The dissemination session, held under the visionary leadership of principal Dharminder Sharma, aimed to make schools eco-friendly while sensitising students to environmental conservation and sustainability.

District research coordinator and principal investigator Dr Ritu Kumra presented her research paper titled “Effectiveness and Challenges of the Green School Programme." To ensure comprehensive and transparent findings, the study included 105 schools across all blocks of the district, covering government primary, middle, high, senior secondary and private institutions. Dr Kumra highlighted that while only 12 schools had achieved the prestigious ‘Green School’ status last year by meeting stringent standards, the number has now risen to 18. These schools have been showcased as role models to inspire other institutions to do the same.

During the session, a detailed roadmap was shared for schools currently in the orange and yellow zones, emphasising that small, consistent steps can lead to substantial improvements. Key focus areas included effective waste management with segregation and composting practices, water and energy conservation through rainwater harvesting and solar energy and active student participation by encouraging them to become ‘environment ambassadors’ involved in plantation drives and ecological awareness activities.

Experts at the session reinforced these measures, with Jagjit Singh providing technical insights on ‘Green School’ audits and future possibilities. The session was attended by DIET faculty members Dr Shikha Sharma, Baljit Kaur and Dr Arjuna Katel, who encouraged teachers to implement these initiatives in their schools.

The event concluded with a collective pledge by educators to work at the grassroots level to bring every school in Hoshiarpur into the ‘Green Zone.’ The initiative is expected to improve school infrastructure while fostering environmental responsibility and awareness among students, creating a lasting impact for future generations.