One-Day District Level Seminar organises by RLEK on Youth and Their Efforts Towards Environment Sustainability
Dehradun, 19 March (UHi). A one-day district level seminar on “Youth and their efforts towards environment sustainability”, under the major programme “Our Environment, Our Development” was organized at Rural Litigation and Entitlement Kendra (RLEK), a Doon based NGO with the support of Sharon Bio-Medicine Ltd., Dehradun.
Key speakers Mrs. M. Tolia, District Youth Officer, Nehru Yuva Kendra, Mr. Manoj Mamgain, Human Resource Manager, Sharon Bio-Medicine Ltd., along with Padma Shree Avdhash Kaushal, Chairperson, Rural Litigation and Entitlement Kendra, Project Coordinator Ms. Sonali Sharma, women parshads, self-help groups (SHGs), teachers and children from RLEK school in Mohand, Saharanpur District participated in the seminar.
The purpose of the seminar was to inculcate in people’s sensitivity to the environment and climate change. The steps taken by women and youth for environmental conservation, waste management, and sustainability were also discussed.
As part of a unique initiative “HamaraParyavaran, Hamara Vikas”, the seminar associated women with the environment holding high a belief in ecofeminism. On this note, Srimati M. Tolia, District Youth Officer from Nehru Yuva Kendra said “We as women have the power to nurture, and that what associates us better with nature. Using our wisdom, knowledge, and skills we can definitely help in conserving the environment.”
Another key speaker Mr. Manoj Mamgain, Human Resource Manager, Sharon Bio-Medicine Ltd., shared an anecdote with the participants informing them about how our mindsets are more important in shaping the environment around us. He said “In our own country we act carelessly when it comes to cleanliness but in foreign countries, we act differently. This attitude needs to be changed if we want to develop India as a less polluted nation.”
Padma Shree Avdhash Kaushal while delivering his welcome address said “We come from environment and environment comes from our good habits. It is the duty of all citizens, whether men, women, children, or workers to take up steps to control plastic generation. Plastic is killing us and we need to devise better alternatives to deal with it.”
A woman parshad named Anita Singh said “As parshads and as leaders we have a moral responsibility to lead at local levels. It is up to us how we educate people around us and train them at activities like proper waste management.”
During the seminar, the Van Gujjar children from Mohand school celebrated their love for nature by presenting a beautiful tribal song. The participants shared their views and personal experiences on their environmental conservation efforts and took a pledge to promote cleanliness around them. They suggested conducting a similar seminar in all districts of Uttarakhand.
It is to be noted that climate change has become a major challenge for city dwellers. In such a scenario, the organization believes that its endeavor to fight climate change will surely reach the masses. A road transport improvement campaign has already been conducted previously.
RLEK ensures to run many such environmentally friendly activities in the upcoming days which includes a tree plantation drive, dustbin installation in police chowkis, formation of eco-clubs in schools, to name a few.