By TCN News,
New Delhi: On the eve of World Ozone Day, a painting competition was organised for school students of Trilokpuri. It was organised as a part of a larger initiative known as Tree For Harmony, an initiative of Mission Bhartiyam, that seeks to address two issues – Environment and Peace & Harmony.
Organised between 16th September i.e. World Ozone Day and 21st September i.e. World Peace day, in this initiative, a symbolic plant or tree labeled it as “Harmony tree” is planted and a discussion on environment and/or a cause for harmony is organised.
Tree for Harmony 2013 began with this painting competition jointly organised by SPWD: Paryavaran Jagriti Abhiyan Committee and Mission Bhartiyam. Co-ordinated by Ms. Rakhi of Rachna Kendra, the painting competition was organised in Nagar Nigam Prathamik Vidyalaya in block 15 of Trilokpuri. The students hailing from different schools – both Government and public schools – were divided in two groups according to their class. The junior group had students upto VIth standard. The senior group had students from classes VIIth to IXth standard. The theme was “Paryavaran mein aapka yogdaan” (Our role for a sustainable environment).
The competition began with a little discussion on the theme. Ravi Nitesh, founder of Mission Bhartiyam, informed the students about the significance and need of celebrating World Ozone Day. He talked about the causes and consequences of the depletion of ozone layer and the steps that we can take.
Within an hour, the students expressed their concern and appealed to save the environment in colour. They painted about the causes – massive deforestation, increased use of vehicles, pollution from factories and these vehicles, about the consequences and the steps that can be taken. Both the groups had followed the theme.
The creations were not only informative but aesthetically-pleasing making it difficult to decide the winners. After much discussion, three people from each group were considered for First, Second and Third prize. In the senior group, the painting that won the first prize showed the role and importance of ozone layer in protecting our planet. The first prize in the junior group focused on the cause of ozone layer depletion i.e. massive deforestation. It won the prize not just because it was informative and also aesthetically-pleasing but because it was a creation of a student of IInd class.
The chief guest of the programme was Ms. Gurmeet Kaur who is the counselor of the area. She had awarded the winners with the prize.
An important highlight of the programme was a nukkat natak by some students. They had raised the issue of poor infrastructure conditions in Government school. They raised the problems of poor drinking water, sanitation, the scary mid-day meal and incompetent teachers.
We consider the programme to be a successful effort in terms of being able to spread the awareness for the urgent need to work for a sustainable environment. The programme was a commendable effort and co-ordination of Ms. Rakhi, members of SPWD namely, Ms. Anita Sood, Ms. Alpna Sharma, Ms. Saroj, Mr. Reyaz and members of Mission Bhartiyam namely Mr. Ravi Nitesh, Mr. Prashant Nautiyal, Ms. Devika Mittal and Mr. Mukesh.