FOLLOWING IS MY POST TO THE CONTEST INVITING PEOPLE TO CONTRIBUTE THEIR IDEAS ABOUT ENVIRONMENTAL CONSERVATION...
First of all, I congratulate Times of India and Garnier on the success of this movement. I also appreciate their effort and concern for the conservation of the environment.
I have not one but many ideas which I'd like to share. They are as follows:
1. Introduction Of Mandatory Bus Service in government schools [and if possible colleges too]. This will minimize air pollution to a great extent. The reason behind this suggestion is that students unnecessarily use two wheelers and four wheelers to reach their schools. This can be avoided by making bus service compulsory for students. This step can ensure the reduction in exorbitant air pollution levels.
2. An act/law should be passed in the parliament which directs the residents to plant a particular number of trees in their house or apartment. Number of trees to be planted can depend upon the size of the holdings. This law should also cover commercial buildings.
Holdings of extremely small sizes can be excluded.
3. School and college students should be invited to volunteer in campaigns concerned with the preservation of historical monuments. I am referring to the policy adopted by the government for proper functioning of the Commonwealth Games here in new Delhi in 2010.
Students, in return, can be given certificates and souvenirs which should be given a special consideration during admissions into schools, colleges and universities all over. I do not recommend introduction of any sort of a quota or reservation, just a special preference.
4. This is the most important one. Uniforms of government schools should be changed to shirts or T-shirts bearing eco-friendly slogans for at least one day in a week. Students should be asked to wear these T-shirts as their uniform once a week. Just like PT or games dresses on staturdays.
Slogans can be-
SWITCH OFF YOUR ENGINE AT RED LIGHT PLEASE.
…In the front and,
DID YOU SWITCH OFF THE FAN AND LIGHT TODAY?
…In the back, and similar slogans can create awareness about energy saving techniques and help in making energy conservation a habit. Because when people will read these slogans everyday on the t-shirts of students, they’ll get into the habit of saving energy.
5. Organized trips should be planned for school and college students. The motive of these trips being, introducing students with the importance of water by creating an artificial shortage of water in their place of dwelling. Students should be provided with a limited quantity of water everyday (less than the average requirement I’d recommend) and should be asked to live through the day. Students will see how important water is when they’ll come face to face with water shortage. Everyone receives an apt amount of water supply in most urban areas; hence this tactic should be applied to urban areas mostly. Students will feel helpless when met with excessive water shortage. This will help in inculcating a psychological fear of wasting water in their minds. The attitude towards wastage of water will change which will in turn result in the conservation of water in urban areas too.
6. NRIs (or non resident Indians) should be persuaded and encouraged to contribute towards the conservation of historical monuments and structures.
But no collection of funds should take place as this will only breed more and more corruption. Also, no political element should be involved in these projects and they should be headed by the NRIs themselves or their family members or friends. This will ensure the use of the best possible physical-mechanical labor and materials.
In return the NRIs should be honored by the government of India. They should be given titles and honored in public ceremonies.
If I get time I’ll try to post more such ideas. They are difficult to implement (few of them) but if proper implementation of these ideas is achieved, they’ll contribute remarkably in the conservation of energy.
Thank You
Rohit Joshi,
New Delhi, M: 09350059479
