Union Environment Minister Dr Harsh Vardhan Urges Children To Become Environment Protectors To Overcome The Menace Of Plastic Pollution

New Delhi: To ensure a cleaner and healthier India, children have often been identified as the torchbearers of environmental consciousness. As India readies to celebrate the 45^th World Environment Day with ample grandeur and mass participation, the role played by children in the celebrations and in the future will be a crucial one. On June 3, while addressing a gathering of over 10,000 children assembled to participate in Envithon, the mini marathon, Union Environment Minister Dr Harsh Vardhan said that children can become protectors of the environment (Paryavaran Rakshaks) and help in eradicating the menace of plastic pollution.

Over 10,000 children from 200 schools in the Delhi and National Capital Region (NCR) participated in the mini-marathon, organised as a run up to World Environment Day on June 5. Addressing the children, Dr Harsh Vardhan said that children possess youthful vigour and enthusiasm and that is reflected in any task that they undertake. The task of eradicating plastic pollution requires unending enthusiasm and children are best suited for such a task, said the Union Minister. While addressing the children, Dr Harsh Vardhan administered a pledge to the children to undertake one Green Good Deed a day, reduce usage of plastic and totally stop usage of single-use plastic in daily life. Post administering the pledge, Dr Harsh Vardhan flagged off the mini-marathon at Chanakyapuri. The Union Minister also rode a bicycle on the occasion of World Bicycle Day.

To celebrate the theme of #BeatPlasticPollution, a street play, songs and dance performances on the theme of plastic pollution were put up during the occasion. Similar mini-marathons are scheduled to be held as run up to the Environment Day celebrations in other parts of India. India’s efforts to address the plastic pollution concerns have earned the country the chance to be the global host for World Environment Day 2018. Several programmes are lined up for the prestigious occasion and a number of celebrities have pledged to ditch plastic ahead of the World Environment Day.

Also Read: World Environment Day 2018: Starting With The Taj Mahal, India Pledges To Make 100 Monuments Plastic-free