WEST BOKARO: With an objective to create awareness on Earth Day and the ill effects of plastic on environment, Tata Steel West Bokaro Division observed Earth Day on April 22, 2018. The day-long celebrations included awareness sessions for all residents of West Bokaro along with training sessions for Self Help Groups and villagers.
The celebrations started with an awareness programme in the form of nukkad natak based on this year’s theme ‘End Plastic Pollution’ by students of Vivekanand School and Government Middle School of Ghatotand at Chowk number 12 that kept the audience spell bound. The nukkad natak aimed at creating awareness among the public regarding the ill effects of use of plastic bags on the environment and especially on the animals who ingest the plastic bags that results in choking, poisoning and even death.
The nukkad natak was followed by a knowledge sharing session for the residents of Arjuntand village on ‘Vermi-compost’. The knowledge sharing session by Dr Dushyant Kumar Raghav, Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Mandu was attended by more than 50 villagers who were informed on various aspects of vermi-compost including how to make it and how to utilize organic waste as manure. During the session, the villagers were also informed regarding the complete process of compost making and construction of vermi-compost pit and various steps involved in the process.
The day-long celebrations concluded with another training session on paper bag making for two SHGs at conference room of Tata Steel Rural Development, West Bokaro. During the training session, 16 members of Amby Mahila Samiti and Sahyog Mahila Samiti of Ichakdih village were provided hands on training on how to make paper bags from old newspapers. As a support to these SHGs, old newspapers from various departments of the Division will be regularly provided to these SHGs. The first lot of newspapers were handed over to the members of the SHGs by Dr Manoj Kumar Gupta, Head, Environment & Forest, Tata Steel (West Bokaro).
Speaking on the occasion, Dr Manoj Kumar Gupta, Head, Environment & Forest, Tata Steel (West Bokaro) said: “Training to these SHGs will have two-fold impact on the society as the production of paper bags in the vicinity will not only help in replacing plastic bags from nearby market places but will also create alternate livelihood opportunities for these women.”
