That students should learn to protect biodiversity to ensure clean environment for future generations was the message that came out loud and clear at the launch of the Fledge School Scholar Programme 2015.
It was organised by the Vels Group of Schools in partnership with Forum for Law, Environment, Development and Governance (Fledge) at Vel’s Vidyashram, Thalambur, on Saturday.
The Hindu In School i s the media partner of the event in which more than 100 students from more than 100 schools in Chennai participated.
Balakrishna Pisupati, founder-trustee of Fledge, said the students submitted a concept note on how they would like to see the environment and development paradigms emerge in India.
The selected students will be mentored by a team of experts on writing a research article.
These articles will be compiled, edited and published by Fledge and Vel’s Group of Institutions, and launched on World Environment Day on June 5.
“This unique and perhaps first-of-its-kind initiative in India will be replicated in other States, with an aim to create a ‘Future of India Corps’ that comprises a pool of children with the ability to understand, research and articulate issues of nation building,” said Lavanya Vishnu Sagar, coordinator, schools programme, Fledge.
T.S. Suryanarayanan, director, Vivekananda Institute of Tropical Mycology, Ramakrishna Mission Vidyapith, stressed it was necessary to involve students in the task of protecting the environment.
Elumalai, faculty from TN Ambedkar Law University, Demetrius Issac, chief consultant, Pegasus Animal Consultancy, V. Venkatachalam, dean, Vels Group of Schools, and Arthi K. Ganesh, academic advisor, Vels Group of Schools, also spoke.
