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Young World
Youth initiatives for a cleaner world
JOHN L. PAUL
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This programme targets school children to create awareness regarding environment-related initiatives.
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BETTER WORLD: Many activities to clean up the world
A school-community network programme called CLEAN-Kochi (Community Led Environment Action Network-Kochi) was started in July 2005.
A nationwide programme, CLEAN-India targets school children for generating awareness and taking action on environment-related initiatives.
The programme focuses on learning through community service and scientific investigation, which lead to life-long habits of active citizenship and environmental stewardship. It aims to bring together all efforts of government agencies, NGOs and school children in a complementary action plan, sharing ideas and working together for a common goal.
The programme is assisted by the European Commission and is supported by the Central Pollution Control Board. In Kochi, the programme is being implemented by Elmcrest Projects, which is involved in programme implementation of external-assisted projects in India. The CLEAN-Kochi project will address the children of standards 7, 8 and 9 in four core activities — Assessment, Awareness, Action and Advocacy.
The different activities done under the CLEAN programme are water and air-quality testing, tree planting, herbal gardens, solid-waste management (including natural and vermi-composting, waste and paper recycling), energy management, control of food adulteration, urban-slum improvement, bird watching and specific environmental and community issues in and around the school. Spearheading campaigns and awareness programmes on issues like toxic colours, child employment, noise pollution and interaction with administrative authorities, is encouraged. Further details are available at www.cleanindia.org.
Based on the location of the selected schools, Kochi has been divided into zones where the activities are carried out. Of all the activities, the one on water and air-quality monitoring will be a prime function of the children, using portable testing kits. Samples are tested at regular intervals from selected sites in and around the schools and within the demarcated zones. The results and data are then assessed and addressed. A national data bank is maintained on this. In extreme cases of pollution, the children will seek the assistance of the Pollution Control Board and the District Administration.
Environment friendly
The six schools in Kochi where the project is being conducted are Toc-H Public School, Vyttilla; Kendriya Vidyalaya, Gandhinagar; Bhavans Vidya Mandir, Elamakkara; Nava Nirman Public School, Vazhakkala; Chinmaya Vidyalaya, Vaduthala and Al Ameen Public School, Edapally. Jay S Damodaran of Elmcrest says that CLEAN kicked off as a nationwide programme at Delhi in 1995. "Out in Kochi, Toc-H School will soon be declared an environment-friendly school. We plan to initiate natural composting of waste by mixing mud with biological waste, which yields compost after a few days. Plans are afoot to use only recycled paper in the campus."
A herbal garden maintained by Kendriya Vidyalaya, Gandhinagar, has been planned. Also on the anvil is a plan to carry out community rainwater harvesting at two places in Panampilly Nagar. A solid-waste management facility too has been planned. "It has come to our notice that though saplings are planted by different agencies, they are not taken care of and watered. We have an observation record of the saplings and the record is handed over when another group of children join the initiative. This helps in the proper upkeep of trees," says Mr Damodaran. Since early 2006, the project is also being implemented in four schools in Alappuzha - Chinmaya Vidyalaya, Carmel Academy, SDV High School and St.Marys Residential School and two schools in Kottayam - Chinmaya Vidyalaya and Excelsiour. The 10th CLEAN-India Annual Meet was conducted on January 18 and 19 in Bangalore. Students and teachers from around the country, along with project coordinators attended the meet. Mallika Damodaran, CLEAN-Project Director from Elmcrest Projects, represented team Kochi; Meera P A, teacher delegate from Toc-H Public School, Vyttilla and some students. The team took part in street plays highlighting environmental issues, at the Forum Shopping Mall in Bangalore and also visited the Energy Park. Various competitions were conducted at the venue of the meet on the second day. Siddharth Shetty from Team Kochi won the second prize in the slogan writing competition. For details call: 9846023440 or 9846223440.
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