<span style="color: #222222;">National Cadet Corps (NCC) and United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding in the presence of Defence Minister Rajnath Singh in New Delhi today. MoU was signed to tackle the issue of plastic pollution and achieve the universal goal of clean water bodies through Puneet Sagar Abhiyan and Tide Turners Plastic Challenge programme. It is aimed to synergise efforts toward engaging youth for promoting clean water bodies.<br />''<br />''The NCC had launched Puneet Sagar Abhiyan on 1st December last year. The aim of the campaign is to clean sea shores from plastic and other waste material and create awareness about the importance of cleanliness. Since the launch of Puneet Sagar Abhiyan, over 100 tonnes of plastic waste have been collected from nearly 1,900 locations by more than 12 lakh NCC cadets, alumni and volunteers. The MoU was signed between Director General of NCC Lieutenant General Gurbirpal Singh and Resident Representative of UN World Food Programme Bishow Parajuli.<br />''<br />''On the occasion, Minister of State for Defence Ajay Bhatt, Defence Secretary Dr Ajay Kumar and officials of the Ministry of Defence and representatives of UNEP were present. Describing 'Puneet Sagar Abhiyan' as one of the noblest initiatives, the Defence Secretary, lauded the efforts of NCC in making the campaign a grand success. He asserted that 15 lakh NCC cadets have the ability to influence the thinking of youth across the world. He said they will be instrumental in making the campaign a mass movement. </span><br />