‘Engage 2025’ launched to promote waste management awareness in educational institutions

ISABELLA GURUNG

GANGTOK, : Organised by Swachh Bharat Mission (Urban) of the Urban Development department, the year-long ‘Engage 2025’, an IEC campaign on waste management in educational institutions was launched by Urban Development minister Bhoj Raj Rai at the State Panchayat Resource Centre, Deorali on Wednesday.

The campaign is in partnership with 24 Hours Inspired.

The Urban Development minister, in his address, urged the people to change their attitude, behavior and mindset when it comes to waste. He emphasised the need to initiate the ‘Engage 2025’ campaign at the grassroots level to establish a strong foundation for sustainable waste management. He highlighted the importance of behavioural change in achieving long-term impact and stated that students could serve as powerful agents of change.

He urged that waste management principles—such as segregation, recycling, and sustainability—should be incorporated into school curricula to foster environmental responsibility from an early age. He encouraged all stakeholders to participate actively to ensure the success of the campaign and to work collectively towards a cleaner and greener Sikkim.

The poster & booklet of ‘Engage 2025’ was also released by the dignitaries.

GMC Mayor Nell BahadurChettri briefed on the importance of waste management and segregation. He urged the students to also teach their parents and elders.

GMC Deputy Mayor TsheringPaldenBhutia urged the gathering to start waste management at home.

Urban Development commissioner-secretary Jitendra Singh Raje urged students to address the problem of waste management at the grassroots level, as students are gamechangers. Behavioral patterns should start at school, he added.

Urban Development secretary YogitaRai stated that Engage 2025 is an important initiative that will play a vital role in spreading awareness and change in society. “SBM 2.0 focuses on a cleaner and healthier society, changing the mindset of people to develop a healthy habit, and schools and colleges play an important role here. The Urban Development department is taking an initiative to conduct a year-long IEC activities focusing on solid waste management, in a fun way, including games, competitions, team activities, quizzes etc. Similar programmes will be conducted in other districts, so that they adopt the 3 R’s i.e reduce, reuse and recycle,” she said.

Additional secretary-cum-State Mission Director, SBM(U) Jigmee Wangchuk Bhutia informed that 40 schools from Mangan, Singtam, Rangpo and Gangtok have been identified for the IEC activities.

“Our main aim is to make the campaign inclusive and we are happy to collaborate with 24 Hours Inspired. We will have a calendar of activities, structured in a way that will target students from different educational institutions, including colleges. The campaign will be more interactive, with the help of workshops, quizzes, skits etc. We are also trying to address the issue of single use plastics, and also promote healthy local food, especially in areas around educational institutions. SBM (U) has also been conducting such activities in the past with various target groups,” he added.

It was informed that the winners of different competitions and activities will be presented with prizes on October 2, which will also be celebrated as SwachhataDiwas. The winners will be presented awards by the hand of the Governor and the Chief Minister.

24 HoursInspired’sDewakar Basnet presented an overview on ‘Engage 2025’. He informed that the aim is to further IEC on resource management, segregation, composting and recycling by reaching out to educational institutions.

The objectives of the campaign is to accelerate the mission of reaching out to young minds in schools and colleges under all seven ULBs, to conduct competitions, workshops and hands-on activities in these educational institutions; and to engage in the practice of sustainable waste management practices.

In her welcome address joint secretary- SBM (U) Jerusha Joy highlighted the importance of a cleaner and responsible community, and empowering young minds to be the ambassadors of the society.

The GNS Builders gave an overview on the waste management in Gangtok.