OTBL launches environment conservation programme for Gujarat schools

ONGC TERI Biotech Limited (OTBL) has recently launched a new educational programme called 'Protectors of the Environment' to sensitize and motivate young school children and adults in environment conservation under its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiatives.

The programme will employ several tools such as visual instruction and hands-on application and learning, which are designed to inspire children to translate 'thought' into 'action'.

The programme will be conducted in 15 underprivileged government and private schools of Ahmedabad, Ankleshwar and Mehsana in Gujarat - an operational area for OTBL, involving more than 2000 students from class VI to IX.

Students will learn the concepts of renewable energy, water and waste management as part of the principles of Sustainable Development through books specially developed for this programme by TERI. The students will also be engaged to undertake a plantation drive and monitor the growth of the trees.

"We have started to experience the adverse impacts of environmental degradation and painfully beginning to learn that environmental resources are limited and need to be sensitive to everything that we do today," said director (Exploration) ONGC and chairman OTBL, A K Dwivedi.

"To make sure that the future generations do not experience the worse, we need to prepare them with the ideals and requirements of sustainability. Hence, this initiative by OTBL under its CSR programmes," added Dwivedi.

"We are all dependent on Earth for our basic needs, and have been using the resources (mostly non-renewable) for years and years now. It is very evident with growing population and extensive use of natural resources that our future generations may be deprived of and may face scarcity to meet their needs," said Dr director and CEO OTBL, Banwari Lal.

Designed in three phases over a period of one year, following will be the major areas of activities throughout the course of the programme:

First Phase- introductory session will be organized with students, which includes forming a group of students known as environment protectors; establishing a plant protector club; and introducing 'Adopt a Plant' initiative by students for 500 saplings in each city.

Second Phase- through interactive activities, performing arts, and project-based learning, environment experts will address environment issues raised by students. Participants will be monitored on the level of increase in their sensitivity towards environment, awareness of the impact of their actions and measures taken by them towards a cleaner environment.

Third Phase- an impact analysis of the programme will be done to see how beneficial this programme was towards environment. The most proactive environment protector will be applauded for his/her efforts towards a Greener Planet.