Several schools in Bengaluru have decided to cultivate eco-warriors and have introduced several rules this academic year in an attempt to go green and reduce their carbon footprint.
While schools have already banned plastic, many have taken a step further and instructed students not to use polystyrene (thermocol), glitter and brown wrapping paper.
Dakshayini Kanna, principal of Harvest International School which has introduced green initiatives, said that students have been told not to bind their books using brown wrapper or even stick-on labels. “We want the children to be environmentally conscious and pick up a few points about sustainable development so that these practices can be imbibed in our daily lives,” she said.
Renukesh R., secretary of NBN Vidyamandira, said that many of the textbooks are flimsy and require binding. “We have told our students to bind the books with newspapers. If students do not abide, we have kept a stack of newspapers for that purpose,” he said.
Schools are also looking at switching to renewable sources of energy.
Jerry George Mathew, principal of Clarence High School, said that they are planning to switch to solar energy this academic year. "We want to reduce our dependence on outside energy sources. At the same time also educate our students about these initiatives," he said adding that a 100-KW solar energy project will be implemented in the school.
Parents are glad that schools are driving children to make these changes.
Reena Girish, whose son studies in Class X, said, “My son takes even the simple things that he learns from his teachers in school very seriously. Now, after they have been told to not bring plastic to school, he insists that we do the same at home. So essentially, it is my son who ensures that we maintain a lifestyle that is sustainable and eco-friendly."
