Paryavaran Mitra Programme

The Paryavaran Mitra Programme is a nationwide initiative in India aimed at promoting environmental education and sustainable development practices among school students. It seeks to empower young learners to become proactive citizens and stewards of the environment by integrating environmental awareness into everyday learning and community action. The programme reflects India’s commitment to global sustainability goals and emphasises participatory approaches to environmental conservation through education.

Background and Origin

The Paryavaran Mitra Programme was launched in 2010 by the Centre for Environment Education (CEE) in collaboration with the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC), Government of India, and supported by the ArcelorMittal Foundation. The initiative built upon the success of earlier national and international environmental education efforts, particularly those associated with the United Nations Decade of Education for Sustainable Development (UNDESD), which ran from 2005 to 2014.
The programme’s inception was rooted in the need to integrate sustainable practices within school systems and to build environmental stewardship among children and teachers. Its design draws from global frameworks such as Agenda 21 and Education for Sustainable Development (ESD), aligning local action with international sustainability commitments.

Objectives and Vision

The core vision of the Paryavaran Mitra Programme is to create a network of environmentally conscious individuals who take informed decisions and responsible actions for environmental integrity, economic viability, and a just society. Its objectives include:

• Promoting environmental literacy through experiential and action-based learning.
• Encouraging sustainable lifestyle choices among students, teachers, and communities.
• Building capacity for environmental management at school and community levels.
• Linking classroom learning with practical environmental action.

Through these objectives, the programme seeks to nurture values of conservation, empathy for nature, and a sense of responsibility towards the planet.

Structure and Implementation

The programme operates through a five-theme framework, which serves as the foundation for school-based activities. These themes are:

1. Water and Sanitation – encouraging water conservation, pollution prevention, and safe sanitation practices.
2. Energy – promoting energy efficiency, use of renewable energy, and awareness of energy conservation.
3. Biodiversity – fostering understanding and protection of local flora and fauna.
4. Waste Management – focusing on waste reduction, reuse, recycling, and proper disposal.
5. Culture and Heritage – integrating traditional knowledge and cultural practices that support sustainability.

Each participating school receives resource materials and activity guides designed to align with the national curriculum. Teachers play a key role as facilitators, guiding students to design and implement environment-friendly projects both within and beyond school premises.

Educational Approach

The educational philosophy of the Paryavaran Mitra Programme is grounded in action learning and participatory education. Rather than relying solely on classroom instruction, students are encouraged to undertake hands-on projects such as:

• Constructing rainwater harvesting systems.
• Conducting energy audits within school buildings.
• Maintaining biodiversity gardens.
• Implementing waste segregation systems.
• Documenting traditional ecological knowledge from local communities.

This approach aims to connect theoretical concepts with real-world challenges, thereby enhancing critical thinking, problem-solving, and collaborative skills among learners.

Collaboration and Partnerships

The success of the Paryavaran Mitra Programme largely depends on the collaborative efforts between multiple stakeholders. The Centre for Environment Education (CEE) coordinates implementation with state education departments, non-governmental organisations (NGOs), corporate partners, and local governments.
Key partnerships include:

• UNESCO and UNEP, supporting global alignment of environmental education.
• National Green Corps (NGC) and Eco-clubs, which help mobilise student participation.
• State Resource Agencies, which provide training and monitoring support.

The involvement of teachers, school administrators, parents, and community members ensures that environmental education becomes a holistic, community-wide endeavour.

Impact and Reach

Since its launch, the Paryavaran Mitra Programme has reached over two lakh schools and 20 million students across India. Thousands of teachers have been trained to integrate sustainability principles into their teaching methods. The initiative has led to measurable improvements in school environments, including:

• Adoption of water conservation technologies.
• Reduction of plastic use on campuses.
• Creation of biodiversity parks and herbal gardens.
• Implementation of waste segregation and composting systems.

Many schools have received recognition for exemplary projects under the Paryavaran Mitra Puraskar, an annual award that acknowledges innovative environmental actions by students and teachers.

Linkages with Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

The programme directly contributes to several United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly:

• SDG 4 – Quality Education, by promoting education for sustainable development.
• SDG 6 – Clean Water and Sanitation.
• SDG 7 – Affordable and Clean Energy.
• SDG 11 – Sustainable Cities and Communities.
• SDG 12 – Responsible Consumption and Production.
• SDG 13 – Climate Action.

By linking local environmental issues with global sustainability targets, Paryavaran Mitra helps students understand the interconnectedness of ecological, social, and economic dimensions.

Challenges and Criticism

Despite its broad impact, the programme faces several challenges:

• Resource Constraints: Some schools, especially in rural or underprivileged areas, lack adequate resources to fully implement activities.
• Teacher Training: Continuous capacity building is needed to sustain teacher motivation and expertise.
• Monitoring and Evaluation: Standardised mechanisms to measure behavioural and environmental outcomes remain limited.
• Integration with Curriculum: Environmental topics often remain peripheral to mainstream subjects, affecting long-term engagement.