Kashmir Impulse Desk

Srinagar, June 6

Government College for Women (GCW), M A Road, Srinagar, has been awarded the Gold Award for Green Campus and Sustainable Initiatives by the Climate Reality Project: India and South Asia, in recognition of its efforts to promote environmental sustainability and climate action.

The award acknowledges the college’s sustained commitment to environmental stewardship and the implementation of a range of green initiatives aimed at fostering sustainability, climate resilience and ecological responsibility, the college said in a statement.

The recognition follows year-round efforts by the institution, including air quality monitoring, adoption of solar energy, waste segregation and composting, rainwater harvesting, biodiversity conservation, expansion of green cover, plantation campaigns, heritage clean-up drives and environmental awareness programmes.

The award was announced during the valedictory function of the college’s week-long Environmental Week celebrations held from June 1 to June 6 under the World Environment Day theme, “Inspired by Nature: For Climate, For Our Future.”

The celebrations were organised by the Eco Club in collaboration with the National Service Scheme (NSS) units of the college under the patronage of Principal Prof. Yasmeen Farooq. The Eco Club, comprising faculty members from the departments of Environmental Science, Botany and Water Management, coordinated the programme under the convenorship of Asiya Nazir, Head of the Department of Environmental Science.

Congratulating students, faculty and staff on the achievement, Farooq said the award reflected the institution’s collective commitment to environmental protection and sustainable development. She said the college would continue to strengthen green practices and contribute to climate action and ecological conservation.

The week-long programme saw participation from students, faculty members, NSS volunteers and NCC cadets in activities including awareness campaigns, cleanliness drives, waste audits, biodiversity competitions, renewable energy presentations, plantation drives and student-led environmental initiatives.

As part of the celebrations, students conducted campus and community cleanliness drives, including activities in the Bund area near Lal Chowk and within the college premises. Waste collected during the drives was segregated and documented as part of an environmental audit exercise.

The Department of Botany also organised a biodiversity quiz competition to promote awareness of ecological conservation, while a plantation drive was held on World Environment Day to encourage expansion of green cover.

The valedictory function at the Lalla Ded Auditorium featured student presentations, environmental-themed performances and poetry recitations highlighting the college’s sustainability initiatives.

Among those present were Prof. Azra Nahid Kamili, Director and Head of the Centre of Research for Development at the University of Kashmir, and Aadil Bhat, Climate Reality Leader and Programme Officer of the Climate Reality Project Jammu and Kashmir. The speakers emphasised the importance of youth-led climate action, biodiversity conservation and sustainable lifestyles in addressing environmental challenges.

The event concluded with the distribution of awards and certificates to students who participated in various Environmental Week activities.

The gold award reinforces GCW M A Road’s position among educational institutions promoting sustainability, environmental education and climate action, the statement said.