Clean E-India Event, Hyderabad

Clean E-India teams up with GFFD Partner NGO to celebrate The International Biodiversity Week in collaboration with National Green Corps and Jawahar Bal Bhavan Hyderabad

Hyderabad, 25th May, 2014: Continuing their efforts to spread awareness on safe e-waste disposal, Attero and International Finance Corporation (IFC - a World Bank organization) under the ‘Clean E-India Initiative’ collaborated with their NGO partner GFFD to celebrate World Biodiversity Week in Hyderabad from May 22nd, 24th and May 25th, 2014.

On the occasion of International Biodiversity Week, GFFD under the guidance of Clean E-India Initiative team organized a 3-day long event wherein 800 children participated in activities themed on green education, environmental-awareness and ways of proper e-waste disposal. On the first day of the event, children took part in activities such as essay writing competition on island biodiversity and save the planet, quiz competition focused on E-waste and biodiversity and painting competition on environmental protection. The second day witnessed students displayed their creative talent through activities like painting portraying the concept of e-waste disposal, apart from taking part in fancy-dress competition and recitation.

The highlight of the 3-day event was the award ceremony on May 25, 2014 (Sunday) which was graced by Mr. W. Prasanna Kumar (Director Natioanl Green Corps and Senior Social Scientist, Pollution Control Board, Government of Andhra Pradesh) and Mr. Krishna Mohan, Special Chief GM, RBI as the Chief Guest and Ms. Sandhya Director, Jawahar Bal Bhavan as the Guest-of-Honour. Other eminent attendees included Mr. Murali Krishna, Executive Director, GFFD and Team Leader for Clean E-India Initiative Hyderabad, G. V. Ramana Reddy (Regional Secretary, Lions Club) and Mr. J. Krishna Rao – (Chief Advisor for Senior Citizens welfare Association, Kukatapally, Hyderabad).

Speaking on the occasion Prasanna Kumar said this program has been organized to create awareness and drive the point of safe ‘e’ waste disposal amongst children. As the building of ‘e’ waste deposits in our country and they not being safely recycled can pose a serious threat to our environment. He said, this is a worldwide initiative of IFC and as a pilot project is being organized through Attero & NGO partner GFFD in Hyderabad. Murali Krishna said, we are reaching out to school kids, consumers, employees through awareness programs on safe ‘e’ waste disposal in schools, apartments and Institutions in Hyderabad. Till date we have reached out to 7000 school children and are collecting ‘e’ waste at schools. In India 99% of the populace is using electronic gadgets, there is an urgent need to educate them on safe disposal of their gadgets. We have set up seven ‘e’ waste collection centers in Hyderabad and intend to educate and reach out to every citizen in the city about safe disposal in the next two years.

A prize winner Giridhar of Oxford Grammar School, said, electrical and electronical goods if not disposed safely can be dangerous for our environment, as they take thousands of years to degrade and can pollute our environment in the meantime. Another prize winner N.S.Bhargavi, 6th standard student of St. Pauls School, said chemicals present in ‘e’ waste are not biodegradable.

The prize distribution ceremony was preceded by a speech on hazards of e-waste where the children were familiarized with the toxic components found in e-waste and how they affect the environment. The session also focused on informing them about the need to dispose e-waste in an environmentally responsible manner. The promotion of e-waste recycling among students by GFFD is aimed at maintaining a healthy ecosystem. The core idea is to make the three Rs - Reduce, Reuse and Recycle a part of people’s daily lives both in terms of thought and practice.

About Guide Foundation For Development (GFFD)
GUIDE Foundation for Development is an NGO, implementing integrated development programmes in Krishna, West Godavari and Hyderabad districts and implementing education, Environment (issue on Electronic waste and Bio Medical waste), Livelihoods, and SHELTER Project for homeless residents, C.B.D.P, Health, HIV/AIDS and Disable Empowerment programmes in urban and rural areas.