SRINAGAR: Four schools from Jammu Kashmir and Ladakh have been recognised among the national winners of the 15th edition of the Wipro Earthian Awards 2025, an annual programme that promotes sustainability education and environmental stewardship among schools and colleges across India.
Hosted by Wipro Limited at Azim Premji University, Bengaluru, the awards acknowledge institutions that demonstrate sustained engagement with ecological practices through hands-on learning and community involvement. This year’s edition received more than 2,000 project submissions nationwide, from which an independent jury selected 25 winning teams. Four of these winners are from the Himalayan region.
The recognised schools presented projects addressing region-specific environmental challenges, including waste management in fragile mountain ecosystems, biodiversity conservation, and water management practices in cold desert areas. Students combined field studies, documentation, surveys, community interactions and indigenous knowledge to translate sustainability lessons into practical action.
Among the winners, Druk Padma Karpo School, Shey, Leh, examined Ladakh’s growing waste crisis. Students conducted field visits and interacted with local NGOs, including PAGIR, to study urban and rural waste systems. They practised segregation, composting and zero-waste initiatives within the school. Their findings highlighted rising plastic pollution linked to tourism and changing lifestyles. The project included interviews with authorities, sanitation workers and community members, and culminated in creative outputs such as comics, data visualisations, essays, a school magazine and awareness campaigns.
Government Girls Higher Secondary School, Nishat, Srinagar, focused on biodiversity documentation and conservation. Students surveyed species on campus and conducted field studies in Dachigam National Park to understand ecological balance and sustainability. The project examined the impact of deforestation, pollution, climate change and resource overuse on biodiversity. It also promoted practices such as recycling, afforestation, wildlife protection and responsible resource use, emphasising the shared responsibility of individuals, communities and governments.
At Government Higher Secondary School, BK Pora, students carried out a biodiversity survey around their campus, identifying wild edible plants, insects and bird species. Interactions with farmers, beekeepers and nursery owners helped them track seasonal and human-induced changes. The team also created an insect habitat to highlight the ecological importance of small organisms and green spaces. The initiative aimed to build ecological awareness and encourage sustainable daily practices among students.
Meanwhile, PM Shri Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya, Leh, conducted a field-based study of traditional and modern water-conservation systems in Nubra and Zanskar. Students documented indigenous practices such as chures (community water turns) and zings (meltwater reservoirs), along with innovations like artificial glaciers. Through village interactions and case studies, the team analysed glacier-water harvesting and climate-resilient farming, showcasing Ladakh’s adaptive strategies for managing water scarcity in a cold desert environment.
Certificates and cash prizes were presented to the winning teams by Anurag Behar, Chief Executive Officer of the Azim Premji Foundation, and Narayan PS, Global Head of Sustainability and Societal Initiatives at Wipro Limited and Managing Trustee of the Wipro Foundation.
“The strength of the Wipro earthian programme lies in grounding sustainability in lived reality, helping students understand environmental challenges through their immediate surroundings,” Narayan PS said, noting that participating schools have moved beyond awareness to sustained engagement with local ecological issues.
Since its launch in 2011, the Wipro Earthian initiative has engaged over 51,000 schools, 2.1 lakh students and 41,000 teachers across the country. The programme works with partners including the Centre for Environment Education, CPR Environmental Education Centre, Wild Ecologues, IIT Madras, IIM Bangalore and several state governments.
Wipro said the awards reflect its continued commitment to sustainability and community-based environmental action through education.
