On July 2, 2026, the Department of Zoology at T.K. Madhava Memorial College, Nangiarkulangara, successfully organized a massive community-driven Beach Cleaning and Awareness Program at Thottappally Beach, Alappuzha. The program was executed in observance of World Oceans Day 2026, aligning with the United Nations global theme: “Reimagine: Beyond the world we know, a new relationship with our ocean.” The event successfully brought together higher education students, local self-government bodies, enforcement departments, environmental NGOs, and school students to combat marine plastic pollution under the localized campaign slogan, "Say No to Plastics, Plastic Pollution, and Save Ocean."
To maximize grassroots impact and ensure thorough coverage of the coastal stretch, the program was executed through a robust network of collaborations:
Alappuzha Natural History Society (ANHS)
Green Roots Nature Conservation Forum
Naluchira Government High School, Thottappally, Alappuzha
In Collaboration With:*
Purakkad Grama Panchayathe
Coastal Police Station, Purakkad
Fisheries Department, Purakkad
The fieldwork was preceded by a formal inaugural ceremony held at the beach front, attended by dignitaries, community leaders, and faculty members.
Dr. Jasmine Anand (Programme Coordinator & Head, Department of Zoology, TKMMC) welcomed the gathering and detailed the ecological significance of the Thottappally coast, briefing the volunteer units on safety and waste segregation protocols.
Dr. Venu S. (Principal-in-Charge, TKMMC) presided over the function, emphasizing the role of higher education institutions in leading local climate and conservation action.
The campaign was officially inaugurated by Smt. Rahumath Hamid (President, Purakkad Grama Panchayat), who commended the joint initiative and highlighted the necessity of keeping local fishing sectors free from plastic hazards.
Prominent local leaders and departmental representatives offered their felicitations, pledging continuous support for the ecosystem's upkeep:
Smt. Simi Podiyan (Thottappally Block Division Member)
Smt. Sulekha Babu (Standing Committee Convenor, Health and Education)
Smt. Arya Noju (Ward Member, Ward No. 10)
Sri. Raji R. (Ward Member, Ward No. 11)
Sri. Saju Antony (Circle Inspector, Coastal Police Station, Purakkad)
Sri. Manoj K. R. (Assistant Director of Fisheries, Purakkad)
Smt. Sumangali G. (Headmistress, Naluchira Government High School, Thottappally)
Sri. M. R. Omanakuttan (PTA President, Naluchira Government High School)
Dr. Sheela S. (Secretary, Alappuzha Natural History Society)
Sri. Saji Jayamohan (Green Roots Nature Conservation Forum, Thottappally)
Darshana A. (S5 FYUGP Zoology student, TKMMC) expressed gratitude to the dignitaries, sponsors, and the student volunteer force on behalf of the organizing department.
Following the inaugural session, a massive clean-up drive was carried out along the Thottappally beach stretch. Over a hundred student volunteers from the TKMMC Department of Zoology (under the new FYUGP tracks), school students from Naluchira GHS, and local community members actively joined the drive. Volunteers successfully cleared a vast amount of non-biodegradable debris, focusing primarily on discarded single-use plastics, fishing nets, and synthetic wrappers clogging the shoreline. The collected waste was systematically bagged and handed over to the local Panchayathe clean-up mechanisms for safe recycling and disposal. Side-by-side with physical cleaning, volunteers engaged with local visitors and vendors, distributing information on reducing plastic footprints to preserve local marine life. The seamless planning and execution of this major initiative were spearheaded by the core faculty of the Department of Zoology, TKMMC:
Dr. Jasmine Anand (Coordinator)
Dr. Divya S. Rajan
Dr. Moly B.
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