Dehradun, Uttarakhand: Reckitt, the world’s leading health and hygiene company, along with partner Plan India, partnered with season 3 of OHO Hill Yatra for its Dettol Climate Resilient School Project, with the theme – ‘Kedarkhand Se Manaskhand Ek No. Uttarakhand’ and culminated grand finale in Dehradun in the presence of the Honourable Chief Minister of Uttarakhand Pushkar Singh Dhami. The month-long on-ground initiative hosted by RJ Kaavya, reached over 25,000 students and 43 schools, engaging and educating students and communities across 13 districts in Uttarakhand on the issue of climate change.
To further its commitment to cover 100% of districts of Uttarakhand by 2025, Dettol Banega Swasth India will develop 1 Climate Resilient School per district, focused on reinforcing the state’s climate mitigation and adaptation efforts and contributing to the achievement of SDGs.
Watch: The Hills Are Speaking, Are We Listening?
Hosted at the CM Camp Office in Dehradun, the grand finale was also graced by Special Guest Ravi Bhatnagar, Director, External Affairs and Partnerships, SOA, Reckitt and RJ Kaavya, CEO, OHO Radio.
During the event, students from the Climate Resilient Schools presented cultural performances and models on waste management, energy saving, and solar panel retrofitting implemented in their schools.
The event also witnessed the launch of the Dettol Climate Resilient School Preamble, encouraging children to commit to preserving and safeguarding the environment by taking environment-friendly actions for a greener and healthier tomorrow.
Commenting on the grand finale event, Chief Guest Pushkar Singh Dhami, Chief Minister, Uttarakhand, said,
I congratulate Dettol Banega Swasth India and OHO Radio for this unique campaign in Uttarakhand to drive education among children on the important issue of climate change. The OHO Hill Yatra season 3 campaign by Dettol Climate Resilient School Project, with the theme- ‘Kedarkhand Se Manaskhand Ek No. Uttarakhand’ engaged children and communities across 13 districts of the state.
CM Dhami added,
Aligned to the vision of Honourable Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi – Mission LiFE, this endeavour is truly remarkable and holds an important value as it encourages children to inculcate behavioural change in their everyday lives.
Watch: Climate Change, A Cause Of Concern: Pushkar Singh Dhami
India is the seventh most vulnerable country to climate change impact, according to the Global Climate Risk Index 2021. Due to geological factors such as melting glaciers, increased population pressure, seismic activity, and over-exploitation of natural resources, the state of Uttarakhand is vulnerable to climate change.
In alignment with the Government of India’s Mission LiFE curriculum, Reckitt aims to create a cadre of environmentally conscious children to drive climate resilience in schools and communities across the state of Uttarakhand with the Dettol Climate Resilient School project.
Through this project, retrofitting 4 schools in 4 Dhams of Uttarakhand was done with solar panels, energy-efficient lights and fans, low-flow water fixtures, and waste management. The following schools were covered – Government Upper Primary School, Damta, Uttarkashi (Yamunotri), Government High School, Athali, Uttarkashi (Gangotri), Government Upper Primary School, Ratura, Rudraprayag (Kedarnath) and Government Upper Primary School, Pakhi, Chamoli (Badrinath). The impact of retrofitting in schools translated to a 65% reduction in water wastage, and a 64.5% reduction in electricity unit charges.
The incorporation of murals focusing on the themes of Mission LiFE serves as a powerful tool to raise awareness among students. By actively engaging in environmental education workshops, the project not only aligns with the government’s emphasis on climate action but also directly supports the national goal of fostering environmental consciousness among citizens.
The cultivation of environmental responsibility and conscious lifestyles among children through climate-friendly interventions echoes the government’s call for sustainable habits from an early age.
Gaurav Jain, Executive Vice President, Reckitt – South Asia, said,
In a remarkable stride towards sustainability, India has witnessed a substantial boost in its green energy initiatives, transitioning seamlessly from 2023 to 2024. At Reckitt, we believe we have a duty to combat climate change and empower the next generation towards building a sustainable and resilient future. With Dettol Climate Resilient Schools and the OHO Hill Yatra campaign, we have been working closely in the state of Uttarakhand to drive on-ground behaviour change and educate the younger generation through three pillars – Campus, Curriculum and Collaboration.
Mr Jain added,
Bearing the flag of Mission LiFE, we look forward to expand the initiative by developing more climate resilient schools in Dev Bhoomi-Uttarakhand, where elements of nature meet in the purest form. We extend our heartfelt gratitude to the Government of Uttarakhand for their invaluable support as we together work towards building a greener and more resilient Uttarakhand.
Watch: Climate Change – Children On The Front Line
The Dettol Climate Resilient project partnered with OHO Radio, a coveted local digital radio, to conduct a month-long campaign during the OHO Hill Yatra. Designed to deepen students’ understanding of environmental issues, the campaign focused on promoting Mission LiFE and informing the audience on the critical issue of climate change.
The grand finale event encompassed various cultural performances by students from selected schools of Khatima, Rishikesh, Rudraprayag and Uttarkashi, and showcased the impact of the OHO Hill Yatra campaign, based on the theme ‘Kedarkhand se Manaskhand Ek No. Uttarakhand’.
The Dettol Climate Resilient School Project, under the visionary leadership of Reckitt and the implementation of Plan India, has emerged as a crucial player aligning itself with the national green goals set by the Indian government. This initiative has demonstrated a profound commitment to environmental sustainability, education, and community engagement, contributing to the broader vision of a greener and more resilient India.
Since its inception last year, the Dettol Climate Resilient School Project has emerged as a crucial player aligning itself with the national green goals in alignment with the vision of the Government of India.
This initiative has not only demonstrated a steadfast commitment to environmental sustainability but has also actively contributed to the broader vision of a greener and more resilient India.
The project’s endeavours have resulted in significant achievements, with four schools retrofitted with solar panels, energy-efficient lights, fans, low-flow water fixtures, and waste management systems. These efforts have led to tangible impacts on water wastage and electricity unit charges, aligning with the country’s broader objectives for sustainable resource management.
In essence, the Dettol Climate Resilient School Project has intricately woven its initiatives to not only align with but actively contribute to the national green goals of India. As India moves from 2023 to 2024, the trajectory is clear – a determined march towards a greener, more sustainable future.
Watch: Children’s Role In Fighting Climate Change
The financial allocations, initiatives, and collaborations underscore the nation’s commitment to aligning economic growth with environmental responsibility, forging a path towards a resilient and eco-friendly tomorrow.
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.
