With a view that awareness is the key to improvement, conservation and implementation and a tiny effort of an individual may be instrumental in getting a significant result, a daylong Workshop on Environment and School Sanitation at Bal Panchayat level under Namphing GPU on the occasion of World Environment Day 2011 was organised here at Namphing Gram Prasasan Kendra, being organised by BAC Temi Tarku in active collaboration with Namphing GPU on 6th June 2011. The programme was presided over by D.R. Khatiwara, Zilla Panchayat Member of the area as Chief Guest. The programme saw various competitions of events like Painting, Poetry and Essay Competition among the students/members of Bal Panchayat constituted at various schools under Namphing GPU. SK Pradhan, BDO Temi Tarku, while highlighting the objectives of programme, informed that students are the best medium of dissemination of information in the rural areas and as such, to work as catalyst among the rural people, Panchayat and the school, students are been constituted as Bal Panchayat and has given certain responsibilities such as solid waste management, environment conservation, health and hygiene etc. Nima Tashi of KCC (Kanchanjunga Conservation Committee) through a power point presentation created awareness on how the household and school wastes can be managed and modified it as decorative items while Roshan Kaushik, Field Facilitator, through power point highlighted the importance of Ground water recharge through artificial intervention which has become a priority of the hour for rejuvenation of the springs and lakes. Informing that ground water is renewable; he laid stress on undertaking dhara-vikas initiated by RM&DD through MGNREGA. Mrs. Hissey choden Yolmo, Dy. Secretary (Sanitation) to RM&DD, while addressing the students emphasized upon personal hygiene and proper disposal of sanitary napkins. She also asked the girl students to break the taboo of feeling awkward while having menstrual problems and share the same with elders and teachers. She also informed that the department is encouraged to install sanitary napkin dispenser with incinerator at each school after successful installation at two schools in the state. Former bamboo consultant, PP Poudyal, informed the gathering that Bamboo plantation may be considered as cash crop which grows fast and also helpful for environment conservation and balance that it produce immense oxygen and consume more carbon-dioxide than other trees.The chief Guest in his address emphasized on water source development and asked the teachers of the various schools present, to undertake a practical on how the spring premises can be kept clean, safe and undertake plantation works to keep the spring retain its discharge. He also accorded the initiative taken by the BDO and the GPU in creating awareness and involving the students and also assured possible help to keep Bal Panchayat sustained.
The programme was participatory that competition on Poetry, Essay and Painting was organised along with exhibition of materials and decorative pieces made out of wastes such as paper, plastics, seeds of pitch etc. Davendra Sharma of Namphing JHS was adjudged winner of poetry competition and awarded 1st prize while Nirmal Rai of Pabong Daring JHS and Januka Pradhan of Namphing secured 2nd and 3rd position respectively. In Essay competition, Reena Dhakal of Chhalamthang JHS bagged 1st prize while Jyotsna Bishwakarma of Chhalamthang JHS and Dawa Lhamu Lepcha of Thangsing JHS were adjudged 2nd and 3rd respectively. Reknown artist Kishor Rai as Judge of painting competition selected Shiva Lachi Limboo of Chhalamthang JHS as winner while Aishwarya Sharma of Namphing JHS and Dawa tamang of Pabong Daring JHS bagged 2nd and 3rd prizes res.The programme was also addressed by DB Rai, AD HRDD, and Panchayat Secretary Bikash Sharma which was attended by more than 100 students, teachers and local gentries.
