Shillong ( Meghalaya), June 13 : ‘Environmental Excellence Award 2022’ was organized by Rotary Club of Orchid City Shillong in collaboration with Department of Environmental Studies, NEHU, Shillong at NEHU Campus here today .
The event was organized to recognize and thank the individuals who through their continued & committed contributions, have supported in protecting environment at grassroot, motivating others to join them in the green mission.
B K Lyngwa, PCCF & HoEF, Govt. of Meghalaya, graced the occasion as the Chief Guest. Dr. S S Chaturvedi, Head, Department of Environmental Studies, NEHU and Kisan Tibrewalla, Asst. Governor, Rotary District 3240, graced the event as guest of honor(s).
President of the Club, Rtn Monica Chanda welcomed everyone on the occasion.
Two environmentalists were conferred “Environment Excellence Award 2022” during the event. Smt. Berlin Lyngdoh from Shillong, East Khasi Hills District and Wanphailang Dkhar from Nongstoin, West Khasi Hills District, Meghalaya.
Smt. Berlin Lyngdoh has been working voluntarily to promote use of organic fertilizer and organic pesticide in agricultural fields. Her continued effort of more than fifteen years on spreading awareness among the farmers on environmental impacts of use of chemical fertilizer and pesticides yielded in positive change and many more farmers joined with her and started using organic fertilizer and organic pesto. Smt. Berlin informed during her address on the difficulties she faced, but still continued tackling challenges on way for the cause of environment.
Wanphailang Dkhar has been committedly working for a clean and green environment voluntarily, motivating and training youngsters to join the green mission in Nongstoin and other regions of West Khasi Hills District. His continued efforts of more than of almost a decade to support environment through cleaning drives, tree plantation and caring and motivating youngsters to work for the green cause has received appreciations in the district. During his address, he said that he wishes to communicate to everyone that earth and environment doesn’t need us to survive, but we need environment for our survival, thus it’s our responsibility to protect it.
Chief Guest B K Lyngwa congratulated the award recipients, and said that protecting environment is the need of the hour and each and responsibility of each and every citizen of the planet. He applauded the continued efforts made by Rotary Club of Orchid City Shillong in protecting environment through different initiatives in the state. He also informed about different activities undertaken by Department of Forest & Environment and climate Change, Govt. of Meghalaya in protecting environment through joint participation.
He welcomed the initiative of club and said that we all should work together in saving environment.
Project Chairperson , Rtn Vivek Kumar informed everyone that the club started ‘Environment Excellence Award’ to recognize and motivate the individuals working at grassroot to protect environment. He also informed that Rotary International has added ‘Environment’ as one of its focus areas and is working immensely throughout the world, through network of clubs, to save environment through various initiatives, both at local and global level.
He also informed about ESRAG- Environmental Sustainability Rotary Action Group, formed worldwide to support environment through Rotary. He mentioned that the recognition would not only encourage the recipients to work more, but their stories would also inspire and motive many to join the mission to save environment for a better future. Because we have only one earth and we must do everything to make sure to continues to live and support life. He thanked the tireless job done by the committee in screening the award candidates and organizing this event.
Kisan Tibrewalla, Asst. Governor, Rotary District 3240 thanked the club for organizing this event to promote environmental warriors and congratulated the award recipients.
The event was joined by faculty & students from Department of Environmental Studies, Dept. of Geology, and many dignitaries like Naba Bhattacharya, Head, Dept. of Environmental Sciences, St. Edmund’s College, Jiwat Vaswani, the recipient of first ‘Environmental Excellence Award 2021’ also joined on the occasion.