On the occasion of Independence Day 2026, a school awareness programme titled “A Responsible Generation: A School Awareness Initiative on Responsible Plastic and Thermocol Waste Management and Sustainability” was successfully organized by Voice of Environment (A Scientific and Environmental Research organization) on the occasion of Independence Day at Betkuchi High School of Guwahati , Cluster, Kamrup Metro District, Guwahati, Assam the initiative supported Supreme Petrochem ltd.
The program aimed to sensitize school students to the growing challenges posed by plastic and thermocol pollution and to encourage them to adopt responsible, sustainable, and environmentally conscious practices in their daily lives.
The program commenced with the hoisting of the National Flag, followed by the singing of the National Anthem, marking the spirit of India’s Independence Day and reinforcing the message that environmental responsibility is integral to responsible citizenship. As part of the program, a plantation drive was conducted within the school premises in the presence of Environmentalist Moharana Choudhury, Madhab Das, CRCC Dakshin Guwahati 1 Cluster Head Teacher School (In-charge) Gitika Barman, Prof (Dr) Hari Prasad Agarwal from RGU Guwahati, esteemed team members VoE, School teachers, and school students. The drive aimed to encourage students to actively contribute to creating a greener and healthier school environment.
Students participated enthusiastically in planting activities and learned about the importance of trees, biodiversity, and ecosystem conservation. Some plant saplings were gifted to school students for plantation.
The formal inauguration and introduction of the session were led by Sashi Prbaha Roy Pallabi Saikia and Mcdonald Choudhury then keynote speech on the Independence Day and about the main theme of the program by Madhab Das, Gitika Barman, and Prof (Dr) Hari Prasad Agarwal respectively, the key attraction of the program was an interactive session with school students on plastic and thermocol recycling along with circular economy concept.
Students were introduced to the environmental impacts of excessive plastic consumption, improper disposal, and the widespread use of thermocol products, as well as their recycling.
The session by Prof (Dr) Hari Prasad Agarwal, the invited subject expert, highlighted how plastic waste can contaminate land and water, affect wildlife and ecosystems, and create long-term environmental challenges.
The students also participated in a discussion of waste segregation techniques, where they learned how to appropriately separate waste at the source into categories such as recyclable, biodegradable, and non-recyclable.
The activity emphasized that responsible waste management begins with individual choices and proper segregation at the point of generation. The program also included an engaging discussion of sustainable alternatives to single-use plastic products, as well as the importance of reuse, recycling, and responsible consumption. Students were encouraged to adopt simple alternatives such as reusable bags, bottles, and containers and to reduce their dependence on disposable plastic and thermocol products.
To make environmental learning more engaging, a quiz and awareness games on environmental sustainability were organized, and the winners were felicitated with prizes by members of the VoE, including Puja Panyang, Naphilari K Syntiew, Nivedita Sinha, Isha Begum, Mufidur Rahman, and Damme Chigha N Aengh.
The winners of quiz competition were Amrita Baishya (Class X), Surajit Sen (Class X), Bindiya Mukharjee (Class VI), Ujjal Deka (Class X), Gagan Deka (Class X), Suraj Deka (Class X), Biki Roy(Class X), Animul Islam (Class VI), Dipak Roy (Class VII), Bhaggasree Deka (Class X) and Simanta Baishya(Class VI). These interactive activities encouraged students to test their knowledge, participate actively, and enjoyably learn important environmental concepts, as well as quiz questions on India’s freedom movement and independence. The students also took part in group activities and an environmental pledge, committing themselves to responsible waste management and sustainable lifestyle practices. An interactive question-and-answer session provided students with an opportunity to openly discuss their concerns, share ideas, and seek practical solutions to everyday environmental challenges.
A total of 77 students participated in the program along with the school’s teachers. The program aimed to convey a strong, positive message that young people play a crucial role in shaping a cleaner, greener, and more sustainable future, as well as patriotism for the country, as stated by Environmentalist Moharana Choudhury.
By empowering students with knowledge and practical skills, schools can become important centers for building environmentally responsible communities. The initiative concluded with a call for students to become “responsible citizens for a responsible generation” by reducing unnecessary plastic consumption, refusing single-use plastic wherever possible, segregating waste, promoting reuse and recycling, protecting nature, and inspiring their families and communities to adopt sustainable practices. “Independence is not only freedom from the past—it is also the responsibility to protect the future”.
The program demonstrated that the spirit of Independence Day can be strengthened through collective environmental action, and that every responsible choice made today can contribute to a cleaner, greener, and more sustainable India tomorrow.
