An orientation programme for Eco Club incharge teachers was organized today by Department of Environment, Chandigarh Administration and Yuvsatta-an NGO at New Public School, Chandigarh. Representative teachers from 149 Schools where Eco Clubs are already established participated in the same. Mr. Santosh Kumar, IFS, Director, Department of Environment & Chief Conservator of Forests & Wildlife was the Chief Guest and prominent other participants included Dr. Abdul Qayum, Dy. Conservator of Forests, Mr. RD Singh, Principal of New Public School, Chandigarh and Mr. Pramod Sharma, Coordinator, Yuvsatta.
The programme started with an inspiring welcome speech by Prerna, the Girl Child Ambassador of Chandigarh and student of Government Model Sr. Sec. School, Dhanas, Chandigarh.
In his inaugural address Santosh Kumar appreciating the role of Eco Clubs in making Chandigarh one of the greenest cities in India, shared that ‘for any tangible environmental impact teachers have to become role-model for young students. Ultimately, sustainability is about being good global citizens: ensuring adequate resources for a clean, healthy environment for all. Imagine if schools were leaders in environmental sustainability, giving students the tools to be innovators, and giving them a healthy environment in which to learn and play.’
This day long orientation included interactive sessions on different themes by experts on biodiversity and water conservation, Climate change and UN Sustainable Development Goals, Solar & renewable energy, making Chandigarh Zero percent waste and plastic pollution free city with active and vibrant involvement of Eco Clubs in educational institutions for which resource persons like Ashish Shah founder of Wild Ecologues, Great Himalayan National Park at Himachal Pradesh, Narbir Kahlon & Sarbjeet Kaur, from Avian Habitat and Wetland Society (AHWS) & Kulbhushan Kanwar-the butterfly man from Yuvsatta had detailed interactive sessions with participating teachers.
Eco Club incharge teachers from five winner Schools of annual Best Eco Club awardsconstituted by Chandigarh Administration, like St. Joseph’s Sr. Sec. School, Govt. Model Sr. Sec. School, Sector 33D, Gurukul Global School, Govt. Model Sr. Sec. School, Sector 46D & St. Stephen’s School also made presentation on how they organize their activities among young students to involve and inspire them to think, eat and act green.
In his concluding remarks Dr. Abdul Qayum, Dy. Conservator of Forests said that Eco-Club teachers are doing a real yeoman service to the city and our environment by bringing more and more young students in their activities. And rather he’ll like to call them ‘Green Warriors’ of mother earth.
