HT Correspondent
HOJAI, June 4: On the occasion of World Environment Day, under the aegis of Apna Manch, a sapling plantation drive was organised at Shiv Mandir premises located near Shiv Bari Road in Hojai on Sunday. Saplings of neem, apple wood, guava, jamun, kaner flower and banana plant were planted on the occasion.
Dr Piyush Nandi, chief advisor of Apna Manch and associate professor of Bangla department, Hojai Girls’ College graced the occasion as chief guest. Dr Manoj Kumar Swami, advisor of Apna Manch and associate professor of Hindi department, Rabindranath Tagore University attended the programme as guest of honour.
Apart from this, Ashok Kejriwal, working president of Vishwa Hindu Parishad and advisor of Apna Manch, social workers – Shivshankar Bora & Bikash Choudhary, senior journalist Ramesh Mundra, principal of Rashtrabhasha Hindi High School Shivdayal Singh were present as honoured guests.
All the guests and members of Apna Manch planted a sapling. The founder of Apna Manch Nikhil Kumar Mundra and his team honoured all the guests with Assamese phulam gamosa. Mundra in his address apprised that Apna Manch has been continuously organising various programmes in small manner for the last two-three years.
He added that plantation drive, environmental awareness, clean environment, benefits of cycling, legal awareness, etc., are important aspects of the organisation.
He also said that more projects would be taken up in near future and thereby he sought everyone’s support and cooperation.
In his short statement, Dr Piyush Nandi, describing trees as an important part of the environment, said, “An unsafe environment is harmful for all living beings on earth. Therefore, it is necessary that more and more saplings should be planted to make the environment balanced and safe.
Dr Manoj Kumar Swami said, “Environment is the highest need for human beings from the point of view of life. Water, forest and land all three are its main bases.”
“But the modern model of development has ruined everything by absorbing these three pillars of life,” he added.
He said that forests have the ability to reduce the ill effects of climate change and that’s why plantation drives are necessary to improve the climate. Describing tree plantation as important for environmental protection, Ashok Kejriwal said that trees are the only source of life-giving oxygen. Human life depends on trees only.
“Without trees, living on earth would be impossible,” he added.
Apart from this, Shivshankar Bora and Shivdayal Singh also addressed the gathering. In view of the increasing pollution and changing environment, both the speakers said that tree plantation is the only option by which one can lead a happy life and preserve the planet for the future generations.
All the speakers lauded the efforts of Apna Manch and assured full cooperation to the organisation.
Bishal Chowdhary, Shubham Kejriwal and all active members of Apna Manch, gave their support during the programme. Markandaya Tiwari and Rajesh Tiwari, the chief priest of the Shiv-Hanuman temple also extended their support in the programme. The programme ended with the vote of thanks by Bishal Chowdhary, co-founder of Apna Manch.
