The Department of Economics organised an Interactive Session cum Talk on the topic Waste Management on 19th August, 2022 from 12.00 to 1.00 pm. for the students of S.Y.B.COM. The Resource Person for the Session was Ms. Shraddha Parag Rangnekar, Project Coordinator for Mineral Foundation of Goa on ‘Plastic Waste Management’, supported by the United Nations Development Programme, India. The Interactive Session cum Talk commenced with a welcome address and introduction of the resource person by Assistant Professor in Economics, Ms. Farah Felizinha Mendonca, followed by Ms. Shraddha Parag Rangnekar taking over the session to educate the students on different types of waste that could be segregated in their respective homes. She said that at an individual level it is very important to segregate the house waste into wet waste and dry waste which then is further segregated into 16 to 32 different categories by the municipal authorities of a particular town. She then went on to speak about the ill effects of dumping the house waste without segregation, thereby saying that the dumped mixed waste produces harmful chemicals, burning of plastic releases dioxins, various other toxins consumed by animals leading to death, etc. She also quoted findings of research by scientists at NIO which suggests that micro plastic particles have been found in embryo, foetus as well as the food that we consume. Lastly, she spoke about her deep concern for conscious consumerism, because everything that we consume in the economy comes from the nature and that in turn generates waste back into the environment. She stressed on the need to avoid excessive packaging that is not recyclable, ensure reduction of food waste and finally focus on the 4Rs i.e. Reduce, Refuse/Reject, Reuse and Recycle. She pointed out to the students that we share the planet with other beings and so it is our responsibility to protect and preserve the environment. The Vote of thanks was proposed by Mr. Sumer Shaikh, student of S.Y.B.COM-A. The session ended at 1.00 pm. A total of 57 students of the S.Y.BCom attended the programme. The programme was co-ordinated by Ms. Farah F. Mendonsa, Assistant Prof. of Economics.
