With the objective of promoting environmentally sustainable education in rural areas, a Green School Project was successfully inaugurated in four Zilla Parishad schools in Pune district through the CSR support of Tata AutoComp Systems Private Limited and implemented by Sustainability Initiatives.

The project has been implemented in Zilla Parishad schools located in Birdawadi, Deshmukhwadi, Torane, and Ranmala (Kadus) villages of Khed Taluka. The initiative aims to create eco-friendly infrastructure in schools while encouraging environmental awareness, energy conservation, and sustainable living practices among students.

Under the Green School Project, the schools have been equipped with solar energy systems, rainwater harvesting structures, organic waste composting units, and both indoor and outdoor plantations. Low-flow water taps have also been installed to promote water conservation. Additionally, Green Calendars have been provided to schools to encourage year-round environmental activities and awareness programs.

To ensure the long-term sustainability of the project, a “Green Army” of students has been formed in each school. These student groups will actively participate in maintaining and implementing various green initiatives within the school premises.

As part of the educational activities, students were also provided opportunities to visit science parks and participate in workshops and awareness sessions on environmental conservation, fire safety, and biodiversity.

Speaking about the initiative, Apoorva Kulkarni from Sustainability Initiatives said, “Our organization has always taken the lead in implementing environment-friendly initiatives. This project was launched with the vision of transforming government schools into Green Schools. With the CSR support of Tata AutoComp Systems Private Limited, we have successfully implemented Green School Projects in eight schools so far.”

During the inauguration, Amol Umbarje highlighted that the project will help increase the use of renewable energy in schools, improve groundwater recharge through rainwater harvesting, and significantly reduce water wastage through low-flow taps. He also noted that the plantation activities would create greener and healthier school environments for students.

The project is expected to provide rural students with practical exposure to environmental conservation while helping schools create cleaner, greener, and more sustainable learning spaces.

School principals and teachers expressed confidence that the initiative would increase environmental awareness among students and encourage responsible use of the newly installed facilities. Villagers and parents from all four communities also appreciated the efforts of Tata AutoComp Systems Private Limited and Sustainability Initiatives for successfully implementing this impactful initiative.

The project was coordinated by Priyanka Burange, Sumit Kapse, and Shaleen Palekar.