more-in Melting glaciers, sobbing trees and a grim picture of bleeding Mother Earth that only screamed out one thing -- climate change is as real as it gets. This was the message that scores of young minds brought out through a series of images and models at the poster design and clay moulding competition organised by The Hindu in association with Essar Steel on the occasion of World Earth Day on Saturday. The spacious venue of VUDA Children’s Arena was brimming with around 450 children who presented thought-provoking concepts on the theme ‘Environment and climate change’. The images were various manifestations of havoc effects like rise in sea level and extreme weather. According to latest reports, this situation in India alone can put the lives of millions of people at risk by endangering food and water resources and public health. Armed with paints and paintbrushes, the 450-odd school students donned the role of artists and thinkers to bring out some hard-hitting facts staring at the face of humanity due to climate change. Images of a ‘dark future’ with skylines dotted with skyscrapers and electricity poles sans any element of greens were some of the posters that were designed by the young ‘thinkers’. At the end of the three-hour session, the creativity and sensitivity of the participants floored the judges and team of dignitaries present at the programme. Former rector of Andhra University A. Prasanna Kumar, who was the chief guest on the occasion, applauded the initiative of holding such competitions to promote environmental awareness among students. He spoke about how Earth Day was first observed in 1970 in the United States as a day marked to emphasise the need to protect environment in many industrialised parts of the world. It was by the 1990s that Earth Day went global. “Worshiping nature is a part of Indian culture. Our epics emphasise the concept of worshipping trees and rivers. It is now time for the younger generation to take up the challenge to save Mother Earth,” he said. Addressing the gathering, joint chief environmental engineer of AP Pollution Control Board N.V. Bhaskar Rao said that every day should be Earth Day. Chief Executive Officer of Essar Steel S. Venkatesan highlighted the need to spread awareness on climate change. Artist Sandhya Patnaik judged the works of the participants. Others who were present on the occasion were D.S. Varma, M. Ravindranath and K.S. Satya Prasad from Essar Steel. Winners In the poster design competition, the top three winners in seniors’ category were K. Sasank (D.A.V. School, B.R. Palem), S. Vaishnavi (Little Angels) and Ansh Yadav (Delhi Public School, Anandapuram). The consolation prizes went to Jyothi Swaroop (Alwardas Public School), T. Lokesh (Kendriya Vidyalaya, 104 Area) and P. Deepsri (Delhi Public School, Anandapuram). In the juniors’ category, the first three prizes were bagged by P. Karthik (Sri Prakash, Pendurthi), Upasana Das (Sri Prakash, TPT Colony) and Ashutosh Panda (DAV, Butchirajipalem). The consolation prizes went to Kaurushi Mittal (Sanskrithi Global School), V. Ashwika Kundan (Sri Prakash, Waltair Uplands) and B. Nayonika (Sri Prakash, TPT Colony). In the clay moulding contest, the team of B. Rhea, A.V. Sanskrithi and Sumaina of Greendale International School got the first prize. The second prize was bagged by R. Jasmine and V.L. Avinash of Srishti World School, VSP and the third prize went to P. Kalyan, G. Sarath Kumar and T. Dinesh Naidu of Sarada Vidyalayam School, Nakkavanipalem. The three consolation prizes went to S. Pardhu Vinar and T. Bhuvan (Sarada Vidyalayam, N.V. Palem), G. Dileep, L. Saikumar and B. Jai Harsha (Sarada Vidyalayam, N.V. Palem) and P. Deepsri (DPS, Anandapuram).

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