3 schools in Himachal Pradesh get 'green' tag

shimla: Three schools from Himachal Pradesh won laurels for their "green" efforts on the World Environment Day. The Centre for Science and Environment's (CSE) Green Schools Programme (GSP) gave away the 2021-22 Chief Minister's Rolling Trophies here on Sunday to the Shivalik Valley Public School, Solan; Government Senior Secondary School, Nainidhar (Sirmaur); and Government High School, Dugha.

With schools in Solan consistently practising environment-friendly measures over the last three years, the district was adjudged the best in the state.

The awards are given every year by CSE in association with Himachal Pradesh Council for Science Technology and Environment – the two have been working together for almost a decade for furthering environment education in the state.

CSE's Green Schools Programme is an innovative initiative that encourages schools and their students and teachers to audit environmental practices within their campuses, and strive to improve on them.

Himachal Pradesh's participation in the programme since 2012 has increased significantly: from 44 schools in 2012 to 699 today. In 2019-20, Himachal Pradesh witnessed an impressive jump in the GSP audit performance. In terms of registrations, 557 schools registered for the GSP Audit 2019 -- a 65 per cent increase when compared to 2018 (367 schools). Of the total 557 registrations, 156 schools completed and submitted the Audit in 2019. Of these, 15 schools were rated 'green' in the Audit, up from four in 2018.

Like every year, this year also GSP workshops were organised and 110 teachers participated in it.

The GSP-CM's Rolling Trophy was instituted in 2017 to recognise schools who participated in the GSP Audit, with the aim of encouraging students to become environmental managers.