“Development and Environment should go hand in hand” — V K Paul
The Valedictory Function for the ‘Interdisciplinary Refresher Course on Environment Studies 2021’ was organized by UGC-Human Resource Development Centre, Panjab University, Chandigarh jointly with Department of Botany, Panjab University, Chandigarh (17.11.2021 -30.11.2021) for the faculty of higher education institutes (Universities, Colleges and Research institutes) from varied disciplines. The meeting was conducted by Prof. (Dr.) Promila Pathak, Course Coordinator.
Prof. (Dr.) Vinod K. Paul, Member Niti Ayog, Govt. of India, in the rank of Union Minister of State, Former, Chairman, The Board of Governors, the Medical Council of India, PU alumnus in his valedictory address, accentuated upon the prerequisite i.e., the conception of a pathway for environmental protection of the entire nation, as a necessity to make it a responsible country and lead at a Global Level. He further stressed upon the requirement of effective antimicrobial resistances in our society, elucidating the state of our medical services during the Covid Pandemic, which was delayed in the case of vaccines and asked the audience to share their knowledge if they had any on antimicrobial resistance. He emphasized that development and environment should go hand in hand.
Prof. Raj Kumar Vice Chancellor in his address, emphasized on the hybridization of various disciplines together. He requested the academicians to produce research in areas that creates employment for the country or make discoveries and inventions that generates products helpful to the society quoting the example of Covid Vaccine that helped our country during the pandemic and improved the state of misery brought about by the disease. He stated that collaboration and co-ordination is the key to success.
Prof. S. K. Tomar, Honorary Director UGC-HRDC, addressed the participants and mentioned that refresher course is mandatory for academic upliftment of the teachers. He quoted “the refresher course on environment studies has acted as a big takeaway for each participant from various disciplines”. He also stated that burning of subtle, water contamination, solid waste management etc. are the current global issues before us and it is duty of each and every one (academicians and non-academicians) to address these dangerous problems and find the remedies to eradicate the problems.
Earlier, Prof. Pathak extended her warm and gracious welcome to the dignitaries.
Further, Prof. (Dr.) Promila Pathak gave a Brief Course Report on programme, as Course Coordinator. During inaugural ceremony, Honourable Sh J. Justin Mohan, Secretary, National Biodiversity Authority, functioning under the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Government of India with its headquarters at Chennai was the Chief Guest and inaugurated the Event. In the inaugural address, he stated that even though after independence, forests have been still in India protected but they are an easy victim of anthropogenic activities. Sh Mohan further stated that the teachers are the fulcrum of education in our society and can play a major role in creating awareness among the students who are going to occupy various positions after they complete their education.Dr. Jayanti Dutta, Deputy Director, UGC-HRDC for ignited and motivated the participants during the ice breaking session. Prof. Pathak mentioned thatthe course discussed broad topics related to environment (7 keynote lectures and 20 invited lectures) and around 30 eminent resource persons including 4 VCs of various Universities [Prof. (Dr.) S. K. Mehta, The Vice Chancellor, University of Ladakh, Prof. (Dr.) Tej Partap, The Vice Chancellor, Govind Ballabh Pant University of Agriculture and Technology, Pant Nagar, Uttarakhand, Prof. (Dr.) R. K. Kohli, The Vice Chancellor, Amity University, Mohali, Prof. (Dr.) Nishtha Jaswal, The Vice Chancellor, Himachal Pradesh National Law University, Shimla],Prof. (Dr.) Adarsh Pal Vig, Chairman, Punjab Pollution Control Board, Patiala. Dr. Abdul Qayum, IFS, Deptt. Conservator of Forests, U.T. Chandigarh, Dr. A. A. Mao, Director, Govt. of India, MoEF&CC , BSI, Kolkata, Prof. (Dr.) Chandrima Shaha, President, INSA, Professor of Eminence, National Institute of Immunology, New Delhi, interacted with the participants. The course was attended by a total of 25 teacher participants from various departments of Panjab University, other Universities and Colleges across India (3 participants from Himachal Pradesh, 1 from Uttarakhand, 6 from Punjab, 1 from Haryana, 3 from Maharashtra, 11 from Chandigarh). She also elaborated upon the design, planning, organization and conduct of the two-week long Refresher Course detailing out various Resource Persons that were invited and various topics that were covered during their deliberations. In his feedback, on behalf of all the participants, Dr. Kedia conveyed gratitude to the organizers of the event for creating an extremely informative course that will help them as Teachers to spread environmental awareness amongst their students and society, especially thanking Prof. Pathak for her cooperation and the meticulous coordination during the event.
