New Delhi: Imagine a village somewhere in the hills where Aarav eagerly tunes in to the local radio station every Sunday. Now this is no ordinary broadcast. Instead of Bollywood songs or news, 12-year-old Aarav listens to his friends—fellow students—sharing stories about climate resilience, health, and sustainability.
School children in India just got their very own podcast. It’s, very simply, called The School Podcast or, if you must know the official longer name, Dettol School Radio Podcast. The podcast is conceptualized and executed by Reckitt in collaboration with Plan India and OHO Radio.
Watch: The Journey That Touches Millions Of Lives
It was formally launched in the presence of Uttarakhand governor Lt Gen Gurmit Singh.
At the heart of the launch was the message of empowering children to lead change. ‘Dettol climate resilient school initiative is a tribute to the state’s legacy, empowering the children of Uttarakhand to be the torchbearers,’ Lt. General Gurmit Singh, Governor of Uttarakhand, said in his keynote speech.
The podcast’s mission is ambitious yet clear: educate children on the science behind hygiene and its impact on environment.
Ravi Bhatnagar, Director of External Affairs and Partnerships, SoA, Reckitt, said,
At Reckitt, we believe that true transformation comes when individuals, especially young people, take ownership of the issues that impact them and their communities.
The initiative aligns seamlessly with the Centre’s Mission LiFE curriculum. Nearly 1,300 ‘Climate Champions’—100 from each of Uttarakhand’s 13 districts—will receive scholarships for their grassroots efforts in raising awareness. These champions will be trained and supported to amplify the message of sustainability within their communities, ensuring a ripple effect of change.
For Aarav and many like him, the Dettol School Radio Podcast is more than just a weekly broadcast; it is a call to action. It’s a chance to not only learn but also become a voice for change in a world that desperately needs it. And as these young RJs take the mic, they’re not just spreading awareness—they’re shaping a responsible future.
Also Read: Best Of 2023: Banega Swasth India Campaign Turns 10
NDTV – Dettol have been working towards a clean and healthy India since 2014 via the Banega Swachh India initiative, which in its Season 10 is helmed by Campaign Ambassador Ayushmann Khurrana. The campaign aims to highlight the inter-dependency of humans and the environment, and of humans on one another with the focus on One Health, One Planet, One Future – Leaving No One Behind. It stresses on the need to take care of, and consider, everyone’s health in India – especially vulnerable communities – the LGBTQ population, indigenous people, India’s different tribes, ethnic and linguistic minorities, people with disabilities, migrants, geographically remote populations, gender and sexual minorities. In a world post COVID-19 pandemic, the need for WASH (Water, Sanitation and Hygiene) is reaffirmed as handwashing is one of the ways to prevent Coronavirus infection and other diseases. The campaign will continue to raise awareness on the same along with focussing on the importance of nutrition and healthcare for women and children, fight malnutrition, mental well-being, self-care, science and health, adolescent health & gender awareness. Along with the health of people, the campaign has realised the need to also take care of the health of the eco-system. Our environment is fragile due to human activity, which is not only over-exploiting available resources, but also generating immense pollution as a result of using and extracting those resources. The imbalance has also led to immense biodiversity loss that has caused one of the biggest threats to human survival – climate change. It has now been described as a “code red for humanity.” The campaign will continue to cover issues like air pollution, waste management, plastic ban, manual scavenging and sanitation workers and menstrual hygiene. Banega Swasth India will also be taking forward the dream of Swasth Bharat, the campaign feels that only a Swachh or clean India where toilets are used and open defecation free (ODF) status achieved as part of the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2014, can eradicate diseases like diahorrea and the country can become a Swasth or healthy India.
