In celebration of World Environment Day 2025, the Faculty of Occupational Therapy at Meenakshi Academy of Higher Education and Research (MAHER), in collaboration with the Environmentalist Foundation of India (EFI), organized a meaningful and action-oriented environmental initiative on Thursday, 5th June 2025, from 8:00 A.M. to 11:00 A.M. at the tranquil Keezhkattalai Lake, Chennai. The event centered on this year’s global theme, “Beat Plastic Pollution,” and aimed to promote sustainability, ecological restoration, and community engagement.
The program began with an inspiring keynote address by Mr. Gyandeep, Senior Engineer at EFI, who spoke about the urgent need for sustainable lake conservation and the role of youth in driving community-led environmental efforts. His message set the tone for the day, calling on participants to become active custodians of nature.
This was followed by a welcome note from Prof. Deepa Sundareswaran, Principal, Faculty of Occupational Therapy, who encouraged students to lead by example in environmental stewardship. Her words energized the participants and emphasized the importance of integrating ecological responsibility into both professional and personal lives.
During the clean-up drive, 40 students and 2 faculty members worked collectively to remove waste from the lake area, successfully collecting and segregating 16 sacs of plastic and other pollutants. The initiative continued with the planting of 50 vibrant saplings, including species such as Hibiscus, Paarijatham, Ixora, and Bougainvilla, contributing to the lake’s green cover and biodiversity.
Further amplifying the message of sustainability, students also distributed seed balls to members of the public, encouraging community participation in reforestation and environmental care.
The program concluded with a heartfelt vote of thanks by Prof. Deepa Sundareswaran, who applauded the commitment and enthusiasm of the participants and reaffirmed the faculty’s dedication to fostering environmental consciousness and civic responsibility.
