CSE’s Green Schools Awards, 2013

DAV International School, Amritsar – Large school, gigantic community therefore humongous water consumption even while remaining well within the accepted use range. But DAV International School have turned a bane into an asset. In fact use of waste water is their winning formulae 87% of the waste water is put back to use by this school.

Government Secondary School, Penlong – Talk about all-rounder. This school is one of them – from energy to pesticides use to waste water reuse, they take care of it all but what makes them outstanding is their sanitation facilities this school provides. A small school with limited resources but their sanitation profile is picture perfect. And what else can attract more students in rural Sikkim.

Dhanaji Nana Vidyalaya, Jalgaon –Limited resource. Rural setting and above all drought-prone zone. This school’s water management plan can actually guide a state government. Scanty rainfall is harvested to full potential, waste water is used optimally. Result: 16 litres is made available for each member of the school community. No mean achievement this.

DAV Senior Secondary School, New Shimla – You already know them as our waste champions. But they don’t lag behind in water either. Be it RWH, sanitation or waste water recycle they emerge as one of our top scorers.

Sri Padampat Singhania Education Centre, Kanpur – This school has achieved what every school in a metro aspire for. Location: heart of Kanpur yet more than half of the students and teachers use non-polluting transport. How a dedicated leader who has used the GSP Mantra like Gospel.

DAV Public School, Gurgaon– Located amidst one of the densely built-up zones of Gurgaon, this school has achieved the seemingly unachievable. It’s per capita built area is 4m2 only a notch higher than the two metre square benchmark set by the Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan. Its playfield also an envy of the neighbourhood schools.

Drishti Dr. R. C. Jain Innovative Public School, Ludhiana –You have met them already as our ace waste managers. But they are proud entrants of the allrounder category. They have bugged the trophy this time not only because of their hugely successful composting campaign but because they manage to reuse 97% of their waste water as well.

Vishnu Public School, Bhimavaram –Resource rich school but frugal perspective: a winning combination which has fetched them this trophy. Solar panel, optimal waste water management, more than adequate sanitation facility, non-polluting commuting practice. They are doing it all.

J.C. Mahindra Memorial School, Khopoli – Nestling in the one of most picturesque hills of western Ghats, this school has focused on the obvious but the most prudent aspect conserving biodiversity. They have a full-fledged plan that ranges from building up awareness to getting the hands of each member of the school community literally dirty in digging, measuring and planting, conserving nature.

Mother Teresa School, Preet Vihar –From paper to food to metals to glass this is a school which recycles every bit of waste that can be recycled. And the entire school community from the principal to the gardener are a part of this campaign. This school is our true waste champions.

Motilal Nehru School of Sports, Rai Haryana –This is a school that focuses on sports. But it’s not only about fun and games here. In fact they are dead serious about whatever they get their fingers into. And they have got environment completely in their grips. From a biodiversity rich 72 acres of land to immaculate sanitation facilities, they have it all. But what makes them winners is their energy accomplishment. This school has cut down spectacularly on electricity bills simply by switching to solar water heater and installing energy efficient water systems. Need we say more!

Government Secondary School, Tingley –A second timer this Sikkim school have managed to pull up their score in every sector. But their performance in water is stellar, pushing up the figure from a meagre 67% to a substantial 80%.

Father Agnel, Gautum Nagar–You already know about them. Father Agnel Schools sets an example how wise water management can turn even a desert into a lush green oasis.

This CBSE-school goes back two years with GSP. Anyone familiar with the terrain of New Delhi would know that they are located in a densely populated urban residential area. Father Agnel’s is a big school with big numbers – a total population of 2838. Providing adequate freshwater supply was a struggle. Till they started GSP and found that a source lies within. And an abundant source at that. They harnessed the power of wastewater to create magic, while using water that would otherwise flow out in storm drains to convert their dry, dusty grounds into verdant lawns and playgrounds

Queens Valley School, Dwarka – an all rounder who bagged a trophy last year. But that did not stop them trying this year with a hugely improved score. How? They decided to dabble with alternative energy source and turn their campus lights into solar- fed ones.

