Dehradun: A one-day “Cleanup Community Campaign” under the major programme “Our Environment, Our Development” was organized by Rural Litigation and Entitlement Kendra (RLEK), a Doon based NGO with the support of Sharon Bio-Medicine Ltd., Dehradun. Padma Shree Avdhash Kaushal, Chairperson Rural Litigation and Entitlement Kendra, Project Coordinator Ms. Sonali Sharma, Programme Manager Nivedita Dhiman, Field Coordinator . Avdhesh Sharma along with other employees of RLEK, and Manoj Mamgain, Human Resource Manager, Sharon Bio-Medicine Ltd., initiated the campaign across the city.
This cleanup community drive was among the fourth activity conducted as part of a unique initiative “Hamara Paryavaran, Hamara Vikas”. During this wide campaign around 100 dustbins of green and blue colors signifying cleanliness and waste management, were distributed at different sites across Dehradun which included local temples, gurudwaras, schools, wards of parshads, police chowkis, gram panchayat, government offices, hotels, and petrol stations. The IEC material distributed by the team educated the people about the need to promote clean and green environment and look for better solutions to control the growing menace of waste. Dr. Amana, the Principal of Pine Hall School interacted with the team. She said “Waste segregation should be practiced at homes, schools, and even other institutions, where waste is generated on a large scale. We will definitely inculcate in our students this habit of waste management.”
Virendra Rautela, Supervisor, St. Joseph’s Academy thanked the team for their efforts. The other schools covered under the drive included Government Girls Inter College and St. Thomas College. Bina Raturi, a parshad from Arcadia, Badonwala learnt about the proper waste segregation method that includes putting wet waste in green bin and dry waste in blue bin. She ensured to spread the same knowledge to all her ward members. Mr. Rajneesh Kakkar, SD Admin, BSNL Office, Dehradun was delighted to receive the dustbins as a move to promote the idea of Swachh Bharat. The team also installed bins at Madhuban Hotel, Rajpur Road during the one-day drive.
Some other offices where the drive was conducted were: SSP Niwas, Rajpur Road, Thana Dalanwala, Mahila Helpline Raipur Thana, Mayur Vihar Police Station, to name a few. Gram Panchayat of Kandoli, Sahaspur Block, Malin Basti, Tapovan, Kali Mandir, Raipur, Rudreshwar temple, Nalapani, Shiv Mandir Harrawala were also considered for the activity. Unfortunately, despite the growing efforts of the Government to raise awareness regarding waste management, the situation seems poor. Piles of waste are often seen on roadsides with animals eating the open waste. This not only threatens the health of animals and humans, but also destroys the scenic beauty of nature. Thinking about such environmental issues, the organization had previously organized a road transport improvement campaign, one-day district level seminar on youth and their efforts towards environment sustainability, and plantation drive. RLEK ensures to run many such environmentally friendly activities in the upcoming days which includes formation of eco-clubs and awareness creation sessions in schools.
