Ashima Sharma, Keekli Reporter, 5th June, 2014, Gaiety Theatre, Shimla
‘Raise Your Voice, Not the Sea Level’
World Environment Day celebrations began in 1972 and ever since it has grown to become one of the main vehicles through which the United Nations stimulates worldwide awareness of the environment and encourages political attention and action. In order to make the students aware of the environmental hazards today, Science, Technology and Environment Department, celebrated the World Environment Day in Gaiety Theatre, Shimla on 5th June 2014. Chief Guest for the event was Tarun Shridhar, Chief Secretary of Science, Technology and Environment. The theme released by UNEP to guide the activities was ‘Raise Your Voice, Not the Sea-Level’. Students from different schools in Shimla participated in the rally which was organized for celebrating the Day. Various competitions such as painting, greeting cards designs, best clean and green school, etc. were part of the event.
The event was inaugurated by the Chief Guest with the lighting of the lamp followed by Saraswati Vandana by girls from Govt Sr Sec School, Lakkar Bazar. An enlightening skit on environment was performed by the students of GSSS, Udaipur, Distt Chamba on adverse effects of climate change due to global warming causing extreme weather events including increased atmospheric temperatures, change and alterations to weather patterns, prolonged droughts, flooding and raising of sea-levels among others.
Students of DAV, New Shimla also performed a skit portraying the condition and common man’s approach to environment in Shimla. They also prepared beautiful dresses using waste material like sacks, pieces of cloth, newspaper and carbon sheets. They emphasized on the role of animals like vultures in keeping the environment clean for the humans by feeding on flesh of dead animals, which if left as it is in the open may lead to serious diseases among people.
On asking the students from different schools about the importance of this day and their role in conserving the environment, Pankaj, a student of GSSS, Udaipur, said “Through the skit we aim at increased awareness on the effects of climate change. We want people to become aware of the adverse effects that the high levels of global warming and rising pollution is having on environment and human health. Our ignorance towards the environment would result in disastrous situations in future”.
Ambika from DAV, New Shimla, said “It is our responsibility as youth of this country to take firm steps in order to conserve our environment. If each and everyone takes responsibility and tries to bring about positive change in their day to day activities, it would make a major difference in improving the deteriorating condition of the environment”.
The event came to an end with the distribution of prizes by the chief guest for various competitions. The students felt proud and thrilled to receive their prizes. Chief Guest Shridhar congratulated the students on performing exceptionally well and said, “Whatever I wanted to mention in my speech has already been brought into notice by the students through their lively and perfect acts. Our department has engaged in creating various educational, career-oriented, volunteering, consulting and rewarding programmes related to biodiversity and environment. With this initiative, we have tried to get the youth involved and interested them in environment and sustainability topics that are tough to discuss with the young. We want them to understand its importance so that they care for the environment, and thereby be part of conserving it. In our own town, Shimla, we notice that the monkeys instead of living in their natural habitat, i.e., forest they are encroaching towards populated areas, the main reason behind this is the excess amount of garbage thrown by local people on roads and nearby areas. People have to discipline themselves and strict actions have to be taken by the government to control the garbage matters in the City in order to get rid of monkey menace. Rampant industrial pollution in form of discharge of untreated water and lack of sewage treatment facilities in our cities have lead to pollution of our rivers and also pollution of ground water. Major efforts are needed in afforestation and control of industrial pollution to improve the situation in this respect”.
The proud winners of the different competitions which were held as a part of the event were:
Painting Competition (Senior Category)
1st Shivam Gupta – St Edwards School, Shimla.
2nd Sheetal Samraik – GSSS, Portmore, Shimla.
3rd Pearl Jishtu – Loreto Convent Tara Hall.
Consolation Prize Sahdev – GSSS, Sanjauli.
Painting Competition (Junior Category)
1st Aditya Dhiman – DAV School, Totu, Shimla.
2nd Aryan Verma – DAV Lakkar Bazar, Shimla.
3rd Ankit Kumar – GHS, Jakhu.
Consolation Prize Aaron Agastyan – Chapslee School, Shimla.
Painting Competition (Senior Category) – Earth Day
1st Manyank – GHS, Khalini, Shimla.
2nd Raghav Sood – DAV, Lakkar Bazar.
3rd Ankita – GHS, Annadale, Shimla.
Consolation Prize Shreya Sood – Auckland House School, Shimla.
Painting Competition (Junior Category) – Earth Day
1st Arya Verma – DAV Lakkar Bazar, Shimla.
2nd Arun – GSSS, Dhalli, Shimla.
3rd Dimple Bhardwaj – Laurate Public School, Bharari.
Consolation prize Nittant Shrama – Shimla Public School.
Greeting Cards Designing Competition
1st Ambika Sharma – GSSS, Summer Hill.
2nd Nikhil Thakur – Dayanand Public School, Shimla.
3rd Hemant Bhatia – GHS, Krishnanagar.
4th Muskan – Arya Girls Senior Sec. School, Shimla.
Best Clean and Green School Competition
Government School category
1st Government Senior Secondary School, Phagli, Shimla.
2nd Government High Secondary School, Annadale, Shimla.
3rd Government Senior Secondary School, Portmore, Shimla.
Consolation Government Senior Secondary School, Lalpani, Shimla.
Private School Category
1st Loreto Convent Tara Hall, Shimla.
2nd DAV, New Shimla.
3rd Convent of Jesus and Mary, Shimla.
Consolation Laurate Public School, Bharari, Shimla.
Turnout School Rally Competition
1st Rashtriya Vidya Kendra, Kusumpti.
2nd GHS Chaura Maidan.
3rd GHS Annadale.
Consolation DAV, Sanjauli
Best Eco-Clubs of the State
1st Government Senior Secondary School, Forsythganj, Kangra.
2nd Government Senior Secondary School, Dalwari, Distt UNA.
3rd Government Middle School, Sidhpura, Distt. Chamba.
Consolation Prizes Government Senior Secondary School, Krishananagar, Distt Kangra and Army Public School, Nahan.
Best NEAC 2013-2014 Report
1st Government Senior Secondary School, Mashobra, Shimla.
2nd Government Senior Secondary School,Kiakoti, Shimla.
3rd Government Senior Secondary School, Lambloo, Distt Hamirpur.
Consolation Prizes Government Senior Secondary School, Patta.
Special Biodiversity Poster Prize
Pranjal Sood – Loreto Convent, Tara Hall.
Cultural Programme – Skits
1st GSSS, Udaipur, Distt Chamba.
2nd St D.R. Sen School, Gagret, UNA.
3rd Goverment (Girls) SSS, Lakkar Bazar, Shimla.