Dharitri Youth Conclave 2023: Live updates

Bhubaneswar: The adverse impact of climate change is now being felt globally while global warming has become a major cause of concern. Given the backdrop, Dharitri, the most credible and impartial regional daily of Odisha which is turning 50 this year, is initiating steps to create awareness among the youth about this issue by hosting the third edition of ‘Dharitri Youth Conclave 2023 – Climate Change: The Path Ahead’ November 24, 2023, at the Rail Auditorium in Bhubaneswar. You can watch the live updates here and here.

The concert comes to an end and so does the conclave. This is the last of the Live Updates and with this, we sign off until next year.

Dharitri and OrissaPOST Editor Tathagata Satpathy, CEO Adyasha Satpathy felicitate musician Ricky Kej

Dharitri and OrissaPOST Editor Tathagata Satpathy, CEO Adyasha Satpathy felicitated musician Ricky Kej at the end of the concert. Kej and his team saved their very best for the last where they performed an instrumental version of the national anthem.

Musician and environment activist Ricky Kej enthrals audience

Three-time Grammy award winner Ricky Kej arrives at venue

Three-time Grammy award-winning music composer Ricky Kej reaches the venue. He is all set to perform at the Rail Auditorium in Bhubaneswar soon.

Dharitri climate grants handed over to deserving recipients

Sathee Parivar receives Dharitri Climate Grant

Odisha Paryavaran Sanrakshan Abhiyan Trust (OPSA Trust) receives Dharitri Climate Grant

Aahwan Foundation receives Dharitri Climate Grant

Jalendra Mohalik receives Dharitri Climate Grant

Chandan Panda receives Dharitri Climate Grant

Sattvic Soul Foundation receives Dharitri Youth Action Award

Group photograph of all Dharitri Climate Grant recipients

Payeng addresses the audience

Payeng shared his life story and said, “One man can save mother ‘Dharitri’ (earth). After planting a tree our work and responsibility doesn’t end. We need to take care of the tree until it is fully grown”. He also spoke about the importance of education in the betterment of the earth (Dharitri) and got a standing ovation from the audience as his speech came to an end.

Forest Man of India Jadav Payeng gets Lifetime Achievement Award

Actor Sonu Sood gives Lifetime Achievement Award 2023 to Jadav Payeng, in presence of Dharitri, OrissaPOST Editor Tathagata Satpathy, CEO Adyasha Satpathy, for his work in environmental protection. An environmental activist and forestry worker from Majuli, he is popularly known as the Forest Man of India. Over the course of several decades, he has planted and tended trees on a sandbar of the river Brahmaputra turning it into a forest reserve. The forest, called Molai forest after him, is located near Kokilamukh of Jorhat, Assam, India and encompasses an area of about 1,360 acres/ 550 hectares.

Hindi film star and youth icon Sonu Sood felicitated by Pankaj Mahanty of MGM Minerals, Dharitri, OrissaPOST Editor Tathagata Satpathy, CEO Adyasha Satpathy

“The amount of love I get from the people of Odisha is immense. I treat it as my second home. I still remember during Covid, a guy from Odisha’s Kendrapara named Prashant called me in the middle of the night to arrange a flight for 169 girls to return to Odisha from Kerala. Afterwards, we were able to arrange the first flight that took off in order to evacuate workers in India during Covid times. Hence, Odisha will have a special place in my heart. I want to do many things for this beautiful state,” said Sood. 

Young environmentalist Sneha Shahi addresses the gathering

Sneha suggested that we need to begin with our backyard first rather than looking elsewhere to fight the climate crisis. “Planting a tree is not enough. We have to take care of it throughout its life. Practical knowledge regarding a tree is very important to fight the climate crisis,” she added.

Environment activist & founder of Environmental Foundation of India (EFI) Arun Krishnamurthy addresses the conclave

“Communicating about climate change is a very tiring cause and we need more and more collaboration as needed to save climate and it’s not just one person’s work. Dharitri is a big organisation and is willing to work for climate change and help those who are working with the Dharitri grant. We should select candidates during elections who can talk about climate policy, protection of elephants, Olivia Ridley turtles etc,” said Krishnamurthy while adding that environmental issues can only be resolved by field participation. “For that to happen, initiatives like Dharitri Youth Conclave are necessary. We need collective action to tackle the challenge of climate crisis because one man or one hero cannot win it for us,” he opined.

Managing Editor of Down To Earth magazine Richard Mahapatra addresses the gathering

“In books, it is taught that India experiences six seasons. But unfortunately, today’s generation can only experience two seasons primarily. The climate crisis is very evident now. As per our opinion poll, 70 per cent of youth believe that there is a climate emergency. Around 50 per cent of youth believe that eco-anxiety is as concerning as loneliness. So, messaging is the key to addressing these challenges. Stories of climate change, proper usage of social media and changing our lifestyles become vital to shaping public opinion regarding environmental issues, said Mohapatra. 

Dharitri, OrissaPOST Editor Tathagata Satpathy addresses the gathering

Addressing the gathering, Editor Satpathy said, “If we consider a micro perspective regarding awareness on climate in Odisha, one can certainly see a significant change in common man’s attitude towards it. Efforts by numerous students, and various organisations, no matter how small they are, definitely impacted the psyche of the general public. Each year with the onset of the rainy season, dozens of people die due to lightning. However, nowadays, villagers talk about taking necessary precautions to safeguard themselves from thunderbolts and lightning. This has only been possible due to efforts by these noble environmentalists. However, my regret is all these efforts are restricted to coastal Odisha districts only. Pan Odisha awareness is still missing. Hence, Dharitri, with all its might, is trying to shed some light on the virtuous efforts of all nature-loving humans. At the end of the day, we should remember that we should keep going through the tunnel tirelessly until a small ray of light is visible”.

Guests on the dias

Welcome Address by Dharitri, OrissaPOST CEO Adyasha Satpathy

“Dharitri is soon going to turn 50. Fifty years is a long journey and it is a huge thing to survive this long in media. Dharitri has survived this long without corporate or political backing only because of our focus on unbiased journalism,” said CEO Satpathy while adding that the newspaper started the Youth Conclave to focus on environmental issues and highlight the work young Odia environmentalists are doing.  “Dharitri had started a Climate Grant last year. This year also, we have chosen some top environmentalists who are doing a good job on the ground. It is important to be environmentally conscious. It will lead to a huge change if all the kids assembled here take a step towards that,” she added.

Students perform ’Mother’s Music’ to kickstart the event

Padma Shri awardee Jadav Payeng at the event venue

Students happy to participate

Rail Auditorium filled to the brink. Unmatched energy, enthusiasm on display

Hockey India president Dilip Tirkey at the event venue

All roads lead towards Rail Auditorium, Bhubaneswar

Dharitri Youth Conclave 2023: Registrations underway

LIVE UPDATES

This year’s conclave brings together youth icons and environmentalists to discuss climate emergency and the path ahead. The expert panelists include environmentalist Sneha Shahi, managing editor of Down To Earth magazine Richard Mahapatra, conservationist and Forest Man of India Padma Shri Jadav Payeng, and environment activist & founder of Environmental Foundation of India (EFI) Arun Krishnamurthy.

This apart, actor and youth icon Sonu Sood will be the star attraction of the conclave. He will interact with audience and also join the panel discussion.

The evening of the conclave will be musical as three-time Grammy award winner and environment activist Ricky Kej will perform.

In the conclave this year too, thousands of students from different educational institutions of the state will participate in large numbers. The aim of the conclave is to create awareness among the youth and bring together climate warriors to work towards sustainable climate change solutions and action.