First-of-its-kind student Environmental awareness programme to sensitize and educate masses through involvement of RWA’s and residential communities in Delhi organised by TERI SAS

New Delhi: The TERI School of Advanced Studies (earlier known as TERI University) and Senior Citizens Welfare Association, Vasant Kunj, New Delhi-110070 jointly kicked-off the first-of-its-kind Environmental Carnival on 24th February 2018, in Vasant Kunj, New Delhi. The program was an initiative to reach out to the community in order to make the citizens aware about the problems emanating from environmental pollution and how these can be tackled at the grassroot level, especially through the concerted efforts of RWA’s. The aim of the program was to engage senior citizens through RWA’s to sensitize and educate masses especially the youth, on environmental issues of concern and preventive measures which can be taken at RWA levels, assisting civic agencies towards promoting awareness around climate change. The program was organized in the form of a carnival so that the message goes across in the form of various fun activities. Over 1000 people participated in the environmental carnival that proved to be a huge success.

The environmental carnival was inaugurated by Prof. Anubha Kaushik, former Dean, GGS Indraprastha University, New Delhi; Prof. Rajiv Seth, Pro Vice-Chancellor, TERI SAS; Prof. A L Aggarwal, Professor Emeritus, Amity Institute of Environmental Sciences; Dr Arun Sharma, Director-Professor, Department of Community Medicine, Prof. Manju Mohan, IIT Delhi; Dr. Lakshmi Raghupathy, Former Director MoEF &CC; Dr Malti Goel, Climate Change Research Institute; Prof. Prateek Sharma, Dean (Academic), TERI SAS; and Prof. Suresh Jain, Professor and Head, Department of Energy and Environment, TERI SAS; Mrs. Taneja, President, Senior Citizens Welfare Association, Vasant Kunj. Also present on the occasion was members of the RWA of Vasant Kunj vicinity in larger numbers.

Prof. Anubha Kaushik, former Dean, GGS Indraprastha University, mentioned about the importance of such environment programmes in creating awareness among masses by involving academic partners with the communities. She mentioned that this effort is an initiative first of its kind in the country, where Senior Citizens’ have taken proactive interest, which would inspire masses of all ages by partnering with an academic institution. She gg also emphasised that today we need “environmentally conscious citizens”, and learning from elders, who have been born-and-brought-up in natural environs will inspire youth to protect the nearby environment.

Prof. Suresh Jain, Programme Director, emphasised that it is very important to sensitize every human being, resident welfare associations, communities to play their role in combating environmental pollution and its ill health effects. He further emphasized that the role of YOUTH is very important in the future because they are our brand ambassador, and every small step in every locality will go in a large way to protect the planet and our surroundings.

Prof. Rajiv Seth said, “with the experience of elders to various issues that the world faces today, senior citizens are the apt stakeholders to educate and expose the youth and so draw a passion in them to work towards resolving environmental challenges.”

The main attractions of environmental carnival were various environmental activities like:

1. Performance by senior citizens and students on environment protection

2. Environmental competitions like pin the bin, eco hunt, green quiz, drawing competition and recitation by little champs among others.

3. Students gave environmental mass message through nukkad natak and interactive plays.