The first instalments for this year’s ‘Fellowship on Climate Change Reporting, 2023-24’ sponsored by the state Directorate of Environment and Climate Change, Imphal, were distributed to 10 media recipients from the state on Monday.
The fellowships were distributed during the state-level observation of the 51st World Environment Day 2023 at the conference hall of the Directorate of Environment and Climate Change, Imphal.
This year’s observance centred on the theme, ‘Solutions to Plastic Pollution’, under the campaign #BeatPlasticPollution.
Several tree saplings were also distributed to members of the Manipur Adventure Allied Sports Institute (MAASI), Keirao.
Speaking as chief guest on the occasion, Imphal Free Press Group Editor-in-Chief Irengbam Arun pointed out that the theme for this year’s observance reflects the need for an alternative to plastics which has entered every sphere of daily life.
“Human beings have become dependent on plastic, so much so that it has triggered wide-scale psychological dependence on plastic for daily sustenance; people have been made to believe they cannot live without plastic use,” he said.
Editor of Imphal Review of Arts and Politics Pradip Phanjoubam stated that the dependence on plastic products had been encouraged by the changes in the nature of consumerism in society. There is an urgent need to change this behaviour and reform the relations of supply and demand, he added.
He further stressed the need for immediate and long-term measures to break the psychological dependence and relook at areas which can be corrected to reduce the impact of plastic pollution.
“We need to unwind our minds and rethink our strategies to tackle the onslaught of plastic pollution in society,” he said.
On the fellowship programme, he informed that the programme had been initiated to increase public consciousness with regard to environment and climate change.
“We have been trying to equip journalists with the right skills to change public perception of climate change issues under the Media Resource Centre of the directorate,” he said.
Meanwhile, deputy director of the Environment Directorate T Brajakumar emphasised the need to safeguard and protect the environment amid the crisis in the state.
He also pointed out the need for a proper management plan to control plastic pollution since plastic use could not be completely rooted from daily life. He further exhorted people of the state to keep in line with this year’s theme and strive to make Manipur an eco-friendly state.
Editor of the Sangai Express Khogen Khomdram, senior journalist Sobhapati Samom, Salam Rajesh along with members of MAASI Keirao were present at the observance cum fellowship distribution programme.
