World Ozone Day 2020 Image: September 16 is observed as World Ozone Day every year

World Ozone Day 2020: Life on our planet as we know would not be possible without the ozone layer. Ozone is a highly reactive gas found in the upper layers of the atmosphere and protects life on earth from the Sun's harsh ultraviolet rays. Ozone protects life but it can also be harmful in concentrated quantities near the surface of the earth as it is produced when air pollutants react in sunlight. As we observe World Ozone Day on September 16, it is important to remember the delicate balance in our atmosphere. This year the slogan for World Ozone Day is 'Ozone For Life'.

World Ozone Day 2020: Why it is a milestone

"On Ozone Day we celebrate 35 years of the Vienna Convention to Protect the Ozone Layer and its Montreal Protocol, which united the world to cut out gases creating a hole in the ozone layer. We need this same sense of purpose and collaboration to address all environmental threats," Inger Anderson, Executive Director, UNEP (United Nations Environment Programme) said in a video message ahead of World Ozone Day.

On #OzoneDay we celebrate 35 yrs of the Vienna Convention to Protect the Ozone Layer & its Montreal Protocol, which united the world to cut out gases creating a hole in the ozone layer. We need this same sense of purpose & collaboration to address all environmental threats. pic.twitter.com/w2lfT8UjHk

— Inger Andersen (@andersen_inger) September 15, 2020

World Ozone Day 2020 Image: See in pics why the ozone layer is crucial for us

World Ozone Day 2020: Ozone Facts

• Sometime in the late 1970s, scientists found out that gases used in refrigerators and air conditioners for cooling were creating a hole in the ozone layer 
• This was a cause of great concern as the dangerous UV rays of the sun were creating severe health issues including skin cancers 
• It was a wake-up call for governments across the world. In 1985, countries adopted the 'Vienna Convention for the Protection of the Ozone Layer' 
• Under the Vienna Convention's Montreal Protocol, nations worked together to cut out 99 per cent of ozone-depleting substances
• In 2019, the Kigali Amendment came into force as a follow-up to the Montreal Protocol
• The Kigali Amendment called for reducing greenhouse gases which cause global warming, the latest cause of worry for nations

The slogan 'Ozone For Life' is a reminder for people to care for the environment for sustainable and healthy life on earth.

Imarti Devi's "eggs" remark had cause rumblings within the state BJP (File)

Milk, not eggs, will be served to children in their mid-day meals at primary education centres from September 17, Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivaj Singh Chouhan announced on Tuesday, in a snub to the state Women and Child Development Minister Imarti Devi - a Jyotiraditya Scindia loyalist - who had been promising to provide eggs since her Congress days.

"Along with other nutritious food, milk will be distributed at all the Anganwadi centres in the state. Milk, and not eggs, will be served to combat malnutrition from September 17 during Seva Saptah, which is being observed on the 70th birthday of Prime Minister Narendra Modi," Mr Chouhan said at an event at the state BJP headquarters on Tuesday.

The minister, who was among the 22 Congress MLAs whose open revolt led to the collapse of the Kamal Nath government earlier this year, promised last week that she will provide eggs to those children who eat the highly nutritious food.

"As a minister during previous Congress government, I had announced to serve eggs to children in anganwadis. I am firm on my decision and now again I say that those who eat eggs will be given eggs and those who do not will be given fruits like banana or apple," she had said.

Imarti Devi had the same cabinet portfolio in the previous Congress government. When she had made the proposal of providing eggs, the then Leader of Opposition Gopal Bhargava - now PWD minister - had said children might turn into cannibals later in their lives if they were fed eggs since their childhood.

Her "eggs" remark had caused rumblings within the state BJP.

All the BJP leaders who had switched sides are expected to be fielded as candidates in the upcoming assembly bypolls.

According to government data, 54 per cent of children in Madhya Pradesh in 1-4 years age group are anemic and 13 per cent are pre-diabetic. 43 per cent children below the age of five are underweight.