World Consumer Rights Day
To commemorate the World Consumer Rights Day, CUTS CHD, jointly with District Supply Office, Chittorgarh organised a seminar on ‘Empowerment of Consumers – Assert Rights, Pursue Remedies’ at Chittorgarh, on March 15, 2007. P L Agarwal, the District Collector, Chittorgarh, while stressing the need for empowerment of poor and incapable consumers, informed the participants about the consumer empowerment programme being implemented by the District Supply Office.
P N Khandelwal, District and Session Judge said that awareness among consumers is a proof of the fact that development is going on in the country. He pointed out that even educated consumer, due to lack of awareness and shame, hesitate in obtaining the bill from shopkeepers, thus not making proper use of their rights. Because of this indifferent approach, not only the consumer suffers but also the government has to suffer the loss. There is, therefore, need for an initiative in the area of consumer awareness. He said that consumers should protect their own rights, and then only a change in the society is possible.
Among the 152 participants present on the occasion were P L Agarwal, the District Collector, Chittorgarh; P N Khandelwal, District and Session Judge; Rajeshwari Meena, Pradhan, Panchayat Samiti; Vimla Sethia, State Consumer Protection Commission; BL Sisodia and Rajneesh Pitalia, G P Bohra, the District Supply Officer, Chittorgarh; social activists, government officials, representatives from NGOs, SHGs.
World Women Day
On the occasion of the World Women day, a district-level workshop was organised at CUTS CHD, on March 08, 2007. The theme of the workshop was ‘Collective Initiative for the Achievement of Millennium Development Goals’ and was organised in partnership with DNGOs Hindustan Zinc, Aditya Jan Sewa Trust, Rajasthan Patrika, Dainik Bhaskar and Dainik Navjyoti. Among the special dignitaries were B L Paliwal, retired Additional District Collector and Consultant, Rural Non-farm Development Agency (RUDA); G S Ranawat, Director, Hindustan Zinc Smelter; Rajeshwari Meena, Pradhan Panchayat Samiti; and Mahendra Kunwar, Sarpanch, Gram Panchayat. Participants in the workshop expressed concern over the violence against women and felt the need for girl education and women to be self-reliant.
On the occasion, experiences of the efforts of NGOs towards women empowerment under the women SHGs programme were shared. Social activists, government officials, representatives from NGOs and SHGs were among the 300 participants.
Seminar
A seminar was organised on the theme, ‘Solid Waste Material’ at the premises of the Centre, on March 13, 2007. Participants present in the seminar included representatives of District NGOs (DNGOs) of Chittorgarh and three students from a local school. Ratan Lal Khateek, as a resource person in the seminar, elucidated the composition of Vermi Compost and better means of solid waste management. He suggested solution for better management of open garbages and kitchen waste materials through Vermi Compost pit.
Dinesh Joshi, Anubhooti Seera Sansthan, stated that apart from the available resources, a person could easily carry on better management of waste materials. While providing information about environmental pollution caused by plastic bags, he stated that plastic bags are a big issue. He said that they are not properly utilised and also polluting the environment. Today, these plastic bags are mixed with Damar (pitch) and are used in the construction of roads, which is a useful initiative towards the environmental protection. Mohanlal Namdhar, Treasurer, DNGOs while putting the marble slurry in the category of solid waste material stressed the need for its better management and suggested construction of bricks from it.
Essay Competition
An essay competition on the theme, ‘Solid Waste Material’ was organised at the Centre on the same day, in which 35 students of Chitragupt School participated. Raichal Rajan, Maya Gurjar and Komal Dhobhi got first, second and third position respectively. They were given prizes by Rajeshwari Meena, Pradhan, Panchayat Samiti; Vimla Sethia, Member of State Consumer Protection Commission; and G P Bohra, District Supply Officer Chittorgarh
Awareness Rally
An Awareness rally was organised jointly by CUTS CHD and Chitragupt Middle School, on March 13, 2007. The rally started from the campus of CUTS CHD and passed through Purani Aabadi Senti, Madhuban Colony, Math Marg and then returned back to the Centre. In the rally, wooden plates with slogans were used to generate awareness among the people about soild waste material management. About 35 students of Chitragupt School participated in the rally.
National Environmental Awareness Campaign
CUTS International with the support of Ministry of Environment and Forests, Government of India organised various awareness programmes like rally, seminar and essay competition under the National Environmental Awareness Campaign (NEAC) on the theme: ‘Solid Waste Material Management’. Vermi Compost pit was also prepared as a part of the physical work under the programme.