From Our Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network

Ballari, Jul 25: Over 6,000 school children and religious as well as political leaders, government officers and teachers from all over Bellary city joined in the Clean-Green Ballari campaign at St Philomena’s PU College grounds on Saturday.

The campaign was jointly organized by all the Catholic schools of Ballari in collaboration with the Ballari District administration, Forest Department and Education Department.

The mega campaign was inspired by Pope Francis’ call to make “World Our Common Home’’ and the Narendra Modi regime’s campaign for Swachcha Bharat or Clean India.

Karnataka’s Forests and Environment Minister B Ramanath Rai inaugurated the campaign and underlined the need for promoting social amity and environmental protection.

He lauded the Ballari initiative to encourage thousands of school children to join the campaign for clean-green cities.

“The campaign should not be restricted to Ballari only. It should spread to entire Karnataka State and the country,’’ the minister said.

Bishop Henry D’Souza, Bishop of Bellary Diocese, in his welcome address drew the attention of the large audience to the call given by the Pope to protect our common home and to promote clean-green environment.

He warmly appreciate the efforts made by the schools and students by enthusiastically participating in the poster making, slogan writing, quizzing and planting of over 2,000 saplings.

The Bishop urged all religious leaders and officials to rise to the challenge of “bequeathing a cleaner, greener and healthier world to the next generation”.

The Diocese of Bellary is one among many in the country to the initiative in the background the papal document “Laudato Si” to address the environmental challenges.

The Pope also states that environmental protection is a moral value. If we do not protect and care for our environment, it is a “sin” and as humans, we are stewards of God's earth and share a responsibility to help each other, the Bishop said quoting the papal document.

Swami Sri Jaya Basava and Sri Khazi Ghouse Siddiqi appreciated the initiative and assured whole hearted cooperation in spreading the movement to all sections of the society.

Vinay Luthra, IFS, Principal Chief Conservator of Forests, Dr Ravi Ralf, Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (Wild Life), Sameer Shukla, Ballari Deputy Commissioner, Thakhat Singh Ranavath, Deputy Conservator of Forests, DDPI and many church leaders, heads of institutions and political leaders attended the programme.

Bellary Deputy Commissioner Sameer Shukla led the pledge to all the participants.