Chandigarh,22 Apr:Punjab Organic Farming Association (POFA) in collaboration with the Department of Social Work, Centre for Emerging Areas in Social Sciences, Panjab University, Chandigarh observed World Earth Day (WED) on 22nd April 2008. WED is observed all over the globe to generate awareness about potential threats, which are being faced not only by mankind but also by all the plants and animal life. After the nuclear holocaust, global warming due to climate change is considered as biggest threat to the whole life on the earth. Inaugurating the program Dr. S.K. Kulkarni, Dean University Instructions lauded the efforts put in by the students and faculty members of Social Work Department and POFA to mark WED. He emphasized that students are a big force to reckon with and they should take initiatives and play an important role in mitigating the threats mother earth is facing above mentioned threats.
Prof. B.S. Ghuman, Chief Coordinator, Centre for Emerging Areas and Dean Faculty of Arts said that two sectors agriculture and industries are main culprits who have ruined our environment. He pointed out that a govt. policy on organic farming need to be chalked out to tackle the threats caused by excessive use of pesticides. Prof. M.K. Teja Coordinator, Department of Social Work emphasized that there is a strong need for generating awareness in among the members of civil society. The mother earth despite of having sufficient resources to cater the daily needs of the human beings, it is the indiscriminate use of resources on account of lack of ceiling of desires of the human beings that the natural resources are depleting at an alarming rate.
Major Manshaiya who is a progressive organic farmer spoke on the history of WED and the relevance of Organic Farming in the context of contemporary agriculture crisis. Mr. Krishan Singla told about aims and objectives of POFA. Amongst others who spoke were Mr. T.S. Mankoo & Dr. Komal Singh. On behalf of Department of Social Work Mr. Gaurav Gaur proposed a vote of thanks. A street play entitled “Mainu, Tainu and Sanu koi farak nahi painda” was enacted by the Theatre Group of Patiala University Students depicting the unconcerned attitude of general public toward the environmental issues which was highly appreciated by the audience. A canvas of 100 meters was put on to write slogans and views about earth care.