Shri Shreyams Kumar, Joint Managing Director, Mathrubhumi,
Shri Kesavan IFS, Head of Forest Force, Government of Kerala
Shri Sathyamoorthy, Senior Vice President, & Head, Operations, Federal bank Ltd,
Shri Raju Hormis, Head, CSR, Federal Bank Ltd.,
Shri P.I. Rajeev, Executive Editor, Mathrubhumi,
Prof. Seetharaman, Honorary Advisor, SEED,
Priyappetta Kochu koottukaare, Priyappetta Adhyapakare
Sahodaree Sahodaranmare,
Ellavarkkum Ente Namaskaram.
I am very happy to address you after presenting the awards instituted by Mathrubhumi as part of its Student Empowerment for Environmental Development [SEED] programme.
Let me at the outset, congratulate all the students and teachers of the schools which have won the awards today. This award is certainly a recognition for the keen interest you have shown in protecting our environment.
I also compliment the Mathrubhumi group for having initiated the SEED programme in schools and for ensuring that the students' interest in the activity remained fresh as ever.
As we are aware, the media, especially the print media had been a catalyst in the social transformation of Kerala in the 20th century. Mathrubhumi, which came into being with the aim of strengthening the Nationalist movement in Kerala, also played a significant role in this transformation. As a publication, it contributed to the restructuring and standardizing of the Malayalam language and to the growth of Malayalam literature. Undoubtedly, the readiness to address social issues and the commitment to mobilize support for just causes are the major factors which helped Mathrubhumi to develop as one of the top ten dailies in India, with fifteen editions.
As we examine the motive behind the SEED programme of Mathrubhumi, we are reminded of Gandhiji who believed that the law of love could be best understood and learned through little children. The SEED programme has been proving since 2009 that it is through children that any new idea should take wing and spread to society with the desired effect. It is truly laudable that Mathrubhumi chose to attract children's attention to the environment which has been very generous to us by offering the best living conditions. I am happy that this programme has spread to over three million students in more than seven thousand schools in the State.
As all of you may know, the protection of the environment is one of the fundamental duties as mentioned in Part IV A of our Constitution. Our concern for the environment should also extend to the protection of our wildlife and our livestock. Article 51A[g] in Part IV A of our Constitution mandates that “it shall be the duty of every citizen of India to protect and improve the natural environment including forests, lakes, rivers and wildlife and to have compassion for living creatures”.
Today, the United Nations considers Environmental Degradation as one of the major threats to life on Earth. As an effect of this degradation, one in three persons, all over the world, is already facing water shortage and almost one-fifth of the world population lives in areas with water scarcity. The rising temperature has reduced the availability of water and climatic changes have thrown our seasons into total disarray.
All of us would recall the difficulties we faced during the recent floods which brutally washed away much of the material progress we had achieved in the last few decades. The flood was also a slap on the face of the erratic style of our constructions and on our negligence of the environmentally sensitive areas. However, such lessons have created in our society, an increased awareness about the need to protect our environment and to maintain our water sources.
At a time when ecologically sustainable development is gaining the much deserved global attention, our little steps towards integrating the concept of sustainable development in the education process gain great relevance. A generation which grows up with full awareness of man's duty to the environment can certainly contribute to a nation's dream of sustainable development. Therefore, when SEED conveys knowledge about environmental protection to the children, it paves the way for learning as well as a behavioral transformation.
It is good to know that the students who are part of the SEED programme have already developed an environmentally sensitive behaviour. It is laudable that these students have so far planted nearly 15 lakh saplings, of which over seven and a half lakh have been protected in the last nine years. I have no doubt that the children had experienced the greatest joy in their lives when they harvested the paddy, fruits and vegetables they had planted as part of their campaigns. Such efforts deserve our wholehearted appreciation.
What I found very interesting in the activities of SEED is the novel ways through which knowledge about the environment has been conveyed to the students. For instance, when the world says 'shun plastic', you have said 'Love Plastic' and the children have collected over four lakh kilos of plastic for recycling. The Season Watch, which inspires children to know about the flowering and fruiting pattern of trees around us is also innovative and meaningful. However, I have felt that the ‘Naattu Maavin Chottil‘ project which is aimed at sharing mango seeds of one region with people of other regions of the State, has a touch of nostalgia in it. After all, there was a time when childhood was best enjoyed under the shade of the mango trees.
I would also suggest to Mathrubhumi that a small component of information regarding Child Rights could be included in their activities for the schools. We live at a time when many rights of children are being violated; it is our duty as elders to empower our children with the knowledge of their rights.
In conclusion, let me once again greet the children who have won prizes today and remind them about the great social responsibility they are carrying out. Your interest in the future of our environment will certainly inspire younger children to be part of such initiatives. My only request is to continue this interest even when you join colleges so that we will have truly green campuses in our State. I wish you all the best in your future endeavors.
I also congratulate Mathrubhumi on their dedicated efforts to enhance the learning experience of our children through the SEED programme. I convey my deep sense of appreciation to all the volunteers and team members of the SEED initiative.
Ellavarkkum Ente Aashamsakal
Nanni
Jai Hind
