NEW DELHI: The ceremonial boulevard of Delhi, Rajpath, will have tiny tots marching in unison, singing songs of hope for a cause, at 8am on Sunday. As many as 6,000 students from 75 city schools will raise slogans of conservation and preservation of natural resources.
Called the ‘PHD Swachh Paryavaran Campaign’, the event is supported by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, and will bring NGO’s, conservationists, youth leaders and a host of ministers together.
The attempt is to inspire the children to become more cognizant of the changing environmental needs, and to work towards water conservation, pollution control, afforestation, recycling and other such aspects.
Students in colourful tableaus and on foot will cover the stretch between Rafi Marg and Mansingh Road. To take the positive ideas of conversation outside the classroom to have a more far-reaching impact, they will also carry informative displays in the form of placards, banners, props and head gears.
“Some of the greatest threats facing the planet in 2017 are climate change and global warming. It’s high time that we all wake up and fight these challenges. This initiative elucidates the importance of clean environment, so that we all can make this world a better place to live in,” said Gopal Jiwarajka, President, PHD Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
The rally will focus on the ecological imbalance due to deforestation. The habitat loss has a devastating effect on the entire system.
It all begins at the school level, Jiwarajka believes. “Society’s role at large cannot be negated. The Delhi government has been supporting such initiatives through cleanliness-themed rallies, seminars, drills and workshops, but we need to organise them more frequently to make a long-lasting impact,” he said.