Former President of India A.P.J. Abdul Kalam has told the children to take up a fight against corruption from their homes itself by striving for transparency in everything they and their other family members do.
Speaking after presenting State-level ‘Paryavaran Mitra’ awards instituted by the Centre for Environment Education (CEE), a body engaged in developing programmes and resource material to increase awareness about the environment and sustainable development, Mr. Kalam said children could influence parents better than anybody else and if they sense any corrupt practice by their parents they should immediately oppose it and make the elders mend their ways for better.
Opposing corruption would be part of one of the four activities – transparency – in the happy home concept, Mr. Kalam said asking them to practice four activities in their daily life – spirituality, mother’s happiness, transparency and clean and green environment to make their homes happy.
Administering an oath with the students Mr. Kalam, who was chosen as Paryavaran Ambassador by over 70,000 schools participating in Paryavaran Mitra programme across the country, said each student should plant at least 10 saplings at their home, neighbourhood or in public park and ensure their growth for certain period. They should also work for water conservation, energy conservation, biodiversity, waste management and culture and heritage, the five themes of Paryavaran Mitra programme.
Earlier, after going through the exhibits on environmental awareness set up students Mr. Kalam said: “I could see the dynamic thought process of young minds on multi-dimensions of environment in the exhibits.”
In all, 33 schools in the State received Paryavaran Mitra awards.
Project Director of Rajiv Vidya Mission V. Usha Rani, Chief Executive Officer of Arcelor-Mittal for India and China Vijay Bhatnagar, Director of CEE Karthikeya V. Sarabhai also spoke.
