State Bank of India (SBI), the country's leading public sector Bank, marked World Environment Day with great enthusiasm and commitment towards environmental protection.
On this occasion, a plantation activity was organised at Reva Parisar, SBI Officers Colony, Bhopal. The plantation was spearheaded by the Chief General Manager Bhopal Circle, Binod Kumar Mishra, who was joined by other distinguished officials, General Managers SS Taragi, BL Saini, and Neeraj Prasad, president ladies club Asha Mishra as well as CirDO and DGM Deepak Kumar Jha, Lokesh Chandra DGM(B&O) Bhopal and other top officials.
In addition, with its vision to promote sustainable practices, State Bank of India also took a significant step towards environmental conservation by starting an e-waste collection drive at its Local Head Office (LHO) premises. This commendable initiative was carried out with the support of Mannat NGO, led by Anchita Sablok.
The collected e-waste will be used for creating creative art pieces with an important message of environmental care and the adoption of the three R's of environmental protection: Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle for spreading awareness among citizens and inspiring the staff members of SBI to prioritize the protection and preservation of the environment. The initiative was met with great enthusiasm from SBI staff members, as well as the local community.
During the event, Chief General Manager Binod Kumar Mishra emphasized the significance of the three Rs, urging everyone to prioritize the reduction of single-use plastics and other harmful items that adversely impact the environment, contribute to pollution and global warming. He further highlighted the importance of the plantation drive and reiterated SBI's commitment to becoming carbon neutral by adopting clean sources of energy and actively contributing to environmental protection.
State Bank of India has taken several measures to reduce its carbon footprint and promote a green environment. The bank has embraced renewable energy sources by generating solar power, implemented rainwater harvesting, and received an IBGC (Indian Green Building Council) rating for its eco-friendly buildings. Additionally, SBI has taken the initiative to ban the use of single-use plastics within its office premises, further reinforcing its dedication to environmental preservation.
Chief General Manager Sri Binod Kumar Mishra drew inspiration from the words of renowned leaders, emphasizing their relevance to the cause of environmental protection. He quoted Mahatma Gandhi, who once said, "Earth provides enough to satisfy every man's needs, but not every man's greed." Mishra further added, 'We are the first generation to feel the impact of climate change and the last generation that can do something about it.' Let us act responsibly and take steps towards a sustainable future."
State Bank of India's commitment to environmental protection extends beyond the Reva Parisar plantation drive. The bank has planned various initiatives throughout the Bhopal Circle, encompassing Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh.