In a bid to generate and enhance awareness towards protection of environment, especially to disseminate information among people about the evil effect of use of polythene, the Forest Department has roped in the students of schools and colleges through their Eco Clubs.
About 300 Eco Clubs, having about50 members in different schools which are operational across the district in different blocks have become medium of spreading of awareness among people. The mass awareness programme while is undertaken under the guidance of the Forest Department in coordination with the School and Mass Education Department, each club has been given Rs 1,700. Further for organising a block-level programme, Rs 10,000 is given to each block, said an official of the Forest Department.
In the awareness programme, the clubs are organizing various competitions, including writing, debate and drawing etc in the school level. The student groups are spreading messages through various means, including leaflets, banners and street. And a block level programme is also organized as well. Out of 12 blocks, while nine have already been completed, the rest three would be completed by December 23.
This time the campaign is against polythene, said action plan divisional forest officer Bijay Kumar Panda, adding further Rs 2,500 will be given to each club for various other activities as annual grant.
Coordinator and master trainer of the programme Debendra Mohanty is organizing all club and block level activities, he said.