IMPHAL, February 20: Media based public charitable trust based in Manipur, Win Foundation founded in the year 2006 by a group of social thinkers conducted an awareness campaign for class VIII students of Mega Manipur School, Yaralpat today.
The national environmental awareness campaign with the theme ‘Combating Desertification, Land Degradation and Drought’ interacted with the students featuring screening of environmental short films and interactive talks with experts. The session lasted for about two hours after which the students plant tree samplings within the school premises in the presence of school authority including teaching staffs.
Win Foundation managing trustee Sunzu Bachaspatimayum in his opening remarks introduced environment to the participating students and asserted of negative effect of use of fertilizer or chemical in the production of food items in the state stating that consumption of food items treated with chemical fertilizer affects human health and soil as well.
Environmental activist Jiten Yumnam talking on soil erosion said that the state used to have more than 100 wetlands, more than 200 different species of fish, more than 1200 medicinal plants and more than 500 different kinds of orchids. He said that with the negative change in the climate or global warming has adversely affected the environment and its nature.
Adverse environmental effect not only hampers human health but also affects our culture, Jiten elaborated that the state of Manipur has many rituals and ceremonies where specific flower or particular kind of fish are made mandatory in the process, he added that some of those kinds are in the edge of extinction and many of those available being treated with fertilizers are always looks good but are harmful to human health.
Assam Tribune correspondent Sobhapati Samom while interacting with the students said that Manipur constituting of hill and valley have different practice of farming. People in the hills depends on forest products affecting the environment, he said that cutting of woods or deforestation has inclined to soil erosion and hence tends to desertification. He said that deserts are the most vulnerable for humans to live and further he opined taking up precautions against desertification.
TV producer of Doordarshan who has won multi award for provocative environmental TV production RK Robindro Singh with illustrative slide show presentation educated the students with water cycle. He said that if there is a gap in the circle will help in change in climate in negative way. Annual rainfall though decrease annually but the state get annual rainfall collectively in three months time creating flash floods. He called to save environment by planting trees, minimising use of plastics bags and urged to keep environment clean for better future to come.
The participating students of Mega Manipur School pledged to improve their habits towards saving environment starting from their class room, school compound, home and their locals.