SSS Hosts Hon’ble Deputy Speaker Shri Bhabani Shankar Bhoi at Kansbahal for World Environment Day 2025

On the occasion of World Environment Day, celebrated globally on 5th June 2025, Samajik Seva Sadan (SSS) hosted a meaningful community event at Kansbahal village in Bargaon block, Sundargarh. The event was graced by Honourable Deputy Speaker Shri Bhabani Shankar Bhoi as the Chief Guest, along with other dignitaries including Chief District

Chief Guest Sri Bhabani Sankar Bhoi being honoured with a plant

Agriculture Officer Mr. Lal Bihari Mallick, Ms. Laxmi Priya Pradhan, Senior Scientist from Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK), Sundargarh, and Ms. Ritu Rani Kalo, Assistant Agriculture Officer, Bargaon Block, MLA Representative Talsara Mr. Amir Naik, Sarpanch Barangakachhar Mr. Rabi Ratna Saa .The presence of local socio-political workers, activists, and community members added value to the occasion. 

The SSS team, led by its Founder and Secretary, Ms. Veronica Dung Dung, extended a warm traditional welcome to the dignitaries. The Deputy Speaker was received at the road with a ceremonial hand-washing ritual and escorted to the stage by youth and SHG women performing cultural dances. A welcome song, presented by young girls of the village, added a festive spirit. As a gesture of respect, Ms. Veronica presented a traditional cotton towel and flower bouquet to the Chief Guest, symbolizing mutual appreciation and cultural pride.

Welcoming the chief guest with a traditional dance

In his address, Shri Bhabani Shankar Bhoi echoed the Prime Minister’s message: “Planting a tree in the name of one’s mother”—emphasizing tree plantation as a key climate action strategy. He urged citizens to reflect on their daily habits, such as excessive plastic usage, that contribute to environmental degradation. Stressing the importance of sustainable agriculture, he highlighted government initiatives like Shree Anna Abhiyaan, which promotes the cultivation of millets and traditional grains that are both climate-resilient and nutritionally rich. He noted the rising market value of once-neglected foods like Dhenki Kuta rice, traditionally consumed by the poor but now in demand in urban markets—indicating opportunities for rural income enhancement.

Dignitaries with award-winning farmers

Other dignitaries shared similar concerns and emphasized that the protection of forests, biodiversity, and natural ecosystems lies in the hands of local communities. Mr. Lal Bihari Mallick, the Chief District Agriculture Officer, spoke passionately about the urgent threats posed by climate change—melting glaciers, rising sea levels, and extreme weather patterns. He advocated for afforestation, not only as a carbon sequestration strategy but also as a way to enhance groundwater recharge. He stressed that merely digging more borewells is not a sustainable solution unless it is paired with efforts like planting trees that improve soil structure and water retention.

Plantation drive led by Hon’ble Deputy Speaker Sri Bhabani Sankar Bhoi

The event also featured a symbolic tree plantation drive, with each dignitary planting a sapling along the roadside to mark the significance of World Environment Day. This activity reinforced the collective resolve toward environmental restoration. The program also highlighted SSS’s ongoing efforts in this direction. Last year, nearly 400 families received 7–9 saplings each, mainly nutritional fruit-bearing trees, which they were encouraged to plant and care for in their backyards. Building on that success, SSS plans to initiate a community-driven social forestry campaign this year, focusing on planting and protecting medicinal plants, with community members taking collective responsibility for their care.

Community gathering on World Environment Day celebration

In essence, the program served as both a celebration and a clarion call for environmental action. It underscored the power of grassroots participation, the importance of blending tradition with innovation, and the critical role institutions like SSS play in mobilizing communities to protect and nurture their environment for generations to come.