Over 1,000 students from various schools and colleges in the city on Friday took part in a clean-up and awareness campaign on the Marina Beach. The campaign organised by the Corporation of Chennai in association with the Lions Club of Chennai District 324 and Global Safety Trust was aimed at creating awareness on environmental issues among the city’s students.

The campaign was attended by the Social Welfare Minister, P Valarmathi, Minister for Cooperatives, Sellur K Raju and authorities from the Corporation of Chennai. The District Governor of the Lions Club, G Manilal said, that this exercise was aimed not only at creating awareness among the young but also the general public. He said, “Over five colleges and various schools have participated in this clean-up programme and this effort from the students will particularly make an impact in propagating awareness on safeguarding the environment.”

Students from several educational institutions including Stella Maris College, Queen Mary’s College, Quaid-e-Millath College and St Joseph’s School took part in the campaign.

Manilal explained, “The students first held placards and raised slogans to propagate the message of environmental issues and then engaged in a mass clean up”.

Satish, one of the organisers of the awareness campaign said, “Selecting a venue like the Marina Beach was very helpful as the activities and the effort put in by the students will also inspire the crowds gathered at such public places.”

The campaign concluded with a ceremony in which prizes and certificates were distributed to the participating students and a vote of thanks by the Secretary of the Global Safety Trust, K Kalaiarasan.