Symbiosis Students Spread the Green Word

-By Nitichandra Ingle

Nashik: Students of Symbiosis Institute of Operations Management (SIOM) celebrated the World Environment day by spreading awareness among the masses on utilising the resources optimally and wisely. The day started full of enthusiasm and exuberance for the SIOM First year students as they got the opportunity to celebrate their first event starting with the World Environment Day as The Green Day. Preparations were all done, the stage was all set and few students had sleepless night. In morning a clip from the documentary 11th Hour by Leonardo De Caprio, which highlighted various aspects of nature and how conservation plays a major role in maintaining an ecologically balanced atmosphere was displayed. The guests invited on the occasion were Mr. Prasoon Ghosh from Cognizant Technologies, Kolkata and Mr. Prasad Jain from Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd., Nashik. Inorder to create green awareness, SIOM students painted a Tree without leaves and each one of the honorary guests, faculty, Staff and students thumb printed the tree with green colour. The green word was spread by the students in shops, malls, parks, schools etc. The students distributed self-made paper bags amongst the local shops. The students planted trees at various places. In evening they marched to Dada Saheb Phalke Smarak to spread the word. They gathered people and made them understand the importance of recycling waste, limiting vehicular pollution, water conservation, emphasising on energy saving by giving practical examples like using CFL bulbs, saving water and energy by minimal usage of plastic bags etc. The crowd too gave them support and congratulated for spreading the message as a local Nashik person was heard saying Aplyalach badal karava lagnar ahey which means we have to bring about the change ourselves nobody else is going to do it for us. Students cleaned the garden by picking up litter in paper bags at the park. They also tied green bands on childrens hands thus initiating cleanliness drive. There were many slogans and banners put on by them during their green walk, some of which were Nirogi ayushyasathi ekach upaay zaade lavnyashivay ahey ka dusra paryay? stating that there is no other alternative for plantation to lead a healthy life. Reduce, Recycle, Reuse and Renew, Conserve Rain water were few more slogans put on by them. The students switched off the lights for one hour at SIOM to save electricity and thus setting up an example for others.

The idea was wonderful and the approach was graciously accepted and appreciated by one and all, The Director Symbiosis Institute of Operations Management Dr. Vandana Sonwaney quoted saying The Environment day is just the beginning and we have to continually encourage people and make them understand the need to utilise resources optimally.