Kickstarting the initiative with a unique actionable essay contest for students across Mumbai/MMR and Maharashtra 

To inculcate the spirit of #मीforMaharashtra

Winners to Present Actionable Solutions to Environment Minister

Mumbai, 25^th November, 2020 (GPN): In a unique initiative, school and college students across Mumbai and Maharashtra are being invited to share actionable ideas to combat environmental challenges. The initiative of not for profit Project Mumbai and the Government of Maharashtra (Ministry of Environment and Climate Change) aims to give an opportunity to children of the region to present student-led solutions through ‘Ideas for Action’, an essay contest. The contest intents to inculcate and encourage the spirit of #मीforMaharashtra among young minds to craft responsible young generation. 

The contest will give young minds a chance to share a solution for Mumbai and Maharashtra’s Land, Water and Air. NEERI and PwC are knowledge partners in this creative effort. Winners of the contest will be selected by an eminent jury featuring prominent citizens of the state. They will get an opportunity to share their ideas with Mr. Aditya Thackeray, Environment Minister, Maharashtra and other environment experts at an exclusive round table. Winners will also get chance to participate in ‘Environment 2.0-Gen Next: Land, Water, Air’, a goal-oriented conference of influencers in February 2021. 

Mrs. Manisha Mhaiskar, Principal Secretary, Ministry of Environment and Climate Change said that “Environment and Climate Change Department , Govt. of Maharashtra has taमken up a holistic initiative, Mazi Vasundhara Abhiyan (My Earth Campaign), to make the citizens aware of the climate change and environmental issues and to encourage them to make a conscious effort towards the improvement of the environment.”

She further added, “It is a unique integrated first ever exercise in India by the Department, focusing on all five elements of nature called “Panchamahabhuta” comprising of Bhumi (Earth), Jal (Water), Vayu (Air), Agni (Energy), Akash (Enhancement) to ensure sustainable development for the state. The younger generation is committed, enthused and extremely proactive in providing solutions to issues when it comes to the environmental topics and that resonates with our vision. At the Department all our initiatives and plans are inclusive across all age groups and we are very excited to engage children in this first of its kind action plan.”

Shishir Joshi, CEO and Founder, Project Mumbai said that “As a model of public private people participation, we at Project Mumbai have always worked at including every segment of the society, especially the critical stake holders. In this case, children and young adults. They have a voice of reason which needs to be heard. Ideas for Action, leading to the Environment 2.0 Gen Next is one big sustained step in this direction for a better environment, with clean air, land and water. The initial response has been phenomenal.”

About the Contest –

• Contest Theme 

Student essays should offer actionable solutions to any one (either clean air, clean water or clean land) of the following environmental challenges: 

‘Ideas in Action: Moving towards a world with clean air/ clean water/ clean land.’ 

Inspired by the thought of #मीforMaharashtra

The entries can either be in Marathi, Hindi or English.  They can be in a text/essay or audio/video files. 

Areas where solutions are the need of the hour include segregation of waste at source, landfills, waste management, sewage treatment, rainwater harvesting, river cleaning, marine litter, beach cleaning, vehicular emission, waste burning and noise pollution.  

• Who can participate: 

The ‘Ideas for Action’ essay contest is open to students of higher secondary schools (ages 14 to 17) and junior college (ages 17 to 21). 

Only those entries which are certified and submitted through the school/college/educational institution will be accepted. 

Every participating institution can send not more than two entries under each category: Land, water or air. 

Every shortlisted student and school will get a certificate of honour as Gen-Next Champion.   

Entries can be mailed to:

[email protected]

Details of the process can also be seen on www.projectmumbai.org

Last date for entries is December 20, 2020. ENDS

About Project Mumbai:

Project Mumbai is a not-for-profit model of public-private-people participation.  Winner of the United Nations SDG Solidary Action Award 2020 for its humanitarian work during COVID 19 (one among fifty globally to be awarded this honour), Project Mumbai has been active in healthcare, environment, education and governance-related verticals for a better quality of life for Mumbai’s citizens.

Project Mumbai’s environment initiative ‘The Mumbai Plastic Recyclothon’ (promoting behavioral change by reducing, refusing and reusing plastic) and Jallosh (protecting water bodies) have been mentioned in the Limca Book of Records 2020. 

About Department of Environment and Climate Change: 

The Department of Environment & Climate Change, Government of Maharashtra, led by a young and energetic Aditya Thackeray as the lead, has drawn up an exhaustive ambitious plan that will explore the five elements of nature: earth, wind, water, fire and ether.

I n case of earth, the department will focus on afforestation, conservation of forests, solid waste management, prevention of land degradation, etc.

With wind, interpreted as air, the department will focus on assisting the Department of Industry and Transport, and other relevant departments to reduce air pollution and improve the State’s air quality index.

The plan for water includes some of the ongoing work to rejuvenate rivers, besides a focus on marine biodiversity, safeguarding and cleaning water bodies and coastal fronts like beaches.

Interpreting fire as a form of energy, the department will work in sync with other departments to promote the efficient use of energy, reduce its wastage, and produce renewable energy through innovative means.

Ether has been interpreted as space and light, extending it to a “change in human nature”.