From plastic-free pledges to village tree drives, USTM marks World Environment Day with action

Syllad | The Rising MeghalayaJune 5, 2025

With the world staring down the escalating threat of environmental degradation, the University of Science and Technology Meghalaya (USTM) chose action over rhetoric this World Environment Day 2025. Through a wide-reaching campaign of plantation drives and plastic-free pledges, USTM rallied students, faculty, and local communities to push back against pollution and commit to sustainability.

This year’s campaign, themed “Embracing a Plastic-Free Pledge for a Sustainable Environment”, aligned with the global call to end plastic pollution. From urban campuses to rural villages, USTM didn’t just talk about change—it planted it.

The Department of Botany set the tone on the eve of the observance with a green tribute titled “Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam,” led by Vice Chancellor G.D. Sharma. Saplings were planted across the campus, urging participants to dedicate trees to their mothers as symbols of care and legacy.

The School of Pharmaceutical Sciences and the NSS Cell of USTM extended the initiative to Savio Higher Secondary School in Baridua, Ri Bhoi. Their plantation drive emphasized not just greenery, but also a shift away from plastic reliance—instilling environmental responsibility in the next generation.

Taking the campaign deeper into the community, the Departments of Computer Science and Physics launched a powerful outreach program—“Green Earth, Clean Future: Sow the Seeds of Sustainability”—at Jorbil Village on June 4. Student volunteers distributed saplings, educated locals about deforestation, and urged them to join the movement by planting trees. The response from villagers was enthusiastic and engaged.

On campus, USTM held multiple awareness drives. Dr. R.K. Sharma, Principal of IA Ayurvedic Medical College, addressed a rally of students and staff, stressing the harmful impacts of pollution and the need for active participation in reforestation efforts. The Department of Chemistry also hosted an event focused on cutting plastic out of daily life, sharing sustainable practices with villagers.

From academic halls to rural grounds, from science labs to schoolyards, USTM’s World Environment Day message was clear: it’s time to ditch plastic and plant purpose. Faculty, staff, students, and citizens stood united in a shared vision—to heal the planet with roots, not refuse.

In a world suffocated by artificial waste, USTM’s campaign was a breath of fresh air—and a reminder that real change grows from the ground up.