The Urban Development Department, under the Swachh Bharat Mission (Urban), in collaboration with 24 Hours Inspired, launched the ENGAGE-2025 campaign at the State Panchayat Resource Centre, Deorali, today.
The initiative aims to implement Information, Education, and Communication (IEC) activities focused on waste management. The programme was organised for students from various schools and colleges.
The Minister for Urban Development and Food and Civil Supplies Departments, Mr Bhoj Raj Rai, attended the programme as the chief guest.
In his address, Mr Bhoj Raj Rai emphasised the need to initiate the ENGAGE-2025 campaign at the grassroots level to establish a strong foundation for sustainable waste management. He highlighted the importance of behavioural change in achieving long-term impact and stated that students could serve as powerful agents of change.
He urged that waste management principles—such as segregation, recycling, and sustainability—should be incorporated into school curricula to foster environmental responsibility from an early age. He encouraged all stakeholders to participate actively to ensure the success of the campaign and to work collectively towards a cleaner and greener Sikkim.
Mayor, Gangtok Municipal Corporation, Mr Nell Bahadur Chettri, stated that effective waste management required collective effort and collaboration across all sectors of society. He underscored the importance of waste segregation at source, identifying it as a crucial step towards a sustainable urban environment.
Deputy Mayor, Gangtok Municipal Corporation, Ms Tshering Palden Bhutia, emphasised the role of behavioural change in achieving effective waste management. She encouraged individuals to take responsibility for maintaining clean surroundings and to treat cleanliness as a regular habit. She also called upon teachers to educate students on hygiene and sanitation.
Commissioner-cum-Secretary, UDD, Mr Jitendra Singh Raje, remarked that waste management should become a daily practice rather than an occasional task. He noted the urgency of tackling environmental challenges, especially global warming. He urged young people to focus on building a cleaner, greener, and Swachh Sikkim.
Secretary, UDD, Ms Yogita Rai, provided a detailed overview of the IEC component of the programme. She described its role in promoting awareness, behavioural change, and community engagement. She elaborated on upcoming activities, including awareness sessions, interactive workshops, community outreach, and student-led initiatives in collaboration with 24 Hours Inspired.
Ms Yogita Rai urged participants to adopt and practise the principles of “Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle” in their daily lives, stating that small individual actions could collectively lead to significant environmental impact.
Joint Secretary, SBM (U), Ms Jerusha Shrestha, described the campaign as the beginning of a collective effort. She stressed the need to adopt sustainable habits and called on everyone to contribute to the campaign’s success.
Additional Secretary-cum-State Mission Director, SBM (U), Mr Jigmee Wangchuk Bhutia, delivered the keynote address. He gave a detailed briefing on ENGAGE-2025 and informed that 40 schools in urban areas had been identified to participate. He stated that the programme aimed to foster awareness and behavioural change in waste practices. He emphasised the importance of inclusivity and encouraged the involvement of students, teachers, and communities from diverse backgrounds. He also described the planned activities and confirmed that ENGAGE-2025 is a year-long initiative focused on sustained efforts.
In his presentation on waste management in Gangtok, Mr Dinesh Acharya from GNS Builders gave an overview of the city’s system since GNS took charge. He highlighted the machinery, infrastructure, and operational framework developed to enhance waste handling and disposal. He presented the impact of digital campaigns and social media in spreading awareness and promoting responsible practices. He also outlined key milestones achieved and shared future plans aimed at making Sikkim a zero-waste state.
In his overview of ENGAGE 2025, Mr Dewaker Basnet introduced 24 Hours Inspired as an organisation that has been collaborating with educational institutions for the past 15 years, conducting scholastic competitions in schools and colleges. He also detailed the ENGAGE 2025 IEC campaign focused on resource management within educational institutions, elaborating on its aims and objectives while highlighting the planned activities to promote effective IEC engagement.
Following the addresses, the Minister officially released the ENGAGE-2025 poster and booklet. This was followed by a discussion and interactive session with the participants.
Also present were students from different institutes.
The Vote of Thanks was proposed by OSD, SBM (U), Mr Rinzing Tamang.
Report from DIO-GANGTOK
