| |
PROTECTING THEIR FUTURE
Who is responsible for protecting our environment?
When this  question
was posed to a group of school children, the answers were
electric. "The government, of course", said a 10-year
old. "Why the government? After all who spits on the
roads," exclaimed another. "No, no, it's the companies
that pollute," declared the third. A simple question,
a multitude of voices- belonging to an age group that
belongs to the future. The children, the environment,
the future - all these are issues close to the people
who work at PEAS.
The Programme for Environment Awareness in School (PEAS),
was started to impart value added education to school
children on the issues of environment protection. Co-ordinated
by Dr. Pushpa in Hyderabad, PEAS works closely
with nearly 100 schools in the city and nearby districts.
According to Dr Pushpa, "We want to  focus
on awareness and action, with an emphasis on action."
True to its word, PEAS (with the help of sponsors) regularly
organises debates, Eco melas, 'Wealth from Waste' exhibitions,
plays, puppet shows and discussion forums besides holding
rallies and neighbourhood awareness camps. One of the
most successful programmes was a Pollution Control Check,
where students with the help of RTO officials stopped
polluting vehicles on the roads.
PEAS has tied up with UNICEF to spread environmental
awareness and lessons in hygiene to street children. "Messages
are best communicated from children to children,"
says Dr. Pushpa. PEAS has initiated a Nature Club in
each school, where students can join on a voluntary basis.
Each school has constituted an AGE (Army Guarding Environment)
comprising students who will periodically inspect
the school premises for waste and cleanliness. PEAS vociferously
promotes the 'Say No to Plastic' campaign.  During
rallies, students distribute cloth bags to store owners
and vendors and educate them on the dangers of plastic.
"To do this, we highlight the points that are most
important to a person. For instance, our children tell
a poor woman that plastic is potentially dangerous to
a cow. Then she understands the danger." A Mock Parliament
held by PEAS was widely appreciated by the Lady Governnor,
Haripriya Rangarajan. Students addressed environmental
issues with smart and spontaneous arguments and counter
arguments.
Besides publishing a weekly magazines carrying student
contributions, PEAS celebrates important days like World
Ozone Day or Earth Day. Work is on to produce
a video featuring the little activists in action. The
purpose is to use the visual media to generate interest
amongst other children. All this is and more, for a single
goal. "…to awake children into an environmental
action for a mass movement." A mass movement by our
future generation to  protect
our environment.
Address: Gautami Vidya Vihara, 3-6-232,
Himayatnagar, Hyderabad - 500 029,
Phone: 322 5663,
Contact Person: Dr. M Pushpa |
| - Divya Unnikrishnan |
| 
|
|
|
