Himachal Pradesh has been adjudged with the Best State Award and Green School Programme (GSP) Gold Partner Award, to be conferred by prestigious organization Centre for Science & Environment, New Delhi under Green School Programme (GSP) on 21st of this month.
Member Secretary, HIMCOSTE, Lalit Jain will receive the awards on behalf of the State Government at India Habitat Centre, New Delhi. The Best District Award is bagged by Solan and the best award in land section to GSSS Himgiri, Chamba in Salooni Sub-division. The two teachers from Himachal Pradesh are also being adjudged for GSP Ambassador Award.
Chief Secretary, Prabodh Saxena informed here today that various steps were being taken to educate the students throughout the State for the conservation of the environment through multifarious environmental awareness activities.
The Himachal Pradesh Council for Science, Technology and Environment, (HIMCOSTE) has set up around 3000 Eco-Clubs in schools and in 100 Colleges of the State under the National Green Corps (NGC) programme. The main goal of the Eco-club programme is to provide opportunities for school children to redirect their consciousness and actions to create a more sustainable planet.
To strengthen the environmental activities in the State, the HIMCOSTE is providing innovative ideas to the eco-club in schools and colleges. The eco-club schools have undertaken various activities like rainwater harvesting, roof top herbal gardens in school campus, solid waste management, beautification of the school campus, setting up of science and environment model demonstration labs for conservation & protection of environment etc.
HIMCOSTE is also implementing Plastic Waste Buy Back Scheme through 100 Eco Club Schools of Himachal Pradesh.
HIMCOSTE is also organizing afforestation drives on the theme “Ek Ped Mere School Ke Naam” through eco-clubs to achieve the objective of “Green Himachal, Clean Himachal”. The massive tree plantation campaign in the state has resulted in planting approximately 26,106 plants of various species which includes medicinal plants, flowers, fuel and fodder plants etc during the current financial year.
In addition to this, the HIMCOSTE is also propagating the concept of energy conservation through installation of Roof Top Solar Power Plants in the eco-club schools. As many as 20 schools have been identified to install the Roof Top Solar Power Plant.
