World Water Day at SIRD

GANGTOK, 23 March: The United Nations declared 22 March as World Water Day, a day to focus public attention on critical water issues of our times. Each year, this day is observed in many different countries and much time and effort is dedicated towards sensitizing people about the burning issues related to water. This year, ‘Water and Food Security: The World is Thirsty Because We are Hungry’ was the theme chosen by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations .
Following the previous year’s success, the State Institute of Rural Development (SIRD) in collaboration with the Worldwide Fund for Nature (WWF), Gangtok, conducted a daylong programme based on this year’s theme on World Water Day. The programme, held at SIRD, Karfectar, saw participation from ten schools and was also attended by Zilla Adhakshya, East, Bimal Dawari and Zilla Adhakshya, North, Khamsoom Lepcha as the chief guest and the guest of honor respectively. Also, Present on the day were Superintendent Engineer and Divisional Engineer from RM&DD, Director (I/C), SIRD, HK Sharma, Joint Director, SIRD, Bishal Rai, various officials and staff from the institute and a team from WWF, Gangtok.
Various events such as Slogan Writing, Poster contest, Extempore, Songs, Radio play and Skits based around this year’s theme were presented by the participants. Topics ranging from Dhara Vikas Programme under MGNREGA, Village Water and Sanitation Committee (VWSC), Food Security and Climate Change were discussed through speeches and acts. A Radio Play performed by Yuksom Senior Secondary School and also an entertaining and informative skit presented by Kala Kunj, a theatrical group from Bikmat in South Sikkim won accolades from the audience.
Paljor Namgyal Senior Secondary School and Tadong Senior Secondary School also kept the audience enthralled with their self-composed songs. A quiz contest was put together by the team from WWF, in which PNGSSS was adjudged the winner.
Following are the results of various competitions held throughout the day:
A. Best Poster :
1st position: Soreng Senior Secondary School
2nd position: Mangan Senior Secondary School
3rd position: Jorethang Senior Seconday School
B. Extempore:
1st position: Jorethang Senior Secondary School
2st position: Deorali Girls Senior Secondary School
3rd position: Tie between Mangan Senior Secondary School and Deorali Girls Senior Secondary School

C. Slogan Writing:
1st position: Mangan Senior Secondary School
2st position: Jorethang Senior Secondary School
3rd position: Tie between Yuksom Senior Secondary School and Namchi Public School

D. Quiz competition:
1st position: Paljor Namgyal Girls Senior Secondary School
2st position: Uttarey Senior Secondary School
3rd position: Mangan Senior Secondary School

OVERALL CHAMPIONSHIP:
1st position: Jorethang Senior Secondary School
2st position: Mangan Senior Secondary School

Awards and certificates were also given to 29 best performing Barefoot Engineers from various BACs for their exemplary work in the field. Award for the deceased Barefoot Engineer of Mangan BAC was posthumously received by his wife.
A short promotional video on Earth Hour was presented by the team from WWF, Gangtok, urging everyone to turn off their non-essential lights for one hour to raise awareness towards the need to take action on climate change. It was informed that Earth Hour 2012 is scheduled for 31 March, 2012 from 8:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.

Similarly, World Water Day was celebrated across the state in different locations.