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World Environment Day marked with slew of programmes in Bengal
Kolkata, June 5 (IANS) West Bengal marked World Environment Day on Tuesday with a slew of programmes including colourful parades, distribution of environment-friendly bags to replace plastic, planting of trees and holding of awareness programmes.
Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee urged everyone to curb plastic pollution.
“Today is World Environment Day. Following this year’s theme, let us pledge to beat plastic pollution. Let us pledge to make every dayA #WorldEnvironmentDay,” Banerjee posted on her Twitter handle.
Kumartuli Sarbojanin, a community Durga Puja committee in North Kolkata, marked this year’s theme “Beat the Plastic Pollution” by handing over cotton bags to customers carrying plastic bags while buying vegetables in the local market.
Colourful tableaux also moved around the city underscoring the year’s theme.
A local clubs in north Kolkata’s Hedua, opted for an innovative initiative of clicking selfie with plant saplings. Children from various schools gathered in the area and got shutter happy posing with the plants in their hands.
City NGO Vivek, organised a colourful parade, ‘Walk for Environment’ from south Kolkata’s Golpark to Rashbehari Avenue to spread environmental consciousness. The chief attraction of the parade was a tribal dance.
The Forest Department in Salboni of West Medinipur district collaborated with a volunteer organisation a day back to sensitise school children on ‘Environment and Wildlife’.
Ashwika Kapur, the young girl who made the country proud by winning the Wildscreen Panda Award (also known as the Green Oscar) in Bristol in 2014, was also there to interact with the children of Deulkunda Primary school.
The Kolkata girl won the award for her documentary “Sirocco-How a Dud Became a Stud” which is about a New Zealand parrot who is the official spokesbird for conservation.
“I could inspire the children through these films and images. As this place is very rich in biodiversity filled with many birds and animals, I told them that the wildlife-based filming can also be done here like other places. If the children get such inspiration then they will realise that this is a valuable thing and shouldn’t be destroyed,” she said.
Medical Bank, a north Kolkata based NGO, distributed green bags in the local market. They also held a parade with these sustainable bags where children and other environmentally conscious people took part.
Authorities of the Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport contributed towards sustainability by planting tree saplings in its premises and carrying out a plastic litter clean-up drive near the Airport Terminal Building.
NGO EnGIO with the support of the state government, Kolkata Municipal Corporation and Indian Oil, organised an award ceremony, ‘Serader Sera Nirmal Pujo Puroskar’ for Durga Puja committees.
“Plastic has been a real menace when it comes to waterlogging and we need to integrate the effort with the climate change programme of the city” opined Environment Secretary, Arnab Roy while Pollution Control Board chairman Kalyan Rudra pointed out how the rivers and sea have been affected by plastic.
–IANS
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Dr. Abhishek Verma Dedicates a Shelter in Memory of His Mother, Veena Verma, at KGMU; Inaugurated by Daughter Nicolle Verma
World-renowned business tycoon Dr. Abhishek Verma has supported Foodman Vishal Singh’s Hunger-Free World mission. In memory of his mother, Late Veena Verma, who was a 3 term Rajya Sabha MP.
Dr. Verma dedicated a state-of-the-art free permanent shelter for the attendants of patients at KGMU Medical University, Lucknow, under the aegis of Vijay Shree Foundation. His daughter, Nicolle Verma, inaugurated the shelter.
During the event, Foodman Vishal Singh honored Nicolle Verma by presenting her with a memento. Mrs. Nidhi Sharma and Avantika Yadav, associated with the organization, welcomed her with garlands. Following this, Nicolle Verma distributed essential items to the attendants and also handed out fruits. She became emotional remembering her grandmother on her birth anniversary.
On this occasion, she also inaugurated the “Veena Verma Sevalaya” in memory of her grandmother, Veena Verma, to serve the attendants. She expressed, “I feel proud that my family is engaged in nation-building as well as social service. Today, in collaboration with Vijay Shree Foundation founder Foodman Vishal Singh Ji, I feel immensely proud to dedicate this shelter for the poor, helpless, and needy attendants of patients battling serious illnesses like cancer. I am honored to be associated with the Hunger-Free World Mission for humanity.”
Inspired by the continuous humanitarian service provided by Vijay Shree Foundation over the past 17 years, Nicolle Verma donated 10 lakh rupees to support the cause. The purpose of this donation is to ensure that services continue for the needy attendants of patients suffering from severe illnesses in hospitals, as facilitated by Foodman Vishal Singh.
It is noteworthy that Dr. Abhishek Verma’s family has a legacy of public and philanthropic service. They are helping millions to carry forward the values and service work of their parents. On the occasion of his mother’s birth anniversary, Dr. Abhishek Verma dedicated this state-of-the-art permanent shelter at Lucknow Medical College to serve the attendants of patients through the Vijay Shree Foundation.
Supporting Foodman Vishal Singh’s Hunger-Free World mission, Dr. Abhishek Verma assured that he would continually support keeping this flame of humanity alive. He also promised to assist in providing medicines to the helpless patients.
Continuing her grandmother’s legacy of service, Nicolle Verma personally served food to the needy patients and attendants. She said, “It is our good fortune to have received the joy of doing this noble work today through Foodman Vishal Singh. I have taken another step forward in carrying my family’s values and cooperation by joining hands with the Vijay Shree Foundation. My father taught me to serve and help the needy, and I feel happy when I bring a smile to someone’s face.”
On the birth anniversary of the late Veena Verma, the event organizer, Vijay Shree Foundation founder Foodman Vishal Singh, said, “We feel proud and happy that Dr. Abhishek Verma, a globally renowned business tycoon, has extended his support to uplift our country from the hunger index. Today, on his mother’s birth anniversary, he inaugurated a state-of-the-art permanent shelter at Lucknow Medical College, which will always be helpful for the needy attendants of patients. It is a pleasure for me and the organization to receive the affection of Mr. Verma.”
The event was attended by General Manager Verma Family Office Hemant Garg, Sonu Rajput, and the organization’s volunteers, including Sandeep Singh, Parmeshwar Ji, Prashant Rao Gautam, Balram Singh, Ramesh Chaudhary, Suman, Jeetu, Anil, Suraj, Vinay, Manish Bhadauria, Manas Mehrotra, Vivek, Apurv, Happy, and others.