Latest news with #SriVenkateswaraCollege
Hindustan Times
03-07-2025
- General
- Hindustan Times
How young Delhiites are fighting plastic, bagging the right habit
Whether it's getting food delivered at your doorstep or carrying home groceries from the local market, plastic bags are a convenience that have continued to stay even after several attempts to make our lives plastic free. On International Plastic Bag Free Day, today, beating plastic pollution one bag at a time are some youngsters from Delhi-NCR. Overcoming challenges of growing plastic footprint on the environmental while coming up with sustainable options, here's how they are making continuous efforts to keep eco-friendly initiatives strong. Some environmentally-conscious residents of Delhi-NCR are stepping up to tackle the plastic problem at hand. From college campuses to community corners, a growing number of environmentally conscious souls are stepping up to tackle the plastic problem, not just through awareness drives but through real, hands-on action. At Delhi University(DU)'s Sri Venkateswara College, the Enactus team is targeting one of the most plastic-heavy industries: food. 'Through Project Fankaari, we're working to eliminate plastic bags used in food packaging and delivery,' shares Ujjwal Jain, a member, adding, 'We've teamed up with traditional potters to design food-grade terracotta packaging that's not only biodegradable but preserves food quality. These alternatives are about 95% recyclable. Apart from bags, eco-friendly salad and dip bowls, their product line is growing and so is their impact. As students, we believe we have the energy and creativity to imagine new ideas and innovative solutions,' says Ujjwal. 'And being part of the Enactus, we also feel a responsibility to lead by example and push our friends and other students on campus toward more conscious consumption.' Students of Sri Venkateswara College are working towards recycling plastic bags, used in food packaging, with the help of local potters. The sense of purpose is echoed by young volunteers who are busy making Eco Brick on educational campuses across NCR. 'Over the years, people have tried many ways to cut down on plastic bag use — charging for them, encouraging cloth bags — but most of those efforts fade quickly,' says Madhuri Varshney from a Dwarka-based NGO, Rise Foundation, adding, 'What we've realised is that real change happens when you make the solution interactive and fun. So we conduct drives at several colleges across Delhi University as well as schools. After each awareness session, the youngsters are given a task to collect plastic waste from their surroundings and tightly stuff plastic bottles with plastic bags and other often discarded plastics. These bottles are then used to make Eco Bricks. It's an activity that transforms waste into something useful. More importantly, it makes students more mindful of the plastic they use every day. When they submit these eco bricks to us, we use these to build benches and stools for communities, parks, schools, etc.' The Eco Bricks made out of plastic waste are being used to build benches and stools for community spaces. Meanwhile, Recycle Mela has been regularly popping up at College of Vocational Studies (CVS) and the Faculty of Law in DU. 'We also offer a chance to the city locals at various community centres to drop off plastic bags and single-use plastic items in exchange for eco-friendly products,' informs Ruby Makhija, from Why Waste Wednesday Foundation, which organises this mela to make plastic recycling more accessible and rewarding. She adds, 'Plastic bags are a big threat, not just because they clog landfills, but because animals chew on them and marine life ingests them. Through Recycle Mela, we make disposal easy and rewarding. We visit campuses where students hand in their plastic waste, and in return, we give them notebooks made from recycled paper, reusable cloth bags, even copier paper and more. Such a reward-based exchange not only motivates participation but also shows the hidden value of what one usually throw away. Our drive has now expanded to schools, corporate offices, and local communities, with support from MCD and NDMC. We want to make recycling feel accessible and cool, especially for the youth. Plus we update about upcoming mela on our social media, so anyone can find us and join in the initiative.' For more, follow @
Hindustan Times
15-05-2025
- General
- Hindustan Times
International Day of Families: Celebrating the quiet pillars of valour and strength behind the Indian Armed Forces
The strength of the armed forces lies not just in those who wear the uniform, but in the unwavering support of their families — the ones who endure every deployment, distance and homecoming with silent resilience. This International Day of Families, students from across Delhi-NCR, raised in army households, reflect on how courage, discipline and sacrifice shaped their lives. Khushboo Jamwal, a first-year student at IGDTUW, is the daughter of a sepoy in the Indian Army. For her, supporting her father is a calling in itself. 'Papa has always been the embodiment of duty — to the nation and to us. Whether in uniform or at home, his discipline and quiet strength became the foundation of our family,' she says, adding, 'We may not serve on the frontlines, but we've always felt part of his journey. It's a proud feeling, knowing we're the strength behind someone who strengthens the nation.' Vidushi Sharma, a second-year student at Sri Venkateswara College, says her brother, a Lieutenant in the Indian Army, is both her hero and her anchor. 'He's like a second mother to me. His mantra, 'rona band karo, aur karm karo,' keeps me going. I've seen his journey up close — from preparing for the forces to now serving — and it's shaped who I am,' she says, adding,'When bhaiya is away, especially during tense times, there's worry. But he draws strength from us — from long calls and shared stories.' Vardaan Vardhan and Krishna, sons of senior BSF officers, grew up with patriotism running through their veins. During recent cross-border tensions, both their fathers were deployed at critical points. 'Papa always sounded calm and fearless,' says Vardaan, a fourth-year law student at USLLS, adding, 'The tougher part was watching my mother stay strong while he was at the border. But we knew — this is what being a soldier's family means.' Krishna, a final-year BBA student at GGSIPU, recalls the pride in being part of a legacy. 'My dad's been serving for 30 years. I had a magical childhood — growing up near camps, snacking at the canteen, riding olive green trucks to school. That world stays with you forever. Even after dad retires, another kid like me will grow up in it. That's something truly special.'
Time of India
21-04-2025
- Health
- Time of India
A rare Brachystelma blooms at Telangana Botanical Garden
1 2 Hyderabad: Brachystelma bilobatum , a rare plant from the Asclepiadaceae family , bloomed at the Telangana Botanical Garden housed in Dr BRR Govt Degree & PG College, Jadcherla, Mahabubnagar district. This marks the first recorded bloom of the species outside its native habitat. The plant was first discovered in 2020 in the Nallamala forests by Dr B Sadasivaiah of Dr BRR Govt Degree College and Dr K Prasad of Sri Venkateswara College, New Delhi. Until now, it was documented in only two known localities in that forest region. Brachystelma bilobatum is a hysteranthous plant, meaning it produces flowers before leaves. It grows up to 25cm tall with a slender stem, bearing a few sessile leaves reaching 7cm. The plant's round tuber, edible and consumed by both tribal communities and wild animals, is also noted for its traditional medicinal use. Flowering typically occurs from April to June. The flowers emerge in pairs at nodes, are about 1cm long, deep maroon to nearly black, and are covered with white hairs. The staminal corona's deeply bilobed structure gives the species its name. Dr G Sukanya, principal of the host institution, emphasised the role of the Telangana Botanical Garden in preserving rare and endemic species. She noted that such blooms offer practical exposure to botany students and researchers. While tubers of other Brachystelma species are traditionally used to treat various ailments, Dr Sadasivaiah underlined that the medicinal potential of the plant remains under-researched and requires further scientific validation.
