Gangtok: Indian Army personnel of Trishakti Corps on Friday (July 7) took part in a cleanliness cum plantation drive at the tourist hotspot of Tsomgo Lake and adjoining areas in Sikkim’s Gangtok district, an official said. The cleanliness cum plantation drive was part of the ‘Olive green defending green’ initiative. The event marked the culmination of a series of environmental awareness campaigns and cleanliness drives undertaken by troops of the Hilli Brigade from June 2023 onwards, the official said.
The initiative was undertaken by Hilli Warriors in coordination with various stakeholders including the Department of Forest & Environment, the Government of Sikkim, Chips market committee representatives, Sikkim Police representatives, and members of the local panchayat committee of village Chhangu.
A joint interaction was carried out with senior forest officials by Indian Army officials.
Issues related to waste management, water conversation, tourist behaviour and the need for environmental conservation for future generations were discussed. A pledge to adopt sustainable environmentally friendly practices to safeguard the environment was undertaken by all participants.
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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.
