SWAAHA organised sustainability education trip for young minds in Baltal

Around 40 students and teachers from Govt Boys Higher Secondary School, Kullan, embarked on an educational trip to Baltal as part of an innovative effort to encourage sustainability and environmental awareness among the youth.

The initiative, organized by the Directorate of Rural Sanitation (DRS) in conjunction with Swaaha, a startup supported by IIT Indore, aimed to inspire young participants and promote a zero landfill event during the Amarnath Yatra 2023.

Sustainable practices impress students, teachers

During the educational visit to Baltal, the students and teachers had the privilege to witness first-hand the exemplary sustainable practices established by Swaaha at the base camp. They were introduced to renewable energy sources such as the Solar Thermal Cooker, Biogas System, and Biomass, which showcased the potential to minimize environmental impact and carbon footprint.

A specialized Solid waste management unit was also visited by them, which was established specifically for this Yatra and had Dry and Wet waste management machinery and solutions. The treatment of wet waste collected from Langars and its conversion into biogas and compost were observed by them. They witnessed a live demonstration of the Bailing process of plastic and other waste. Kashmiri youths who are being trained by Swaaha demonstrated the entire process to the student.

The Directorate of Rural Sanitation, J&K, has appointed IIT Incubated Startup Swaaha to ensure that the Amarnath Yatra 2023 becomes a zero landfill event. This move comes as part of the government's larger mission to promote sustainable and eco-friendly practices in religious and pilgrimage events.

The students and teachers enjoyed a sumptuous breakfast and lunch at the Sustainable Langar, which was prepared in a carbon-neutral kitchen setup at Baltal. This unique experience at Baltal left a lasting impression on the participants, inspiring them to embrace sustainable practices in their daily lives.

Landmark educational trip, enlightening opportunity

Sameer Sharma, CEO and Co-founder of Swaaha, along with the IEC team were present during the interactive session with the students. The trip offered an engaging and enjoyable learning experience for students from classes 10, 11, and 12, with an interactive quiz and cooperative games. As a result, the students pledged enthusiastically to make their homes waste-free and plastic-free.

The trip also included an interactive quiz and cooperative games, which made the learning experience engaging and enjoyable for the children of classes 10, 11, and 12. As a result, the students enthusiastically pledged to make their respective homes waste-free and plastic-free.

Swaaha, in collaboration with the co-host team from RDD, generously gifted cloth bags, chocolates, and napkins to the students, encouraging them to adopt eco-friendly alternatives and reduce plastic usage. This gesture was met with gratitude and appreciation from both the students and the teachers.

"This educational trip has been a landmark event in our school's history. It has exposed our students and teachers to sustainable practices that they can implement in their villages and homes. We are deeply thankful to the Department of Rural Sanitation and Swaaha for this enlightening opportunity," expressed one of the teachers.

To commemorate the school's active participation and to further promote the Swachh Bharat Mission, a memento was gifted to Govt Boys Higher Secondary School, Kullan.

This unprecedented initiative of involving educational institutes in sustainability-oriented trips marks a step towards nurturing the next generation of environmentally conscious citizens who will contribute to a cleaner, greener, and more sustainable future for India.

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