Agra: Etawah DM Nitin Bansal, taking serious note of a recently-held mock environment parliament in schools across the district, has issued an eight-point circular to all government departments to implement the resolutions adopted by the students.
Around 5,000 students from the district participated in the 'Etawah Parliament of Students on Environment' on December 3 to raise awareness on environmental issues among locals.
The district magistrate has asked the basic education officer in the region to organize similar student parliaments regularly. The issue of protecting the environment of the region has been prioritized by Bansal.
"Authorities of Chambal river sanctuary, education department and forest department have been asked to organize campaigns to protect the environment. A point in the circular also directed all government employees to opt for healthy and environment friendly lifestyle, which I think is very important for all of us," Bansal said.
The parliament, organized at Exhibition Podium in Etawah, was a unique initiative undertaken by school students here. Some 151 students were selected to be members of parliament for environment from the 5,000 particpants at the event. Class X student of Sant Vivekananda School Shreya Mishra was chosen speaker of the parliament.
The debates were held in traditional British parliamentary style, following which the young parliamentarians and the speaker signed a 15-point environment conservation charter.
The charter urged local bodies to adopt eco-friendly projects. It also listed the benefits of using biodegradable plastic. The student suggested that developed nations should provide financial assistance and transfer green technology to developing countries and phase out the use of fossil fuels. They also listed the need to enshrine equal rights for animals and plants. Habitat protection, population control, urbanization and sustainable industrialization should be the priority of all nations.
The students also wanted that May 9 be declared climate change day. It was on this day in 2013 when pollution levels across the world had breached 400-ppm CO2 barrier for the first time.
Eight Points
1 Adopt environmentally sustainable lifestyles
2 Sensitize government officials towards environmental issues
3 hold environment awareness drives
4 encourage the use of biodegradable plastic
5 Develop the area immediately
6 Encourage afforestation
7 Ensure habitat protection
8 Organize environmental meets in schools regularly
