JAMMU, APRIL 22

The Central University of Jammu (CUJ) celebrated International Mother Earth Day 2015 at its Temporary Academic Block, Sainik Colony, Jammu. Jb. Abdul Majid Padder, Hon’ble Minister of State for Public Health Engineering, Irrigation & Flood Control, Animal Husbandry & Forest was the Chief Guest of the function. Sh. Suresh Chugh IFS, Addl. PCCF/Director, Ecology, Environment & Remote Sensing, J&K was the Guest of Honour.  The function was presided over by the CUJ VC, Prof. Ashok Aima.

The International Mother Earth Day is celebrated every year on April, 22. The Earth Day was founded by US senator, Gaylord Nelson on April 22, 1970 to make people aware about the safety and protection of the Mother Earth. In 1990, the Earth Day went global mobilising more than 200 million people from 141 countries, thus raising the Environmental issues to the world stage. In 2009 United Nations Assembly resolution changed the name of the Earth Day to the International Mother Earth Day. The Earth Day is celebrated in many ways such as holding Seminars and other educational activities, planting trees, teaching people to conserve energy & water, etc.

Speaking on the occasion the Chief Guest stressed upon the need for taking measures in educating people about the measures which should be taken to protect the Planet Earth. We are, if the Earth is, said the Minister. He also said that the water bodies of J&K are greatly degraded and made a mention of the shrinkage in the area of different water bodies such as Dal lake, which has shrunk from 75sq.km. to 12sq.km. The Minister made a mention of recent floods in Kashmir, which he said were primarily due to extinction and shrinking of wetlands. The VC of CUJ suggested that Environmental Protection measures can be best undertaken through practical demonstrations to the people in the field. He said that Character building was the most crucial factor in achieving ones goals including the protection of our environment.  He urged the Department of Environmental Sciences of CUJ, to work on the Environment related problems of the state and come up with the tangible solutions. Sh. Chugh delivered the Keynote Address where he stressed upon the need for Environment Protection by various ways - mainly the conservation of natural resources of the country in general & state in particular. Earlier Prof. H.S. Sehgal , Head, Department of Environmental Sciences & Dean, School of Life Sciences formally welcomed the distinguished guests, University officials, faculty and students, and emphasised upon having a comprehensive action plan for Environment Protection of the state. He narrated various factors which are responsible for environmental degradation and the remedial measures which should be taken to ameliorate the impact of these factors. He made a strong appeal to all present in the function to adopt the remedial measures themselves and teach to others.

The students of the Environmental Sciences Department presented a skit play on the current Environmental issues, which was greatly appreciated by the Hon’ble Minister, other dignitaries and the audience. In appreciation of the Skit Play, the VC, CUJ announced a cash prize of Rs.5,000 for the students. A documentary on the success story of conserving water in Rajasthan was also screened.

The function was attended by well known Environmentalists and prominent citizens including General Goverdhan Singh Jamwal, Dr. C.M. Seth, Prof. Shashi Kant, Sh. R.S. Jasrotia IFS, Dr. O.P. Sharma Vidyarthi IFS, Sh. Ajeet Singh, and the senior officials of the University including Sh. Jit Singh Registrar, Sh. H.K. Prashar OSD (Finance), faculty, Staff & Students were also present.

Dr. Pankaj Mehta Assistant Professor extended the formal Vote of Thanks and Dr. Shweta Yadav Assistant Professor conducted the proceedings of the stage. This was followed by Planting of Amaltas trees by the Hon’ble Minister, & other dignitaries.