E-Paper
Keeping the mela site free of polythene
NATIONAL SERVICE Scheme (NSS) volunteers of Ewing Christian College (ECC) Unit 1, 2 and 3 are doing yeoman?s service in keeping the Magh Mela site free of polythene and making people aware of the dangers and inconveniences caused due to the use of polythene. The initiative has been taken by the volunteers as part of a 10-day NSS camp that began on January 13 with a pledge to keep the mela site free of polythene.
NATIONAL SERVICE Scheme (NSS) volunteers of Ewing Christian College (ECC) Unit 1, 2 and 3 are doing yeoman’s service in keeping the Magh Mela site free of polythene and making people aware of the dangers and inconveniences caused due to the use of polythene. The initiative has been taken by the volunteers as part of a 10-day NSS camp that began on January 13 with a pledge to keep the mela site free of polythene.
As part of their campaign, the NSS volunteers have form 15 groups of ten students each and can be seen collecting polythene thrown by the visitors as well as the kalpvasis and make people aware of the ills of the practice from 8 am to 12 pm everyday.
Dr Umesh Pratap Singh, who is supervising the campaign, said that the six teams of volunteers make round of the various ghats being frequented by the devouts thronging the Magh Mela and clean them by collecting polythene, rotting flowers as well as garbage to keep the area clean. "They take the initiative to educate the people and even stop many of the pilgrims from adding to the garbage at the ghats. They are doing a great job as many a times they even endure rebuke and anger of the devouts over the issue. One team of volunteers even go right up to the middle of the rivers on a boat to collect the garbage and the polythene floating on the water surface," he added.
The dedication and the determination of the NSS volunteers have won praise from both the district as well as the police administration who also allowed the volunteers to spread their message for a clean Mela site on the loudspeakers put up by them at the Mela site.
"Impressed with the work being done by the youngsters, the Mela In-charge has even promised to issue certificates to the volunteers for their service," Dr Singh added.
He said that the 10-day NSS camp was inaugurated by CO Arun Kumar Singh on January 13. On Makar Sankranti and Paush Purnima, when the biggest rush is seen at the bathing ghats, the volunteers were up on their feet spreading their message and doing their work right from 4 am and continued to remain active till 4 pm.
Dr Singh said that after the first half of the day, when the awareness and cleaning operation is performed, talks by intellectuals, academicians and noted social workers are organised for the volunteers between 1.30 am and 4.30 pm every day. "So far, Dr Mervin Massey, Prof Amar Singh, Arun Kumar Tripathi, Dr Vivek Nigam, Prof Ram Sevak Dubey, Prof Vimal Kumar, Dr Vandana Singh Gaur, Dr Sunil Kant Mishra and Dr L Hermit have delivered talks for the volunteers," he added.
He said that after the talks, sports and games are organised in the evening for the volunteers followed by a cultural programme.
"Volunteers will also take out a procession at the Mela site between 9 am and 12 pm during the next two days to make people further aware of the ills of using polythene," he added.
