Environmental Health Week 2010

Khushi Centre for Rehabilitation and Research organized Environmental Health Week which commenced from 5th June the World Environment Day. The activity was planned to create awareness on environmental health issues, provide a platform to exchange ideas to discuss emerging critical issues, involve the common man/woman in conservation of environmental health concerns and create a healthy environment for all.

The week long event was organised in association with Dainik Jagran as media partner, Radio Mirchi as radio partner, ICA, Pusa Road as logistic, American Library as knowledge partner, Ministry Of Environment And Forest and ICFE. The event was kick started with tying of green ribbons to support the cause and witnessed active participation from people of children, youth and elderly as the activities planned were such that they entailed participation from all age groups. This active participation not only contributed in making this initiative a huge success but also increased the impact of this initiative in multitudes.

DETAILS OF THE PROGRAM

Day 1

The first day of this initiative began with an introductory session by the organizing secretary Mr. Saket Mani about Khushi Centre, importance of environmental health, aims and objectives of Environmental Health Week the session was attended by eminent personalities like Mr. Moolchand Chawla, Chairman MCD Karol Bagh Zone, Mr Iqbal Singh, Industrialist, Mr. Subhash Kher, Chairman of Traders Association of Karol Bagh. Following this, award winning documentaries, An inconvenient truth (2006) and 11th hour (2007) based on environmental issues such as environmental pollution and biodiversity were screened, the audience appreciated and understood the relevance of issues with which these documentaries dealt and expressed their concerns for environment and its conservation.

Day 2

On the second day of environmental health week, interesting workshops and sessions on waste management, recycling and environmental health were organized to create awareness and sensitivity among the participants towards environmental issues. The workshops on waste management and recycling were conducted by experts from Vatavaran, an NGO working on socio-environmental issues. These workshops gave the participants hands on experience of managing waste by segregation of biodegradable and non-biodegradable waste and appropriate disposal of e-waste to make their surroundings zero garbage areas.

Khushi Centre experts also coordinated interactive sessions on lifestyle and health, which gave the participants a common platform to share their views and concerns on the same.

Day 3

The event on its third day witnessed expression of environmental concerns and issues through art and calligraphy. Numerous competitions like essay writing, drawing, poster making and t-shirt designing were organized which were zealously participated by children, youngsters and adults. The topics of the competitions dotted on vibrant and contemporary environmental issues such as Saving the planet earth, Impact of environment on health, India 2010; Where do we go from here?, Delhi of my dreams (Mere Sapno Ki Dilli), Clean Delhi, Green Delhi, Global Warming and Climate Change and Deforestation. The participants were very enthusiastic and participated in more than one activity. They came up with creative and innovative ideas on protecting and promoting cause of environment. The competition was judged by Dr. Pankaj Sah, Medical professional at Maulana Azad Medical College and Ms. Mayuri Gogoi, faculty at Department of Social Work, University of Delhi.

After the competition Saket Mani, the Director of the organization presented the participants with certificate of participation and excellence along with plant saplings with the purpose of infusing the spirit of nurturing plants and taking responsibility for creating a healthy and green environment. He also talked to them about challenging issues such as urban development, biodiversity protection and health.

The day also saw setting up of stalls by Don Bosco Ashalayam’s Koshish which markets products made by Burmese and Afghani refugees living in Delhi.

Day 4

On the 4th day of Environmental Health Week seminars, were organized and documentaries were screened. The resource persons for the seminar were Ms. Mayuri Gogoi, Assistant Professor at Department of Social Work, University of Delhi and Mr. Saket Mani, Director of Khushi Centre for Rehabilitation and Research.

Ms. Gogoi spoke about critical state of Biodiversity in India. The issues revolving around loss of biodiversity and its impact on eco system, and equally pressing issues of pollution, population growth, overconsumption of resources, diminishing of indigenous plants, loss of knowledge of traditional medicines and interconnectedness of all of these. She gave a lot of historically relevant examples to connect the dots and emphasized on the global nature of problems which transcend across boundaries and cultures. She talked about role of state and civil society to promote informed choices.

