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Jadav Payeng honoured with USTM Social Work Excellence Award
9th Mile, Ri
Bhoi, Tuesday, 20 March 2018: As the world celebrates World Social Work Day
on 20 March this year, the University of Science & Technology, Meghalaya today
honoured environmental activist Padma Shri Jadav Payeng with “USTM Social Work
Excellence Award 2018”. Organised by the Department of Social Work of USTM, the
award was handed over by veteran journalist, writer and activist Padma Shri
Patricia Mukhim.
After receiving the Award, Jadav Payeng, also known as the “Forest Man of India”
addressed a packed NK Choudhury Auditorium at USTM and said, “The forest I have
built in Kokilabari at Jorhat is above religion and politics. I find my God in
nature. I do not want anything from the country, but I know that I have to work
for my country. In fact the whole world is my home. I like to go anywhere in the
globe if I have to plant trees.” Expressing his happiness to address students in
an educational institution, Payeng said that Environment Science should be
included from Lower Primary schools and each student should be taught to plant a
tree when he or she takes admission for the first time in school. Every five
years, that student should plant another tree and look after it, he added.
Patricia Mukhim, the Chief Guest of the award function, said that social work
requires a special commitment. Work starts at the family and community level.
One of the key learning of social work is how to b4ring people above the poverty
line. Their task is to advocate for those who are voiceless, she said. She
emphasized on the significance of the World Social Work Day and said that it is
a day in the year that social workers worldwide stand together to celebrate the
achievements of the profession and take the theme message into their
communities, workplaces and to their governments to raise awareness of the
social work contributions and need for further action. Payeng’s mission began in
1979 when he was just 14 with planting of 50 bamboo trees in order to prevent
death of snakes as many snakes died that year due to heat and the absence of
trees. Over the years, the once barren sandbar has turned into a dense forest
home to many wild animals.
Speaking on the occasion, Mahbubul Hoque, Chancellor of USTM said that the
university is determined to take care of the environment and greenery. “We are
extremely happy to have Jadav Payeng, the forest man of India among us who has
shown the world how determination, dedication and persistent hard work of a
single person can convert a barren land into a forest that now houses Bengal
tigers, Indian rhinoceros, and over 100 deer and rabbits”.
Earlier, the welcome address was delivered by Dr. Prateeti Barman, Head,
Department of Social Work. The programme ended with the vote of thanks delivered
by Dr. R.K. Sharma, Vice Chancellor, USTM. The World Social Work Day is
celebrated each year on the third Tuesday of March. This year’s celebration
highlights on ‘Promoting Community and Environmental Sustainability’, which
relates to the third pillar of the Global Agenda for Social Work and Social
Development. Every year, USTM celebrates it by giving the Social Work Excellence
Award to individuals who have immensely contributed to the society.
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