World Environment Day in Jaipur

June 5, 2014: I arrived in Kolkata on Tuesday June 3rd in the evening after almost a 10-day hectic trip to Jaipur and Delhi. I also made a daylong detour to Sujangarh on Monday.

Today is the World Environment Day (WED). In fact, it is the 41st WED since United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) launched it in 1973 to raise global awareness for taking positive action to protect nature and planet Earth. This year's theme is “Small islands and Climate Change” and the slogan for the year is “Raise Your Voice Not the Sea Level”.

Last year India started a World Environment Day anthem by poet-diplomat Abhay K which is in all the eight official languages of UN namely Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Hindi, Nepali, Russian and Spanish.

I, being associated with World Federation of United Nations Association (WFUNA) – UN associate agency, decided to hold an environment related event and awareness programme on behalf of Prabha Khaitan Foundation in association with ITC Rajputana in Jaipur to observe the World Environment Day week. I have been observing the WED each year in different cities of the world.

With Padmashri Shakir Ali(left) of Rajasthan Forum, Anamika Gupta and Sunil Gupta, ITC Rajputana, Arjun Prajapati (sitting), Alka Batra (incoming Chairperson, FICCIFlo) and Aparna Kuchal of FICCI Flo

We requested about 25 social, cultural and performing arts organizations to come with three representatives to plant a tree / sapling together. 

Although it was a short notice, the representatives of 22 different NGOs, socio-cultural and commercial organisations turned up with lot of enthusiam and zeal. Among them were Jaipur Virasat Foundation, FICCI FLO, INTACH, Siyahi, Raghu Sinha Mala Mathur Memorial Trust, Rang Mastaney, People's Media Theatre, Darshak, Jaipur Citizen's Forum, Help in Surfing, Roop Rang Kala Sanskar, FICCI, RATO, HARA, Arohini , Shruti Mondal and others.

ITC Rajputana did an excellent job, especially the new House Keeping Manager, Ms Hardeep Kaur, in making the event a success. Even though the event was at 11 am and the temperature soared to 42°C, the senior representatives of all the organizations turned up in full strength.

I have a hectic week ahead of me at the office as I am once again gearing up for a month long travel abroad.

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