14-year-old gets P V Thampy award

KOCHI: In a clear indication that the young generation also cared for environmental protection, a 14-year-old boy from Kannur received the P V Thampy Memorial Endowment Award for 2011 from environmentalist Kallen Pokkudan in Kochi on Thursday.K S Sanoj, a student of Cherukunnu school in Kannur, was chosen for the award for planting thousands of mangroves on the basin of River Muttom. Sanoj, who is affectionately called Kochu Pokkudan (little Pokkudan) by his friends, received the award from Kallen Pokkudan, a mangrove activist who is the winner of the same award in 2001. Sanoj has been active in planting mangroves of different categories for the past two years. Speaking on the occasion, V D Satheesan MLA referred to the increasing number of environmental destruction. He pointed out that atrocities against tribals were also on the increase. Veteran journalist P Rajan, who delivered the P V Thampy memorial speech, pointed out the need to protect the freedom of thought and expression. Delivering the keynote address, environmentalist C R Neelakandan said though there was common awareness about environmental protection, it should be seen whether these concerns actually influence people’s decisions in real life.