The Minister was addressing a gathering after launching world’s largest Sustainability and Climate Change Education programme 2010-13 “ Paryavaran Mitra” at Brig. Rajender Singh auditorium,
Envisioned at creating 2 crore Friends of the Environment in schools across India, Paryavaran Mitra” (Friend of Environment) is a joint project of Union Ministry of Environment and Forests, Centre for Environment Education (CEE) and Arcelor Mittal while WWF- India is the resource agency and J&K State Pollution Control Board the nodal agency for implementing programme in J&K.
The Minister also inaugurated a photo exhibition on environment jointly organized by CEE and WWF.
Voicing concern over gradually deteriorating environment in terms of destruction of ecosystems and extinction of wildlife, Peerzada appealed every citizen to help in maintaining hygienic atmosphere and ecological balance which is vital for sustainable survival of mankind.
Emphasizing the Significance of Environment education in academics the Minister said that possibilities will be explored to incorporate a chapter on Environment in school books, the Minister asked the Director School Education, GA Qureshi to ensure that the school children are imparted environmental awareness besides moral education during morning assemblies.
The Minister asked the people to be kind and caring towards the nature as more than 80% forests in
Lauding CEE, a national institute of excellence for environmental education, for their yeomen services in the field, the Minister hoped the agency will carry forward its noble mission with same spirit and enthusiasm.
The Minister said that the centre will be approached and requested for enhancement in yearly funds being provided to schools for paryavaran activities. “We all should pledge and consider it our moral duty to plant trees in our homes and surroundings”, he asserted.
Later, Peerzada flagged off a green rally on environment supporting PM project jointly organized by CEE and WWF.
Country Head, Corporate Social Responsibility and R&R, Arcelor Mittal Sudhir Sinha, talked about the role of Corporate in contributing to the environment protection and setting up unique tradition being partner in this project.
Mr Sinha read out the environment oath for children and other participants on behalf of Dr. APJ Abdul Kamal, a green crusader and Paryavaran Ambassador of
Spelling out the salient features of the project, Regional Director for Environment Education, Abdesh Gangwar and Chairperson, J&K Chapter of WWF-India, Dr. C.M.Seth informed that in J&K the programme will be run in 5486 schools in all the 22 districts where under NGC eco clubs already exist. The Programme will bridge the gap between classroom teaching and outdoor environment. There are five themes viz water, waste management, energy, biodiversity and culture and heritage which have been chosen because these areas which we can engage with on a daily basis, they added.
The Minister honoured the students, teachers, and officials of the department of education, schools, NGOs who did good work in environmental protection through eco clubs and by participating in several competitions at regional, state and national level with prizes.
Among others the occasion was graced by Chairman State Polution Control Board, Lal Chand, former Vice Chancellor, Prof. Y. P. Malhotra, former PCCFS, NGOs and students and teachers.
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