The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) hosted the National Level Showcase of the Eco-Creativity & Innovation Hackathon today at the NDMC Convention Centre, New Delhi. This initiative, aligned with the Prime Minister’s Mission LiFE (Lifestyle for Environment) Campaign, underscores the importance of sustainable and mindful living.
Launched on June 5, 2024, on the Code Mitra platform, the hackathon was a collaborative effort between Pi Jam Foundation, Amazon Future Engineer, and the Ministry’s Environment Education Programme (EEP). Its primary goal was to inspire students across India to address local environmental challenges through creativity, technology, and innovation.
Participants engaged in activities such as educational videos, interactive puzzles, and idea submission tasks aimed at fostering eco-conscious thinking. The hackathon witnessed a remarkable response with:
- 411,711 participants nationwide.
- 190,033 ideas submitted to tackle pressing environmental issues.
- Participation from 14 states, including Punjab, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Jammu & Kashmir, Jharkhand, and Maharashtra.
- Maximum entries were recorded from Punjab, led by districts such as Sangrur, Patiala, Ludhiana, and Amritsar.
At the event, the top five student ideas, top five teachers, and top five state-level nodal agencies were recognized for their contributions to the hackathon’s success. The felicitation ceremony was attended by Ms. Leena Nandan, Secretary, and Shri Tanmay Kumar, Special Secretary, MoEFCC.
Addressing the audience, Ms. Nandan highlighted the significance of Mission LiFE as a grassroots movement that positions India as a global leader in environmental awareness. She applauded the hackathon for encouraging youth engagement in solving ecological challenges.
Shri Kumar emphasized the importance of mindful resource utilization over wasteful consumption. He also praised the renaming of Eco-clubs as Mission LiFE Eco-clubs, an initiative by the Department of School Education & Literacy to promote environmental consciousness among students.
The event featured a final showcase of 35 outstanding projects, selected from the thousands of submissions. These projects demonstrated the creativity and determination of India’s youth in addressing environmental challenges through technological and practical solutions.
The Eco-Creativity & Innovation Hackathon has proven to be a significant milestone in promoting environmental education among children and youth in India. By integrating technology with ecological awareness, the initiative sets the stage for a future where innovation and sustainability go hand in hand.
As India embraces the Mission LiFE campaign, events like this hackathon reinforce the importance of collective action and creative thinking in building a sustainable future.
