National Environment Day Celebrated by BMS Paryavaran Manch in Rayagada
Dr.Badal Tah,Odishabarta
Rayagada, August 28: Like yesteryears, this year also on last Friday , Paryavaran Manch (Environment Cell) of Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh (BMS) observed ‘Amrita Devi Martyrdom Day’ as National Environment Day at Maa Majhighariani temple premises in Jemadeipentha, Rayagada. On this occasion, plantation drives were conducted across all blocks of the Rayagada district. As part of this initiative, the Rayagada District BMS Environment Cell planted over 300 medicinal and fruit-bearing saplings around the Maa Majhighariani temple at Jemadeipentha, as well as along roadside areas across Jemadeipentha, Bairagi Halua, and Seshakhal panchayats.
The plantation program was attended by distinguished guests, including Chief Guest Dr. Badal Kumar Tah (Patron of RSS Saksham Odisha and State President of Odisha Working Journalists Association), Khirod Chandra Bag (IIC, Seshakhal Police Station), Gouri Shankar Sahu (Forester), and Basanta Bidika (Sarpanch, Seshakhal), Senior scribes Deepak Prusty & Ajay Rath. Veteran trade union leader and State Vice President of BMS, Jogeswar Das graced the event as the chief speaker and participated in planting saplings. The guests commended the union’s visionary initiative across the district, noting that while BMS remains at the forefront of nation-building and addressing workers’ issues, its active leadership in social and environmental causes remains truly memorable.
Chief speaker Das remarked that observing Amrita Devi Martyrdom Day as a universal environment day and raising public awareness about ecological conservation is one of the the core objectives of BMS. He emphasized that access to a clean, healthy, and pollution-free environment is a fundamental right and essential need for all living beings.
However, human greed and excessive consumerism continue to exploit nature. He added that rapid industrialization, factory emissions, vehicular pollution, and toxic chlorofluorocarbon emissions from cooling appliances contribute directly to rising global warming. Emphasizing that human survival is impossible without a balanced ecosystem, he affirmed that BMS is as dedicated to environmental welfare as it is to the protection of the working class, calling for collective action toward ecological conservation.
The event was organized under the leadership of Ganesh Kumar Sahu (District Secretary, BMS) and Durga Madhab Ghosh (District Coordinator, Paryavaran Manch), with operational management by Mohan Rao Majhi, Usharani Dash, Neha Singh, and K. Ram Babu. Forest department personnel led by Forester Gouri Sahu along with local forest guards, alongside representatives from various affiliated unions—including the Vishwakarma Mazdoor Sangh, All Odisha Anganwadi Ladies Workers Association, Odisha State Hospital Employees Union, Byabasaya Mazdoor Sangh, Odisha State ASHA Karmi Sangh, Rayagada District Safai Mazdoor Sangh, and JK Paper Mazdoor Sangh—actively participated in the drive.
