Creating Awareness towards Waste and its impact on the Environment

TERI and State Bank of Hyderabad organized a valedictory program to mark the conclusion of their joint project on waste management titled "Back-to-Earth" on August 8, 2015 at Silver Oak, India Habitat Centre.

Initiated in October 2014, it engaged children into creative thinking and helped them develop competence in waste management, through various innovative educational and outreach components like books, educational kits, learning materials, brainstorming sessions and practical experience. This program strengthened the knowledge on waste management and the importance of 4Rs (Refuse Reuse Reduce Recycle) among the children, making them aware of the need to take necessary actions in order to conserve the environment. Through planned education and outreach programs the project generated understanding and support for waste management issues across Delhi. The project has so far impacted more than 3,000 children in seven schools, across Delhi. The participating schools in this program are: Kendriya Vidyalaya, Shalimar Bagh; Air Force Bal Bharati, Lodi Road; Sardar Patel Vidyalaya, Lodi Estate; Shyama Prasad Vidyalaya, Lodi Estate; Sarodaya Co-Ed Vidyalaya, Vasant Vihar; Govt.Co-Ed Senior Secondary School, Mayur Viharand Fr. Agnel School, Gautam Nagar.

At the Inauguration Session, Padmashree Shovana Narayan, the Chief Guest said "While we talk about waste management and Back to Earth, it is "us" who create the problem. We litter and dirty the place we call our "matribhumi" but when we go out to western countries and follow the rules and regulation regarding littering. To manage waste, we all need to change our habits." She further spoke about the loss of wildlife, increasing acidic content in the river Ganga, and undertook a pledge, along with the audience, to resolve waste management.

Delivering the thematic address, Dr Suneel Pandey, Director, TERI, said "the growing toxicity in the environment and contamination of water bodies are the result of improper waste management. It is very evident that we need proper recycling methods, organized disposal, and greater awareness to tackle the problem".

In his keynote address, Mr Ajay Kumar Sreen, DGM, State Bank of Hyderabad (SBH), said "The bank has been sensitive towards environment issues and has implemented various measures to safeguard it, like introduction of green and paperless banking to save the environment. I am sure this program has made the required impact in the lives of children and motivated them to undertake conscious decisions to help preserve the environment."

As part of the program, the participating schools were also awarded in acknowledgment for their efforts in driving the program to ensure a positive impact on the environment.

Based on the outcome of this pilot project, TERI and SBH hope to extend the ambit of this program by introducing it in other areas and engaging on various other pressing issues on environment in the forthcoming years.