Healthy Energy Initiative – India presented a Speaking Tour and Toxic Tour at the Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER), Chandigarh. The program at PGI Chandigarh marked the debut of an ongoing series of speaking tours and toxics tours developed by Healthy Energy Initiative – India, organized in conjunction with leading public health educational institutes, to sensitize students, faculty, and researchers on issues surrounding energy, industrial pollution, and environmental health.
The tour comprised of a half-day meeting and interaction with Year 1 Master of Public Health (MPH) students in the form of a seminar. The topic of the meeting was around health impacts of energy choices led by Dr. Adithya Pradyumna of Sochara, Bangalore. After Dr. Pradyumna’s talk, Rahul Saxena from Himdhara (Healthy Energy Initiative – India’s local partner in Punjab/Himachal) spoke to the students, giving a local perspective of the issue. Three community representatives also took some time focusing specifically on Ropar, the area chosen for the field visit.
This half-day seminar was followed by a community visit and interaction in Ropar with a thermal power plant and a cement factory. The students also interacted with around 40-50 people from the affected community.