UPVHA

To celebrate World Sparrow Day, an event was organised “Meri Pyaari Gauraiya” (an initiative by News Movement newspaper to protect sparrows by installing birdhouses since 2017) on March 22, 2023, at Dr Shakuntala Misra National Rehabilitation University, Lucknow. The purpose of the event was to spread awareness about the little bird sparrow and to facilitate people and organisations that are working for environmental protection.

At the event, Executive Director of UPVHA Vivek Awasthi was honoured by Minister of State for Environment KP Malik, Vice President of the Traders’ Welfare Board Manish Gupta, former Mayor of Lucknow Sanyukta Bhatia and District Forest Officer of Lucknow Dr Ravi Kumar Singh for his work to protect nature and fight climate change. Under his leadership, UPVHA works to protect and preserve the environment by tackling problems like climate change and trying to protect natural spaces like wetlands.

It was a pleasure and a proud moment to receive this award, and we thank everyone for acknowledging and recognising the work towards the protection of nature. We will continue to strive to bring about change and protect our environment for everyone to have a nurturing future.

Better Environment, Better Tomorrow

The ‘Yellow Line Campaign’ which is an initiative towards a tobacco-free campus was launched at the University of Lucknow on 16 February. The event included a poster-making competition, a facilitation ceremony, and a walk that involved enthusiastic students and organisers. The event was organised by Uttar Pradesh Voluntary Health Association, Master of Public Health (Community Medicine), Department of Social Work, University of Lucknow, and National Service Scheme.

The aim of the event was to further the important goal of freeing educational institutions from the clutches of tobacco addiction. The event was graced with the presence of the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Lucknow and the State Advisor of the National Tobacco Control Programme. During the event, the guests and students set free some balloons carrying the message ‘No Tobacco’. The event symbolised the dedication and enthusiasm which is required for fighting the hold of tobacco on educational institutes.

The spirit of the day was aptly captured in the theme for the poster competition “Tobacco Addiction, Plight of Precious Life.” No Tobacco march was conducted in the University campus by the students and teachers to raise awareness about the implications of smoking on an individual’s health.

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A UPVHA team visited Hulas Khera wetland on World Wetland Day on 2 February 2023 to participate in an event aimed at raising awareness about the ecologically precious site of Hulas Khera.

Barabanki District Forest Officer Ravi Kumar Singh and Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar University Professor Venkatesh Dutta delivered a lecture on environmental and cultural significance of the wetland. The challenges facing the conservation of the wetland complex were not only heard in the lecture delivered but were also visible in the excursion of the site. 

Given these challenges, it became essential that the local communities were involved in the conservation efforts and their participation was motivated by a desire to protect their own natural heritage.

The event ended with the adoption of the wetland complex by UPVHA for the conservation of this important site which forms part of our collective natural heritage.

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A UPVHA team headed to Kotwa village near Masauli in Barabanki district to meet and learn about the experience of women members of Agroprasar Farmer Producer Company Limited. This company is the first registered fully owned women’s organisation in Barabanki district. This organisation facilitates women to acquire skills and make products (including vermicompost and chips) with the prospects of later consumption and sale of these products.

The visit was undertaken to witness the empowerment that this organisation promotes among women of the village by introducing self-sufficiency in their lives. During interaction, the visitors were informed about multiple things done by the organisation in the past two years. The common thread in this conversation was the positive impact on the women and their children because of this organisation.

Association with this organisation has greatly helped these women avail themselves of the benefits instituted for them and assert their rights. The empowerment that has been experienced by these women due to association with and functioning of this organisation is truly laudatory and illuminating for further initiatives like this.

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On the occasion of Children’s Day, a plantation programme was organised at Sewa Bhawan of the University of Lucknow. The programme was jointly organised by National Savings Scheme of the University of Lucknow and Uttar Pradesh Voluntary Health Association.

The programme was inaugurated by Prof. Alok Rai, Vice-Chancellor of the university. Vivek Awasthi, Director of UPVHA, pledged to plant 10,000 saplings throughout the state in two years. During the programme around 200 saplings of various varieties were planted at several places in the university campus by the NSS volunteers.

Three events were organised at the new picnic spot in SGPGI by UPVHA in collaboration with the forest department. Chief Guest Dr Ravi Kumar Singh (DFO) inaugurated the children’s health park and the bird walk. Mr Devankur Shah and Ms Mohsina informed the children about the different species of birds and their behaviour. Chief Guest Dr Ravi Kumar Singh (DFO) and Dr Rajnish, Deputy Director of SGPGI carried out sapling plantation in the picnic spot area. Here are some glimpses of the events.

An evaluation Team from UPSACS (Uttar Pradesh State AIDS Control Society) visited TI (Targeted Intervention) project office of UPVHA (Uttar Pradesh Voluntary Health Association) at Ambedkarnagar. The team had a good discussion with the project staff.

Sapling plantation drive held in district hospital Ambedkar Nagar under the aegis of Upvan an initiative of UPVHA in presence of Dr Om Prakash, Chief Medical Suprintendent, and Mr Vivek Awasthi, Executive Director of UPVHA. The drive was supported by the GROW Fund of EdelGive Foundation

In light of rising road accidents, today we interacted with students and teachers of S.P.Inter college Saidapur Ariya Bazar, Akbarpur Ambedkar Nagar and counselled them to follow traffic rules and taking precautions for the safety of others and their own on the road.