Poster and Envirothon competition marks Ozone Layer Protection Day

 

 

On the occasion of International Ozone Layer Protection Day, the Chhattisgarh Environment Conservation Board organised a poster and Envirothon competition at the New Circuit House. Finance, Commercial Taxes, Housing & Environment, and Planning & Statistics Minister O P Choudhary was the chief guest. Addressing the gathering, Minister Choudhary said that protecting the ozone layer is not only an environmental necessity but also vital for the health and future of coming generations. “Environment belongs equally to all — rich, poor, learned, or ordinary — and its protection is everyone’s responsibility,” he emphasised. He cited Indian traditions as examples of sustainable living, mentioning practices such as Peepal worship, Amla Navami, and Govardhan Puja, which embody environmental preservation.

 

Contrasting this with the Western development model, which relies on reckless exploitation of resources, he underlined the urgent need for sustainable development to tackle climate change challenges. Choudhary urged collective efforts to combat climate change, calling ozone protection a pledge to save life itself. He appealed to people to avoid using ozone-depleting substances and adopt eco-conscious habits for a greener future. The minister highlighted upcoming institutions that will boost higher education in the state. Campuses of the National Forensic Sciences University (NFSU) and the National Institute of Fashion Technology (NIFT) are being established in Naya Raipur, alongside a permanent center of the National Institute of Electronics & Information Technology (NIELIT). These, he said, will open new avenues of technical, vocational, and research-oriented education for local students. Choudhary also mentioned the Azim Premji Scholarship, which will provide Rs 30,000 annually to needy students passing Class 10-12 from government schools. Nearly 550 students participated in the poster competition on ‘Causes and Solutions of Climate Change and Ozone Layer Protection–Montreal Protocol’, while 350 students competed in the Envirothon on the theme ‘Waste to Wealth’. Winners included Neha Kosle (B P Pujari School, Raipur), Rohit Kumar Sahu (Nagarjun Science College, Raipur), and Anmol Patle (Govt. Divyang College, Mana) in the poster contest; and Swarnim Kunj (Rajkumar College), Anushka Ekka (IIIT Naya Raipur), and Nikhil Kaser (Guru Ghasidas University) in the Envirothon. The minister announced that prize money will be doubled this year and tripled next year. He also administered an oath to students pledging their commitment to ozone protection. The event was attended by students, parents, teachers, and officials, with Member Secretary of the Environment Board Rajeev Agsimani also present.