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NT Bureau
Chennai, Aug 20:
 

MSSRF founder M S Swaminathan presenting the C P Ramaswami Environmental Education Centre Award to Swaraj Kumar Kanhar of Orissa. C P Art Centre director of Nanditha Krishna is also present.

        Swaraj Kumar Kanhar (38) from Orissa's Boudh district is a silent revolutionist as he has spearhead a conservation movement in rural India. He has promoted sustainable use of natural resources and has motivated the community, students since 1987.

        This unrecognised school headmaster in Ambajhari, UGME School, Boudh district, Orissa, was recently recognised for his work for environment by none other than agriculturist scientist M S Swaminathan. The headmaster was presented the seventh edition of C P Ramaswami Environmental Education Centre Award for Environmental Education (CPREEC).

        As a student, Kanhar saw forests getting diminished around his village and motivated his school mates and started a movement to save the environment. Now being an headmaster of the village school, with the strength of 99 students, he continues to do yeoman service to protect the forests, wildlife and environment by conducting awareness campaigns and seminars on prevention of forests fires.

        He has also motivated the local students and tribes to conserve nature, The eco club, which he has set up with 40 students, organises rallies, plants saplings, irrigates the forest during the summer, promotes composting and educates younger children about the environment. After school, Kanhar walks to nearby villages to persuade the residents to set up eco clubs. He says this effort to protect and expand forests and conserve bio-diversity is need of the hour, and awards for him are source of encouragement.

        Giving away the award, Swaminathan said, 'inculcating education on environment to students in early age is necessary, particularly teachers like Swaraj Kumar Kanwar of Orissa should be recognised for their work'.