SED to have Youth, Eco Clubs social media platforms for disseminating environment related info: SED

‘Decision aimed to create general awareness for public’

Srinagar, Dec 06  : The School Education Department has decided to establish the Youth and Eco Clubs on social media platforms to disseminate the message and general awareness to the public regarding the environmental related activities.

Divisional Coordinator for Directorate of School Education Kashmir (DSEK) in a communiqué to Chief Education Officers (CEOs) has said, “I was directed to inform that establishing Youth and Eco Clubs on social media is the need of the hour and immediate steps needs to be taken in this regard.”

The news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) has learnt that the officer has said, “As such, I am directed to request the CEOs to direct the School Nodal Officers of Eco Clubs of both government and private schools to register with Jammu and Kashmir Pollution Control Committee to create Facebook and Instagram pages in the name of their respective Eco-Clubs so that general masses come to know the activities performed by them.”

“The social media pages should be timely updated with the environment related activities conducted in schools to disseminate the message and for general awareness,” reads the communiqué.

In the meantime, the Jammu and Kashmir Pollution Control Committee in a letter shot to DSEK and Director Colleges has said, “As you know, environmental activity in educational institutions in the country is promoted through the National Green Corps. Each NGC School Eco-club has 30 to 50 NGC students or NGC cadets who form the National Green Corps.”

“These NGC students participate in activities related to biodiversity conservation, water conservation, energy conservation, waste management and Land Use Planning and Resource Management. Locale specific issues are focused on by the NGC Eco-clubs,” it reads.

It also states that in order to attract public attention and support, young girls and boys from NGC take up Environmental Awareness Activities and Outreach Activities for an Environmental Cause or Environmental Intervention.

“Keeping in view the importance of establishing Youth-club and Eco-club on Social media by Higher Secondary Schools and Colleges is a need of hour to help in providing good awareness in our society,” it reads.

The communiqué further states that the changes in the society like urbanization, technological advancement and effects of mass media has led to the need that Educational Institutions should not only be nurturing the cognitive development of its students, but also for fostering their affective and psycho-motor abilities which would equip them for life.

It also reads that the Eco-clubs in Educational Institutions are a vital instrument to develop life skills, build self-esteem, develop self-confidence and resilience and counter negative emotions of stress, shame and fear. Students can excel in their skills as per their choice and abilities in the clubs to enrich their capabilities to combat the challenges in their future life—(KNO)