Kerala Public School, Burmamines – This school has climbed three levels this year from receivers of Yellow GSP certificates which merits an average performance they have managed to reach the platform here to grab their first trophy. Highlights 80% of the school community opting to walk, cycle or take the bus to school.

New Digambar Public School, Indore – This school is an example how diligent GSPian can be. They have come back to us for third time even though they have received no awards for any category for their past attempts. Did that bog them down? On the contrary they pulled up their marks from 76% to 87% and made a place for themselves in the hall of winners. There strength is all round focus ranging from water and waste to land.

Mayo College, Ajmer –One of the most reputed and respected schools of India. Its easy to see why. Repeating the audit for the third time the school has made it a part of it’s curriculum. So every student and a majority of staff members are a part of GSP today. The diligence is on display. They recharge lake within their campus and manage a water tight water management plan which sustains an extremely biodiversity rich campus.

Pragyan School, Greater Noida –Another example of diligence and enterprise. Pragyan school has back to us for the fourth time even though their last three years GSP audits did not fetch them any award. But no effort was wasted. This school has used GSP manual as a guide book to build their new infrastructure. From perfectly ventilated rooms to water efficient systems and nurturing endemic species in their campus. They have followed GSP in every step. And this year it paid off.

Government Senior Secondary School, Gurkhota, Mandi –This school stands out for its skilful management of the precious fresh water resource-RAIN. Located in a well endowed rain zone GSSS Gurkhota, catches and collects rain where ever it can, in bawaris, in tanks and in pits and uses it in the best way possible to feed and nourish their green cover. No wonder their land score has leaped from 76% to 88%.

Bhartiya Vidya Bhavan’s Public School, Hyderabad –The right to education proponents would love to sign up as an ideal candidate. Why? Because their school infrastructure is exactly what they prescribe. A perfect ratio in number of students and built-up area and playfield and immaculate sanitation facilities and full proof waste water recycling plan. This school has it all.

DAV Public School, Gurgaon (Rank 1) – Located amidst one of the densely built-up zones of Gurgaon, this school has achieved the seemingly unachievable. It’s per capita built area is 4m2 only a notch higher than the two metre square benchmark set by the Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan. Its playfield also an envy of the neighbourhood schools.

Mother Teresa School, Preet Vihar (Rank 2)–From paper to food to metals to glass this is a school which recycles every bit of waste that can be recycled. And the entire school community from the principal to the gardener are a part of this campaign. This school is our true waste champions.

Katha School, Delhi (Rank 3) –Catering to the neighbourhood only ,this school stands out as being the only one among our participants whose record of recycling textbooks is a perfect 100%.

Father Agnel, Gautum Nagar (Rank 1) – You already know about them. Father Agnel Schools sets an example how wise water management can turn even a desert into a lush green oasis.

This CBSE-school goes back two years with GSP. Anyone familiar with the terrain of New Delhi would know that they are located in a densely populated urban residential area. Father Agnel’s is a big school with big numbers – a total population of 2838. Providing adequate freshwater supply was a struggle. Till they started GSP and found that a source lies within. And an abundant source at that. They harnessed the power of wastewater to create magic, while using water that would otherwise flow out in storm drains to convert their dry, dusty grounds into verdant lawns and playgrounds

Queens Valley School, Dwarka (Rank 2) – an all rounder who bagged a trophy last year. But that did not stop them trying this year with a hugely improved score. How? They decided to dabble with alternative energy source and turn their campus lights into solar- fed ones.

St. Mary’s School, Delhi (Rank 3) –a long time GSP partner but a first time winner, WHY? Because they believe in building themselves up slowly but surely. Located in one of the most densely populated zones of Delhi, this school has been striving hard to get a Green Tag. And this year their efforts have paid off. Their strongest point? Spilling over their enthusiasm and spirit to their neighbourhood as well.

Lunch sheets have been as much as a part of every school in Sri Lanka as a textbook. All students have been for years carrying their mid-day meal wrapped in these square plastic sheets. The problem is textbooks are made of paper and can be recycled but the tonnes of plastic sheets that pile up after every lunch hour in each school have become a major disposal bottle neck. These schools have managed to break this unhealthy tradition and insisted that their students carry their food in containers. A brave and unprecedented step certainly deserves an award.