TERI Enviro Club

Sensitization workshop on water purification and water quality testing

TERI initiated the “School health and hygiene programme” under the Yamuna Action Plan (Phase 2) with support from the Japan Bank for International Cooperation and the Public Works Department (W/S and Sanitation Department), Government of Haryana.

Students are made aware of issues concerning school health and hygiene such as safe drinking water facilities, provision of clean, safe and separate toilets for girls and boys, adequate dustbins for solid waste segregation at source. As a part of the programme in July the students were sensitized on water purification and drinking water quality testing techniques. The students were shown how to test water quality and were told about the eleven parameters of water quality. All the participating schools were provided with TERI’s water testing kit. The students are asked to test the drinking water quality in their schools using the kit and manual provided.

The steps involved in water purification to disinfect water by simple physical and chemical treatment at household level were described in detail. A session with the school health medical officer was organized to make students aware of the precautions to be taken to save themselves from diseases spreading in the monsoon season and the importance of personal hygiene in day-to-day life.

A group discussion was organized for students to reinforce the learning during the workshop. Students were divided in five groups to discuss on impact/effect of climate change on agriculture, forestry and wildlife, coastal zones and marine life, water resources and health. Along with this, they also discussed mitigating steps that could be adopted at community and individual levels. The group leaders made small presentations at the end of the session.

Competitions were also organized that included logo-designing, painting and essay-writing. The topic for logo-designing was Climate Change, and for the essay-writing competition, it was, “Climate Change–cause for concern”; for painting, the students were to choose from among ten options. The topics were volcanoes, forest fires, industrialization, urbanization, ocean currents, coral bleaching, desertification, floods, landslides and melting of ice.

In today’s fast-changing world, ethics and respect for nature have both taken a back seat in our day-to-day actions and activities. TERI, through its project YEARN (Youth for Ethical Action and Respect for Nature) dedicated itselfto the task of creating an informed group of young citizens who will become the leaders of tomorrow and for whom environmental issues related to respect for nature and the world around them will become a part of life. TERI researcher, Neha introduced this project to the students, informing them about the various activities envisaged under the project.

The workshop closed with the vote of thanks given by the Principal, Happy Home English School, Varanasi. She appreciated the TERI effort in guiding the students on Climate Change issues and requested the students to seriously work towards improvement of the environment through their respective Climate Clubs.

The Climate Change Contest
Hindustan Times.com in association with the Canadian High Commission is organizing The Climate Change Contest. Please find enclosed the brochure for more details.

TERRAQUIZ 2005
Will be recorded in Eagle Studios, NOIDA from 21 to 24 November, 2005 followed by the Award Ceremony on 25 November, 05.