Hoshiarpur- Hoshiarpur was given the 'Best Green District' award for being a leader across the country under the Green School Program being run across the country under the Environmental Education Program of the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Government of India. This award was received by District Education Officer Lalita Arora during a ceremony organized at the India Habitat Center in New Delhi. 12 schools of the district were also honored with Green Certificate. Hoshiarpur was honored with the 'Best Green District' award from across the country by renowned education reformer Sonam Wangchuk and Director General of Center for Science and Environment, New Delhi, Sunita Narayan.
Deputy Commissioner Komal Mittal congratulated the entire team for this unique achievement and said that it is a matter of great pride that Hoshiarpur district has achieved a leading position across the country. He said that under the environment education program of the Central Ministry, the Punjab State Council of Science and Technology has established eco clubs in 8000 schools and colleges of the state, where air, energy, food, soil, water and waste management audit is done under the Green School Program.
The Council started the Green School Program in partnership with the Punjab School Education Department and the Center for Science and Environment, under which 11917 schools were registered in Punjab and green audit was successfully completed in 7406 of these schools. These successful schools include 1945 schools of Hoshiarpur district. Deputy Commissioner Komal Mittal said that under the Green School Program, 345 schools were selected from across the country, out of which 196 schools are from Punjab and 12 schools are from Hoshiarpur district.
He said that the district administration and the staff of the education department are fully committed to establish eco-friendly system in as many schools of Hoshiarpur as possible and in the coming time, a completely healthy environment will be ensured in other schools as well. After receiving the award in New Delhi, District Education Officer Lalita Arora said that this award is the result of tireless efforts of the entire team which smoothly implemented the Green School Program in the district.
She said that due to the leadership of the district administration, the standards of Green School Program were found to be better in the schools of the district. She said that it is a matter of pride to receive this award from Sonam Wangchuk who has brought about major reforms in the field of education. Executive Director of Punjab State Council of Science and Technology Pritpal Singh, Joint Director Dr. K.S. Bath, Project Scientist Dr. Mandakani and Science Coordinator Ashok Kalia were also present on the occasion of receiving the award.