The Tezpur Environment
Society, whose current President is Poorna Kotoki, was founded in the year
1996, by the late M.G.V.K Bhanu. The aim for its formation was to promote good
environmental practices within the Tezpur community.
With a functioning office
situated within the Chitralekha Udyan, the group also takes responsibility for
managing three more gardens: Jonaki pukhuri, Ananda Agarwalla Park and
Agnigarh.
Barely twenty-five years
of its formation, the group has hundred registered members, with staff
numbering sixty on its payroll.
It is self-sustaining,
with no funds from the government or any recognised institution. The practice
is in line with its founder's principle, who feared such supports is likely to
stall progress.
As a registered
non-governmental organisation, its membership cut across all strata of society
with no restrictions. Yet, first time members are required to make a fee
payment of Rs. 500.
It operates no strict schedule regarding
meetings. However, it relied on the secretary as convener of meetings when it
was deemed fit.
Treasurer, and former
freelance journalist for the Sentinel, Mr Suresh Sirohia disclosed that the
organisation aimed at working for society with no benefit.
“We are not working
for our own benefit. We are working for the society,” he said.
The group, he observed
has been successful in this regard, with minimal challenges in the areas of
running the Chitralekha Udyan; a challenge they have been able to surmount over
the years.
The challenges according
to him have been managing spill overs, anytime the pond had seen an increase,
some other maintenance cost. Apart from the annual World Environment Day, which
tentatively falls on June 5 every year, the group has no major activity on its
calendar.
No comments:
Post a Comment