Gujarat Vidyapith Students participate in a Global Campaign “Sharing Communities” to Promote Sustainable Consumption
- Posted by CERC India
- Posted in Press Releases
Press Release
11 October 2021
Green Action Week observed every year during the first week of October (Oct. 4-10), is a global people’s campaign to promote sustainable consumption. Each year in October, organisations around the world take joint action to promote a common cause. This year the focus is on sharing communities. CERC has taken the initiative to create and promote ‘Aap-le no Otlo’ which is a sharing platform between the resident community and migrant and daily wage labour community. The objective is to encourage an inclusive behaviour in communities where the haves will share their pre-loved items such as clothes, stationery, woollen wear, raincoats, utensils etc. that are in good condition with the have-nots. Sharing pre-loved items increases product lives and thus results in more sustainable consumption.
As a part of various other activities, CERC conducts a 3-day course on Consumer Protection and Sustainable Consumption every year for students of the Centre for Studies in Rural Management (CSRM) Gujarat Vidyapith, Randheja. This year the course was done Online to sensitize students about consumer rights and responsibilities, sustainable lifestyle, sustainable consumption through sharing community, and the role of consumers towards sustainable future. This year, under the Course, the students have undertaken, as a part of their Project Work, to involve rural consumers in villages around Randheja in this activity of “Sharing Communities”.
Dr. Rajiv Patel Director of CSRM in his welcome address, whilst acknowledging the importance of awareness on consumer rights and inclusive approach to reach the goal of sustainable growth, thanked CERC for conducting this course every year for Vidyapith students. Prof. Rajendra Khimani, VC Gujarat Vidyapith, shared his views on consumer protection and sustainable consumption, giving examples of sustainable practices being implemented at Vidyapith campuses. He hoped to increase collaborative effort, including engagement with PhD students. CEO of CERC, Mr. Uday Mawani shared examples of activities done by CERC under this Global Movement of Sharing Communities.
Ms. Divya Namboothiri, Programme Officer, CERC-ENVIS said, “CERC efforts in promoting sharing community was an integral part of the series. Students actively participated and shared the eco-friendly practices that they followed while travelling, at college, or at home etc. A quiz on sustainable practices and environment was also conducted to inculcate the importance of an eco-friendly way of living. We demonstrated two different ways of converting waste into resources. On the occasion of Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav, students were given an insightful lecture on ‘single use plastic’ and were also made to take a pledge on ‘Avoiding single use plastic in their day-to-day life’.”
For more information, please contact Divya Namboothiri 9725696330