Engaging Young Minds for Cleaner Air: Connecting Air Pollution Science with Action

As part of the project “Satellite-Based Hotspot Analysis, Emission Profiling and Public Outreach for Target Air Quality Management in Jaipur City,” TERI is conducting Information, Education, and Communication (IEC) activities across government schools in Jaipur. The initiative aims to strengthen students’ scientific understanding of urban air pollution, its primary emission sources, associated health risks, and actionable mitigation strategies.

The initial phase of the outreach programme was conducted from 8 to 13 October 2026, with further activities scheduled to continue monthly, as committed under the project. The sessions examine key contributors to ambient air quality deterioration—including vehicular and industrial emissions, road and construction dust, and open waste burning—with a particular focus on the health impacts of fine particulate matter PM2.5 and PM₁₀. Beyond theory, the outreach encourages students to examine how everyday habits impact air quality and equips them with practical steps to reduce emissions at home, in school, and across their communities.

Engagement formats include interactive workshops, quizzes, debates, poster and slogan-making competitions, and Nukkad Natak (street theatre). Hands-on interventions—such as plantation drives under the “Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam” campaign and “waste-to-wonder” upcycling projects—reinforce lessons on resource recovery and local conservation. The initiative also integrates Mission LiFE and the MY Bharat portal to promote sustainable lifestyle choices and youth civic action.

To date, the programme has reached 22 government schools out of a targeted 58 schools and 6 colleges across Jaipur. The project is being implemented with the support of the Rajasthan State Pollution Control Board (RSPCB) and the Department of School and College Education, Rajasthan.