The second presentation was given by Saket Mani Trivedi, Director of the organization who spoke about biodiversity and environmental health. He discussed on issues such as communicable diseases and lifestyle diseases. He also gave insights on ways of preventing these at individual level, role of lifestyle choices, sanitation, role of awareness, use of organic substances such as food items. He clarified the doubts of many students who were enthusiastic to know the role they can play as individuals. He spoke to them about having conviction to make not only environmental friendly but healthy choices and the need to become part of such environmental health initiatives to increase their knowledge and to voice their opinions.

At the end of the Day winners of the various competitions, the resource persons, judges and the participants were given plant saplings of Neem, Jamun, Deodar and Ashoka. This is to instill the spirit of nurturing. These plant saplings are given by Delhi Forest Department. All the participants appreciated this small but precious effort by Khushi Centre and voiced their interest in associating with it on a long term basis. .

Day 5

On the 5th day of the event, Khushi Centre organized an environmental health screening camp and exhibition of products hand crafted at Khushi Centre including folders, bookmarks, paper bags, khadi kurtas and shirts.

The health camp witnessed massive participation from the marketers, shop owners and workers. The health check-ups were conducted by a specialized team of medical professionals including physician, eye-specialist and dietician. Most of the people who were screened during the camp were found to be suffering from environmental health hazards such as Asthma, eye problems, respiratory problems and allergies. These patients were given appropriate medical advice by the expert team to prevent the worsening of these conditions. The patients found these advices fruitful and wanted to follow-up with the team for which they were given appropriate guidance.

The visitors for the day appreciated the utility and importance of eco-friendly products exhibited by Khushi Centre.

Day 6

On the tale ending day of the Environmental Health Week, a plantation drive and a nature walk were organized in the Karol Bagh area. There was active participation of local residents comprising RWA members, children and youth during this plantation drive. The aim of the drive was to boost tree plantation in the commercialized area of Karol Bagh. Khushi team in collaboration with the residents of the area planted many saplings and took a pledge to nurture them, children were the most enthusiastic and active participants during this initiative and helped the gardener in planting the saplings and watering them.

Followed by this the team took a peaceful walk in the market and gifted free saplings to the owners of commercial outlets in the area, the staff at these outlets appreciated the team’s efforts and pledged to plant and nurture these green gifts. This was not only an end to the week long initiative of Khushi Centre on environmental health but the beginning of a movement to make our environment healthy , clean and green. .

ORGANISING COMMITTEE

• Organising Secretary: Saket Mani Trivedi
• Terminal: Nazia Hassan, Swati Srivastava, Suman S Shankar
• Executive: Mr. S. K. Singh, Mr. Sanjeev Raj, Mr. Rajkapoor, Mr. Surendra Tyagi, Dr. Shalini Jha, Dr. Pankaj Shah, Dr. Prakash Jha, Dr. Ashutosh, Sri Tilakraj Sharma.
• Volunteer: Renuka Sharma, Manoj Kumar, Sudhanshu Kumar

SPONSORS/ SUPPORTERS

Ministry of Environment & Forest, Radio Mirchi, Dainik Jagran, ICA - Pusa Road, American Library, ICFE Pusa Road, UNEP, Traders Association Karol Bagh, D.U., RWA-Karol Bagh, Khushi Centre- Members, Patrons & Sr. Advisors.

PATRON & SR. ADVISORY

Dr. Bhure Lal (Retd. IAS), Prof. T. P. Singh(AIIMS), Prof. B D Bannerji (UCMS), Prof. M K Pandit (SES-DU), Prof. Jain(SES-JNU), Maj. Gen. Ian Cardozo (RCI), Prof. Rajendra Prasad (CRDT-IITD), Prof. S.N. Naik(CRDT-IITD), Dr. Jabbi (CSD), Prof. Sanjay Bhatt(DSW-DU), Prof. Rashmi Mathur (Physiology-AIIMS), Prof. Manoj Singh(Pathology- AIIMS), Dr. Achal Srivastava (Neurology- AIIMS), Dr. K K Handa (ENT-Medicity), Dr. Girish Tuteja (Ministry of Youth Affairs-NSS), Adv. Biraja Mahapatra (Build India Group), Sri Radheyshyam Sharma, Sri Tilak Raj Sharma, Sri Harishakar Aggarwal, Sri Iqbal Singh, Dr. C M Bhagat, Sri Arvind Kejriwal, Dr. Anant Mani Trivedi, Mrs. Indira Wardhrajan.