Sabyasachi, Archita and Debasish release the music CD of their film Mun Eka Tumara on Wednesday. Picture by Ashwinee Pati

Bhubaneswar, June 5: People from various walks of life came together to spread the go-green message on the occasion of World Environment Day in the city today.

Keeping in sync with the United Nation’s theme for the World Environment Day this year, “Think. Eat. Save — Reduce Your Food print”, the state forest and environment department organised a function to create awareness regarding wastage of food.

On the occasion, forest and environment minister Bijayshree Routray said wastage of food had become a global concern. “This has led to starvation in many places, so special attention is the need of the hour to prevent wastage of food,” he said.

During a function at Jayadev Bhavan, 244 organisations were honoured with the title “Prakruti Mitra”. Similarly, 229 individuals were conferred the title “Prakruti Bandhu” for their contribution towards a greener environment.

The department also distributed plant saplings and awarded the student winners of the eco-model exhibition.

Upcoming film Mun Eka Tumara chose the opportune day to not only release their music, but also sensitise the citizens about environmental degrade.

Collaborating with a group, actors Sabyasachi Mishra, Archita Sahoo and Debasis Patra, who came to promote the film, praised the kids, who joined in hordes and displayed placards and paintings on green theme at Master Canteen Square. The stars also took part in the demonstration-cum-rally brought out by children. State health and family welfare minister Damodar Rout also joined the kids’ rally to laud the effort of the youngsters.

“There’s a song in the film featuring Archita which was shot in the green locales of the Similipal National Park. It is a song that speaks of the bounty of nature,” said Sabyasachi. While engaging the children he gave the examples of the tiger and the bear that had escaped from Nandankanan zoo. “We are eating into their space,” he said.

The Regional Science Centre in association with the Indian Science Congress, Odisha chapter, organised a painting and quiz competition. The topic of the drawing competition was “Let’s make the Earth green”.

“The students can usher in a change. It is very important that they understand the repercussions of the environmental degrade,” said project co-ordinator of the centre Archana Khosla.

Youth group Bakul Foundation, along with One Drop, an international group dedicated to environment, organised a sensitisation initiative called “Water on Wheels”.

The initiatives saw the images of paintings on water conservation.

On the occassion, a social organisation Humara Bachpan had arranged for an interaction session between underprivileged children and mayor Ananta Narayan Jena.