Didihat, Pithoragarh. On Tuesday, 22 Dec 2015, the busy lanes of hilly city of Didihat reverberated with slogans of climate change awareness. DJJS Sanrakshan organised a special climate change awareness walk under the banner of its ongoing Climate Saksharta campaign to steer these Himalayan communities towards climate change adaptation. Over 500 students representing 10 leading schools of city namely, Govt. Inter College (GIC), Girls Govt. Inter College (GGIC), Malaynath Public School, Veda Public School, Surya Montesarri Inter College, Gloria High School, Primary School Didihat, Vidya Sagar Public School, Vivekanand Vidya Mandir, Shikhar High School walked through the streets holding climate change awareness posters and banners and calling upon public action for dealing with the threat.
Eminent figures of the city namely Shri Kavindra Shahi, Nagar Palika Adhyaksh; Shri R.S. Chauhan, Adivakta, Shri D.S. Pangti, Poorv Pracharya, Shri P.C. Pant, Tehsheeldar, Shri Lalit Bhandari, Social Activist; Shri Himanshu Shribastab, Kandha Shiksha Adhikari; Shri R.P. Mourya, Principal (GIC) joined the walk to mark their support towards the urgent need of climate change adaptation in Himalayas.
WWF report states that Himalayas is one of the world's most sensitive hotspots to global climate change, with impacts manifesting at a particularly rapid rate. The situation is predicted to intensify in coming years, with dire and far-reaching impacts on food, water and energy security, as well as biodiversity and species loss. Experts indicate that climate change adaptation stands essential for climate proofing of resident communities. However, lack of awareness on the subject comes as the biggest roadblock on the path of climate change adaptation.
DJJS Sanrakshan led Climate Saksharta campaign is an initiative in the direction of building climate change awareness among local actors. His holiness Shri Ashutosh Maharaj Ji, founder and head of Divya Jyoti Jagrati Sansthan and a true conservationist says, “Knowledge leads to re-building of the lasting human- nature bond, re- establishment of which automatically ensures conservation of nature.” The walk was intended to mobilize the local actors on the subject and bring them on board with the ongoing campaign.
At the close of the rally ascetic disciple of His Holiness Ashutosh Maharaj ji addressed the students and other locals regarding dire need of each one understanding their important responsibility towards saving their home Himalayas from the onslaught of climate change. She motivated the students to take a lead in this and steer Didihat towards setting an example in climate change adaptation.
All inspired by the initiative several local people came forward to understand how they could participate in the campaign. The campaign plans to undertake a rigorous school awareness and community awareness program to disseminate basic knowledge on climate change thereby equipping locals to move towards climate change adaptation.
