• Encourage young children in this mindful practice.
• Set an example for others and educate other people around us by campaigns in public places and help people know about plastic pollution and its harmful effect.

Mindful and conscious consumption is good for the earth’s sustainability. When everyone takes a pledge to minimize the use of plastic, then we will be able to manage plastic pollution. The citizens should be more willing and active to extend full cooperation to the state government. Together the citizens can do wonders.

Youth act as critical thinkers with their energy, voice, and actions. They can identify and challenge the existing powers.

United India is where-

Poverty and Illiteracy are histories,
Education becomes the priority
Agriculture and Health work in symphony,
Wildlife, Heritage, and Technology live with integrity
Swatch Bharath, Shresht Bharath, Samrudh Bharath

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