Govt teacher, five students win award for solid waste management

Sanjeev Kumar, a vocational lecturer, and five students of Government Senior Secondary School, Jabbowal, have won the Wipro Earthian State Award under the solid waste category.

Sanjeev, who is a postgraduate from Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana, took it upon himself to inspire Class XI and XII students to become stewards of the environment. Forming a dedicated team of five students—Jaipal, Sajan, Saranjeet, Manjot and Arun—Sanjeev led them through a series of engaging activities focused on waste management, aligning with the principles of sustainable development. These included collection and segregation of solid waste on the school campus, marking its percentage of biodegradability and likewise and managing disposal via recycling.

“We had to design a specific project for the competition and select among five defined categories. We selected solid-waste management and conceptualised hands-on activities for waste collection and disposal that provided the students with practical knowledge on managing waste more wisely, thus fostering a deep connection with nature,” said Sanjeev.

The students had to come up with waste disposal based on scientific research and apply the same method for their household waste as well. Sanjeev, while working on the project, also devised some fun-board games and used popular Bollywood characters to amplify the scientific methods used for solid waste management.

Sanjeev, who has been running a science club in his school for the past 12 years and previously won state and national science awards for creating bio-cookers, bio-fuels through agricultural waste, said this award would boost the determination of his students towards sustainable lifestyle.

“It’s a beacon of hope for rural schools, proving that even with limited resources, dedication and creativity can lead to exceptional results. Most of my students come from low income group and this win holds special meaning as young minds from rural backgrounds can rise to the occasion,” he said.