Environment Education and Climate Change
The riverine belt of Simri, Rajpur and Brahmpur blocks of Buxar and Nema Chandpura of Begusarai District were facing severe challenge to life and environment due to the impending erosion of land mass on the banks of Ganges. Uddeshya Bharti started an awareness building initiative to protect landmass through plantation of particular sapling in the areas of serious erosion.
In Collaboration with NCERT and Prativesh, (Nodal agency for awareness building on environment of NCERT in Bihar) started leadership building exercise through government schools. 29 Schools participated in the activity. Strategy was to sensitize volunteering students and train them in functioning as catalyst in their respective villages.
Public involvement with support with community and panchayat raj leaders garnered massive support in favour of the campaign in the area. The district officials particularly from the education department were instrumental in getting the schools involved. The district education officer, Dr. Neelam Kumari ensured her participation in every activity in the district. The initiative started in 2005 and was handed over by the end of 2010 to the selected schools and district gradually for its sustainability.
During the course of the activity two 9 workshops were organised at district and cluster on “Need of Environment Education in Schools”. In the Raghopur Block of Vaishali district PRI members were oriented and the ownership of planting the sapling and maintaining the plants through community participation was transferred to them.
The result was extremely encouraging. The activity was carried on from 2005 to December 2007. Around 550 saplings were planted and nurtured through community and its leaders’ participation. Here Mr. Shambhu Singh, a local social activist was instrumental in mobilising the local resources and involvement of the community and its leadership.
