World Environment Day was observed by people and organisations in Meghalaya with focus on protection of Mother Nature.
The Art of Living, Meghalaya today celebrated the day at Khyndai Lad here. As part of its ‘Mission Green Earth’ initiative, around 350 saplings were distributed to the general public.
The initiative also aims to mobilise people towards greener and cleaner earth.
Amidst inclement weather, a large number of people actively participated in the event.
“We are on our own in a small way but gradually we are planning to take this on a bigger scale in the coming days,” Art of Living Shillong said.
Mission Green Earth 2020 is an initiative that seeks to plant millions of trees around the world and nurture them till they self-sustain, to restore biodiversity, leading to a measurable impact.
As part of this initiative for the last two years, Art of Living Shillong organises such saplings distribution programmes on World Environment Day.
“It’s an endeavour to promote tree conservation, sustainable economic opportunity for local indigenous people, and continuous research and education,” the organisation said, adding that the goal is to stop deforestation and protect biodiversity.
Meanwhile, with this year’s World Environment Day theme of “Only One Earth”, SPARK conducted a week-long special programme in various communities reaching out to each household in different villages and slums during which SPARK president and founder Shima Modak and her team sensitised them on living sustainably in harmony with nature.
Today, members from each household from Mawlong village, Mawlynrei Traishnong village, Pongkung village, Rangmen village and Iewduh slum acknowledging their crucial roles in preservation of environment and lives, came forward to plant trees with a commitment to nurture and take care of it as an important part and protector of their lives.
Acknowledging the importance of the environment, children and their families planted 1000 samplings in these villages across the fields, roadsides, garden and school boundaries along with cleaning drives in different places. This initiative continues throughout the year as incorporated under SPARK’s curriculum.
“SPARK believes that children are the best advocates for changes and they take learning back into their homes and communities, often seen teaching their parents and others to acknowledge their part in conservation and preservation of the ecosystem. Hence, children are always made a part of every initiative of SPARK. We believe that with this initiative, we could at least at some level be able to make some changes towards restoring our ecosystem and make people understand the importance of only one Earth,” Modak said.
In Umiam, Ri-Bhoi, the College of Post Graduate Studies in Agricultural Sciences celebrated the day by focusing on living sustainably and in harmony with nature by organizing a plantation drive in various schools and college campuses. The students and staff of the college celebrated World Environment Day by planting drumstick trees (Moringa oleifera) on the college campus. The plant is a rich source of vitamins and antioxidants. To increase environmental awareness among school children, drumstick plantation programmes were also organized on Friday and Saturday at three different schools.
On Saturday, the Meghalaya Women’s Alliance (MWA) in collaboration with Bansara Eye Care Centre, the Divisional Forest Office of East Khasi Hills, Diengpasoh Presbyterian Secondary School and the community of Diengpasoh conducted an awareness program while also planting 170 samplings. The programme was held with the objective to spread awareness about the threat to the environment due to rising pollution levels and climate change while also emphasising the importance of conserving the environment and the need to plant more trees in view of the increasing deforestation in Meghalaya and the rise of global warming globally.
Prominent dignitaries were present on the occasion, including district Divisional Forest Officer H Lato, Bansara Eye Care Centre medical director Dr J Basaiawmoit, MWA executive member and Principal of the College of Teacher Education V Kharmawphlang, MWA secretary K Nongbet and Diengpasoh headman L Mukhim.
In the Sohra area, the Sohkhmi Youth Welfare Organisation (SYWO) held a World Environment Day programme on Saturday. Tree saplings and flowering plants were planted around Sohkhmi. Uplifter Club of Shillong also held functions along the Umphyrnai-Jowai Road where saplings of varying kinds were planted.
