Gurgaon, Oct 24 ANI/Business Wire India: The Energy and Resources Institute TERI organised a 'Health Mela' as a part of their awareness programme on 'School Health and Hygiene Programme - Public Participation and Awareness component of Yamuna Action Plan II' launched in Gurgaon, Panipat and Sonepat. The programme was initiated with the support from the Public Health Department PWD, Water Supply and Sanitation Division, Government of Haryana and the Japan Bank for International Cooperation. Present on the occasion were Sushil Batra, District Education Officer, Dr S S Dalal, Chief Medical Officer, Civil Hospital, Gurgaon and Ravi Chandra, SE, PWD Water Supply and Sanitation Department. The 'Health Mela' included various cultural activities like puppet show, magic show and street play to create interest and educate the students. Quiz and painting competitions were conducted to encourage them to learn and implement various health and hygiene measures at personal level and disseminate accurate information to their families and friends. Specialists from Civil Hospital, Gurgaon facilitated free health check-ups for children in dental, ENT, eyes, general health and skin. As an institute, TERI has dedicated itself to the task of creating an informed citizenry through children, as they are important stakeholders that hold the key to the future decision-making processes. The three-year programme was initiated in more than 50 schools in these towns in October 2006 with the following objectives: -- To assess the knowledge, attitude, and practices towards health, hygiene, and sanitation in schools -- To educate students on related problems -- To build the capacity of students and school staff on related issues -- To encourage the general public to follow the example of schoolchildren in adopting better health, hygiene, and sanitation practices Expressing her views on such an initiative by the institute, Ranjana Saikia, Fellow and Area Convener, TERI said, "We as an organisation have work towards social development and in areas related to environment. Under the present programme we are focusing on health and hygiene among children through interactive methods. This mela is a unique module to pass on the message to the school children and their families about various do's and don'ts in their daily routine. This would facilitate an increase in their participation in the programme and dissemination of correct information to the their communities." The project focuses on awareness and education on various issues concerning school health and hygiene like safe drinking water facility, provision of clean, safe and separate toilets for girls and boys, adequate dustbins for solid waste segregation at source. Programme was also aimed at studying the gaps in the health services provided-regular health checkups and referral services, immunization programme. Various activities include: waste segregation at school level, implementing the 3Rs of waste management reduction, reuse, and recycling at the school level, vermicomposting, water purification, water conservation and awareness on personal hygiene and sanitation through competitions and other hands-on activities. ANI