Srinagar, January 31, KDC: Four schools from Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh have brought laurels to the region by winning the prestigious Wipro earthian Awards 2025, recognizing their outstanding work in sustainability education and environmental stewardship.
The awards were presented at the 15th edition of the Wipro earthian Awards ceremony hosted by Wipro Limited at Azim Premji University, Bengaluru. The annual initiative promotes integrated sustainability education and honours schools and colleges across India that demonstrate meaningful, long-term engagement with environmental issues.
The 2025 edition of the Wipro earthian program received more than 2,000 submissions from across the country. Following a rigorous evaluation process, an independent jury selected 25 winning teams whose projects offered fresh insights into biodiversity, waste management, and water conservation through a blend of hands-on fieldwork and reflective academic analysis. Among these, four schools from Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh were recognised for their exceptional contributions.
Winners from Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh
Druk Padma Karpo School, Shey, Leh, Ladakh
Popularly known as the “Rancho School” from the film 3 Idiots, students from Druk Padma Karpo School undertook an in-depth study of Ladakh’s growing waste crisis. Their project combined research, field visits, and creative expression to examine urban and rural waste systems. Students interacted with NGOs such as PAGIR, practiced waste segregation, composting, and zero-waste initiatives within their school, and highlighted the increasing threats posed by plastic pollution, tourism, and lifestyle changes. Interviews with local authorities, waste workers, community members, and His Eminence Thuksey Rinpoche enriched their understanding of both operational and cultural aspects of waste management. The project culminated in impactful outputs including comics, data visualizations, essays, a school magazine, and a waste-themed ramp walk.
Government Girls Higher Secondary School, Nishat, Srinagar, Jammu & Kashmir
The team documented biodiversity on their school campus and carried out detailed surveys in Dachigam National Park to study the role of sustainability in maintaining ecological balance. Their work highlighted how deforestation, pollution, overuse of resources, and climate change are driving biodiversity loss. The study emphasized the interdependence of ecosystems and biodiversity’s role in food security, climate regulation, soil health, and clean air and water. It also promoted sustainable practices such as conservation, recycling, afforestation, and wildlife protection, stressing the shared responsibility of individuals, communities, and governments in preserving biodiversity for future generations.
Government Higher Secondary School, B.K. Pora, Budgam, Jammu & Kashmir
Students from GHSS B.K. Pora conducted a biodiversity survey in and around their school, identifying wild edible plants, insects, and bird species. Through interactions with local farmers, beekeepers, potters, and nursery owners, they documented ecological changes over time. The team also built an insect habitat, gaining a deeper appreciation for the ecological importance of small organisms and green spaces. Their findings revealed the impact of seasonal variations and human activity on local biodiversity, while participation in the Wipro earthian initiative fostered ecological awareness, responsibility, and compassion among students.
PM Shri Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya, Leh, Ladakh
The winning team carried out a field-based study of traditional and modern water conservation systems in Ladakh, focusing on the Nubra and Zanskar regions. By engaging with villagers and local leaders, students explored how communities cope with water scarcity in a cold desert environment. The project documented traditional practices such as chures (community water-sharing systems) and zings (meltwater reservoirs), alongside modern innovations like artificial glaciers. Through case studies and analysis of glacier-water harvesting and climate-resilient farming, the project showcased Ladakh as a model of climate resilience rooted in indigenous knowledge and modern solutions.
Certificates and cash prizes were presented to the winning teams by Anurag Behar, Chief Executive Officer of Azim Premji Foundation, and Narayan P. S., Global Head of Sustainability and Societal Initiatives at Wipro Limited and Managing Trustee of Wipro Foundation.
Speaking on the occasion, Narayan P. S. said the strength of the Wipro earthian program lies in grounding sustainability in lived realities. He noted that students across regions have moved beyond awareness to sustained engagement, approaching real environmental challenges with curiosity, rigor, and empathy, and reinforcing the idea that meaningful care for the planet begins at home.
Since its inception in 2011, the Wipro earthian program has engaged with over 51,000 schools, 2.1 lakh students, and 41,000 teachers across India. Its impact has expanded through collaborations with organisations such as the Centre for Environment Education (CEE), C.P.R. Environmental Education Centre (CPREEC), Wild Ecologues, IIT Madras, IIM Bangalore, various state governments, and educators within the Sustainability Educators Network.
The Wipro earthian Awards reflect Wipro’s commitment to progress driven by purpose, translating its sustainability vision into consistent, on-ground engagement with communities. Through such initiatives, the company aims to create long-term environmental impact by building awareness and encouraging action on critical ecological challenges. (KDC)
