Chennai: Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin on Monday (August 21) launched the “Chief Minister’s Green Fellowship Programme,” aimed at spreading awareness on climate change besides other aligned goals. Implementing green initiatives in districts is one of the key objectives, under which 40 “green fellows,” have been selected by knowledge partner of the programme, state-run Anna University’s Institute of Energy Studies. A programme lead and four research associates form part of the fellowship initiative.
Also Read: PM Narendra Modi Highlights India’s Efforts Towards Climate Change And Health
Fellows of the programme would make key contributions and policy interventions in the environment related initiatives of the district administrations in tune with state government’s environment and sustainable development goals and policies.
Of the 40 appointees, 38 will be focusing on one district each and two others shall function at the state level. Fellows of the green programme have a two-year tenure and they get a stipend of Rs 60,000 per month. The fellows of the green initiative called on CM Stalin at the Secretariat, marking the inauguration of the programme.
An official release said,
The programme has been designed as a platform for young people who would work with dedication in the fields of environment protection, renewable energy, biodiversity and sustainable development.
The Department of Environment and Climate Change of the State government is the implementing agency for the Chief Minister’s Green Fellowship Programme.
At the end of the tenure and on successful completion of the fellowship programme, the green fellows would be conferred the Post Graduate Diploma in Climate Change and Sustainability by the Anna varsity.
According to a varsity notification early this year, primary role of the green fellows would be to support the district administrations in implementation of Green Tamil Nadu Mission, Tamil Nadu Climate Change Mission and Tamil Nadu Wetlands Mission. Tamil Nadu has 38 districts and each of the fellow of the green project would be assigned to one district.
Environment Minister Siva V Meyyanathan, Chief Secretary Shiv Das Meena and senior officials took part.
Also Read: Delhi Government Launches Climate Summit To Engage Youth
(This story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
NDTV – Dettol have been working towards a clean and healthy India since 2014 via the Banega Swachh India initiative, which is helmed by Campaign Ambassador Amitabh Bachchan. The campaign aims to highlight the inter-dependency of humans and the environment, and of humans on one another with the focus on One Health, One Planet, One Future – Leaving No One Behind. It stresses on the need to take care of, and consider, everyone’s health in India – especially vulnerable communities – the LGBTQ population, indigenous people, India’s different tribes, ethnic and linguistic minorities, people with disabilities, migrants, geographically remote populations, gender and sexual minorities. In wake of the current COVID-19 pandemic, the need for WASH (Water, Sanitation and Hygiene) is reaffirmed as handwashing is one of the ways to prevent Coronavirus infection and other diseases. The campaign will continue to raise awareness on the same along with focussing on the importance of nutrition and healthcare for women and children, fight malnutrition, mental wellbeing, self care, science and health, adolescent health & gender awareness. Along with the health of people, the campaign has realised the need to also take care of the health of the eco-system. Our environment is fragile due to human activity, which is not only over-exploiting available resources, but also generating immense pollution as a result of using and extracting those resources. The imbalance has also led to immense biodiversity loss that has caused one of the biggest threats to human survival – climate change. It has now been described as a “code red for humanity.” The campaign will continue to cover issues like air pollution, waste management, plastic ban, manual scavenging and sanitation workers and menstrual hygiene. Banega Swasth India will also be taking forward the dream of Swasth Bharat, the campaign feels that only a Swachh or clean India where toilets are used and open defecation free (ODF)status achieved as part of the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2014, can eradicate diseases like diahorrea and the country can become a Swasth or healthy India.
