This year’s Green Schools of India Award was awarded to Sri Sankara Vidyalaya Matriculation Higher Secondary School, Pammal, Chennai. Dr. M. S. Swaminathan, Chairman of the C. P. R. Environmental Education Centre, gave away the award at a function held on Monday, September 23, 2013, at 6.00 p.m.
Dr. C. V. Vaidyanathan, Vice-Chancellor, Sri Chandrasekharendra Sarswathi Viswa Maha Vidyalaya, Kanchipuram was the Chief Guest.
Sri Sankara Vidyalaya Matriculation Higher Secondary School, Pammal, Chennai, is active in environmental conservation activities. The school is a model of environmental management systems. Each classroom segregates solid waste into biodegradable and non-biodegradable waste. It encourages recycling of paper for making greeting cards and craft items. Students actively take part in rallies, cycle rallies, cleaning the temple tanks, tree plantation activities, skit on environmental issues, etc. Many of the students are animal lovers. The school has rainwater harvesting facilities. It also celebrates / observes all environmentally important days. A herbal garden is maintained in the school campus.
Use of plastic carry bags is banned within the school campus and non-vegetarian food is not allowed inside the school campus. Some students have become vegans and given up eating non-vegetarian food.