Dhanbad: Marking World Bicycle Day and the eve of World Environment Day, the Indian Institute of Technology (ISM) Dhanbad organized a spirited Cyclothon to spread awareness against plastic pollution. The event was part of the national campaign “One Nation, One Mission: Eliminate Plastic Pollution,” and aimed to inspire eco-conscious behavior through public participation.
The event was jointly organized by the EIACP Programme Centre (Resource Partner) under the Department of Environmental Science and Engineering, in collaboration with the Centre for Sports and Physical Education. Themed “Turn the Pedal, Make a Wave Against Plastic Pollution,” the rally began from IIT (ISM)’s Oval Ground, drawing enthusiastic participation from students, faculty, and staff.
The cyclothon began with the “Mission LiFE (Lifestyle for Environment)” pledge, administered by Dr. Avantika Chandra, Information Officer at EIACP (PC-RP). It was officially flagged off by Prof. Sukumar Mishra, Director of IIT (ISM), and Shakuntala Mishra.
In his address, Prof. Mishra emphasized the urgent need to reduce plastic usage and promote sustainable transportation like cycling. The cyclists proceeded to the Police Line Market area, where they engaged with the local community, raising awareness about the harms of plastic pollution and distributing eco-friendly cloth bags.
The event saw enthusiastic participation from nearly 100 individuals, including faculty members, staff, research scholars, students, and members of the IIT (ISM) Deepti Ladies Club. Senior faculty and officials, including Prof. Dheeraj Kumar (Deputy Director), Shri Prabhodh Pandey (Registrar), Prof. S.K. Gupta, Prof. Sanjay Mandal, Prof. Alok Sinha, Dr. Vishwajit Paul, and Prof. Suresh Pandian, played an important role in making the event successful.
The event was smoothly organized with the support of Vishwajit Das (Programme Officer, EIACP) and Abhishek Baishya (Sports Officer).
The cyclothon emerged as a vibrant expression of environmental commitment and community engagement—underscoring how simple actions like cycling and saying no to plastic can collectively lead to a more sustainable future.
