WORLD ENVIRONMENT DAY, 2017
World Environment Day is observed internationally on 5th June every year, to raise global awareness on environment issues and to encourage the society to take positive actions for protecting nature. The host country for this year, Canada has chosen the theme “Connecting People to Nature” for 2017, which invites people to enjoy the outdoors and to take forward the call to protect the Earth that we share.
This year the Environment day celebration at Mahatma Gandhi College was organized by Postgraduate and Research department of zoology on 5th, 7th and 9th June. The programme was inaugurated with the planting of tree sapling in the campus by our Principal Dr. M.R. Sudarsanakumar . This was followed by taking a pledge on protecting environment by the students, teaching and non-teaching staff of the college. The Programme was also marked memorable with colourful palm prints made on canvas by the enthusiastic students and faculties who splattered their palms with different hues.. Paper banners made by students were also displayed on the occasion.
The programme on 5th June 2017 was divided into two sessions ,which was conducted in Seminar Hall of the college.The first Session began with a Prayer followed by a welcome speech by Dr. (Lt.) Balamurali R.S. HOD, Department of Zoology, Mahatma Gandhi College. Dr. M.R. Sudarsanakumar, Principal, Mahatma Gandhi College.presided over the function and Dr. Balachandran S. (IQAC Convener), Dr. Bijukumar K. (PTA Secretary) and Dr. Santhosh Kumar R (HOD, Dept. of Botany). felicitated the function.The programme coordinator Dr.Reshmi R. gave the vote of thanks.
The sessions conducted were planned as a student initiative programme to encourage leadership qualities and organising skills in students. The Postgraduate students were involved in organising the programme . Athira A.R. of Msc II year compeered the whole programme. The inaugural session was followed by an invited talk by Dr. Santhi S. ;a freelance ecologist and environmental educator; on the interesting topic ‘Reconnecting to Nature and Rediscovering Our Wild Soul’ . Shilpa, of I DC Zoology gave a brief introduction about the speaker.The talk was very informative and interactive leaving the students mesmerized with wonders of the pristine forests, importance associated with ecosystem and huge responsibilities of conserving them. Vote of thanks was also given by Shilpa, of I DC Zoology.
The next session began at1.30pm by Dr. P. Manoharan Pillai, Former HOD, N.S.S college Kottiyam. A brief introduction about the speaker was given by Dr. (Lt.) Balamurali R.S. HOD, Department of Zoology. Dr.Manoharan sir gave a very influencing talk on “Eco-Spirituality”. The talk dealt with the intricate relations between environment with spiritualism. Vote of Thanks was given by Swathy, IIDC Zoology.
7th June 2017, Second Day
The Programmes scheduled for the day was Quiz competition, Student presentation competition and Painting competition. Quiz competition began at 10.30am in the zoology lab. Quiz competition was organised by Aravind Anil (Quiz master) on the topic “Nature”. Twenty teams participated in the quiz competition out of which eight teams qualified for finals. First prize was given to Devanarayanan and Nikil Jose of IIDC physics. Second prize was given to Keerthana K.S. and Athulya K.R. of IIDC physics. Third prize was secured by IDC English. Quiz competition came to an end by 12.30pm.
Student presentation competition began by 12.30pm at the zoology lab. Two teams participated in the competition. Each of them presented slide shows on the theme ‘Connecting people to Nature’. Each student was given ten minutes for presentation and five minutes for open discussion. Dr. B. Jayaraj, Asst Professor of Department of Psychology and Dr. N.K. Sunil Kumar,Asst Professor of Department of Sociology judged the programme. The presentations were excellent which addressed many issues on nature and the dire need for their protection. First prize was shared by both the participants (Athira A.R of II MSc Zoology and Ananda Krishnan of IIDC Psychology)
Painting competition began at 2.00pm at zoology lab. Six students participated in the painting competition. The theme given to them was ‘Connecting people to Nature’. The competition was judged by Dr. B. Jayaraj, Department of Psychology. First prize was given to Arya S. Prakash of IDC economics. Second and third prize was given to Arjun B. S of IIDC economics and Vishnupriya V of I M.Sc Zoology respectively. Environmental campaigning was organised by students of the department of zoology in the college campus on mother nature and the need for its protection.
9th June 2017, Third Day
An awareness class on “Conservation of Nature” was organised by Kerala Forest Department, Thiruvananthapuram. The session began at 10:30am.The Principal,Dr.Divya K.R. ,Convenor of Forest club gave a brief talk on the importance of nature conservation .Followed by this Mr Balashankar, Forest officer from department of Forestry, gave an excellent talk which dealt with on the different types of forests,need for conservation and human –wildlife conflicts. The students enthusiastically participated in the discussions followed by the talk. At 12.00pm a short film show was also displayed for the students.
