Honours at the World Cleanliness Convention

On 13th December 2016, Vanshita Sethi and Vismay Chadha (IX), accompanied by their teachers Ms. Sandhya Batheja and Ms. Yashika Chhabra attended the valedictory function of the World Cleanliness Convention at the India International Centre. The convention was held for the first time in Delhi on 12th and 13th December 2016 in the auditorium of the India International Centre. The theme was 'Clean up the Earth (CUTE). This was stated by the Convenor of the Convention and the Director of the National Institute of Cleanliness Education and Research (NICER), Dr. Utkarsh Sharma. He added that more than 51 universities from India have joined the G-51 (Group of 51 Universities for Promoting Cleanliness, Hygiene and Sanitation Education (CHASE) all over the country).

The main sponsor of the Convention was Jamia Hamdard, the renowned university. Other universities who had co-sponsored the convention included MIT University, Shri Guru Gobind Singh University, Gujarat University of Transplantation Sciences, Eternal University, B.S. Abdur Rahman University, Adesh University, ICFAI University, L.N. Mithila University, Atal Bihari Vajpayee Hindi University, Vinoba Bhave University, Lucknow University, Periyar University, Manipal University and Central Institute of Fisheries Education. Dignitaries of more than 25 countries represented by their ambassadors, high commissioners and other diplomats participated in the event. Of 860 universities from India, only 20 vice chancellors were chosen to be felicitated for keeping their campuses clean and green. Of the 3500 Schools of the NCR (National Capital Region), only 60 schools were selected for their contribution to promoting cleanliness education. Our school was amongst them.

Dr. Sharma further added that the Confederation of Indian Universities (CIU) under the presidentship of Chancellor, Dr. Priya Ranjan Trivedi has allowed NICER to collaborate with CIU to bring out more encyclopaedias relating to Ecology, Environment, Cleaning, Greening, Sanitation, Municipal Services and Garbage Management.

The convention discussed the new paradigm for creating environment friendly and sustainable jobs through the Swachchh Bharat and Swachchh Rajya Abhiyan envisaged by Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi.

A separate discussion to articulate spirituality and cleanliness was held in the valedictory session where a brain storming was conducted by Chancellor, Dr. P R Trivedi on the subject 'Cleanliness is Godliness'.

It was a moment of great pride when we received our award on behalf of the students and teachers of our School. Round the year activities like campus cleaning, recycling of paper and water, spot- fixes and rain water harvesting helped us receive this prestigious award.

The moment was an unforgettable experience and has energised us to work with double fervour next year to help promote the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan and make our country a beautiful place to live in.

Ms. Sandhya Batheja.