NEW DELHI: To promote discussions around energy efficiency in schools, The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI), a leading think-tank, launched the digital game ‘Greendom – The King’s Estate’ as part of The Green School Project in association with Tata Steel.

The game, which is developed in the format of the popular board game Monopoly, aims to (a) create awareness and promote use of alternative sources of energy by playing and doing (b) help students understand thrift (c) inculcate good habits that promotes a balanced lifestyle and (d) learn basic financial intelligence.

Speaking on the occasion Pankaj Satija, Chief Regulatory Affairs, Tata Steel said “A digital game is a fun way to inculcate environmental consciousness among students. Students are the flagbearer of change and it is through such initiatives that they become better equipped to spread the message of Green School far and wide.”

TERI formally launched the Green School Project, in association with Tata Steel in 2017 in Odisha and Jharkhand. Now in its second phase, the project has spread to six districts in Odisha and Jharkhand, covering a total of 30 schools in areas where Tata Steel operates. The districts covered include East Singhbhum, West Singhbhum and Ramgarh (In Jharkhand) and Kyonjhar, Sungargarh and Jajpur (in Odisha).

It promotes environmental stewardship among students of classes 6 to 8 through classroom and outdoor activities to improve critical, interdisciplinary and holistic thinking. Since its inception, the project has worked with teachers and eco-clubs to instill a sense of responsibility in the target groups to take ownership of their surroundings and conscious steps toward sustainable living.

The project focuses on spreading awareness and building capacities on four themes – waste, water, energy, and biodiversity – among the school community depending on their needs. Need assessment surveys are conducted to identify the priority areas in each school, thus making it location-specific. Activity-based style of learning has been adopted for students and the programme involves interactive sessions with experts, movie screenings, quizzes, and hands-on activities.

Dr. Ajay Mathur, Director General, TERI, said, “Our initiative with Tata Steel aims at promoting good practices by sharing the learning with schools and gives students an opportunity to become the initiators of change. The schools, on the other hand, become the ideal institution to inspire and motivate the students and contribute to the larger goal of a sustainable country.”