The Centre of Management and Humanities (CMH), at Punjab Engineering College (Deemed to be University), Chandigarh, organized an hour-long expert lecture on “Enhancing Sustainability- Better Solid Waste Management Practices-A Step Towards Swachh Bharat” recently. The session was delivered by Dr. Rupesh Kumar Pati, Professor at IIM Kozhikode. Dr. Anju Singla, Head (CMH), extended a floral welcome to the expert.

Dr. Pati began the lecture by stressing the importance of mindset in management. He said that technology, awareness, and rules alone cannot bring change. The stricter the system, the more people tend to break it. So, instead of focusing on bans, the focus should be on managing and reducing waste. He discussed the problem of plastic pollution in India and how single-use plastic, once seen as revolutionary, has now become a major threat. As a solution to it, he suggested the importance of strategic thinking, segregation awareness, and participation at the grassroots level. He also encouraged the use of tools like SWOT Analysis to tackle real-life problems Dr. Pati also spoke about the role of schools and children in shaping behaviour.

Through visuals and real-world examples, the expert asked the audience to think about key questions like: “How can India solve its waste problem?” and “Who is responsible?” The lecture was attended by B.Tech students, PhD scholars, Faculty members of CMH and other departments. The lecture sparked meaningful discussions on the role of individuals, institutions, and industries in achieving sustainable waste management.