Cuddalore's Green School drive turns 11 campuses climate-ready

Eleven government schools in Cuddalore district have been transformed into climate-responsive campuses under the district's Green School programme, part of the District Climate Change Mission. The initiative aims to embed sustainability into everyday school life through a mix of green infrastructure and activity-based learning.

At the Government Boys Higher Secondary School in Manjakuppam, students now have direct access to solar panels, a herbal garden, rainwater harvesting structures, and a compost pit. These facilities are designed to offer practical lessons in renewable energy, water conservation, waste management, and biodiversity.

The programme, implemented by the Department of Environment and Climate Change, was rolled out in four phases. The first phase covered the Government Boys Higher Secondary School in Tittakudi. The second phase included schools in Manjakuppam, Kadampuliyur, Vriddhachalam, Panruti, and Reddiyur, while later phases extended the initiative to schools in Oraiyur and Chidambaram.

Each school received infrastructure tailored to its specific needs, including photovoltaic systems, borewells, compost pits, and waste management systems, alongside green space development.

Collector Sibi Adhithya Senthil Kumar said the initiative is meant to take environmental education beyond textbooks. Solar systems will help students grasp how renewable energy is generated and used, while herbal gardens will serve as living laboratories for studying plant diversity and the uses of medicinal plants. Rainwater harvesting structures are intended to promote responsible water management, and compost pits will allow schools to process biodegradable waste scientifically for use in campus gardens.

The green spaces are also expected to improve the overall school environment and give students more opportunities to connect with nature.

S. Manivel, Green Fellow at the Department of Environment and Climate Change, said the programme encourages students to adopt practices related to water conservation, renewable energy, waste management, and biodiversity protection. The hope is that awareness generated in schools will extend to students' homes and the wider community.