SRINAGAR: Commissioner, Housing and Urban Development Department, Mandeep Kaur, on Monday launched a Swachhata Internship Programme for schools across Kashmir Division, aimed at involving students in cleanliness drives, waste segregation and scientific waste management practices.
The programme was launched at Amar Singh College, Srinagar, in the presence of Commissioner Secretary Education Ram Niwas Sharma and Mission Director, Swachh Bharat Mission–Urban 2.0, J&K, Dr. Devansh Yadav.
The initiative has been launched by the Srinagar Municipal Corporation (SMC) in collaboration with the Directorate of School Education Kashmir and with support from Swaaha Resource Management Private Limited.
Under the programme, students will participate in activities related to source segregation of waste, recycling, composting, sanitation, resource recovery and community awareness. They will also be encouraged to conduct awareness campaigns in schools and neighbourhoods to promote responsible waste-management practices.
Addressing the event, Kaur said cleanliness should be viewed as a shared civic responsibility and stressed the role of educational institutions in promoting sustainable behavioural change.
Officials said the programme would also help students develop leadership, communication and public engagement skills while serving as “Swachhata Ambassadors” in their communities.
A Waste-to-Art exhibition was organised alongside the launch event, featuring sculptures and artworks created from discarded materials. The exhibition highlighted the potential of recycling and reuse while promoting awareness about sustainable waste management.
The initiative forms part of the Swachh Bharat Mission–Urban 2.0 and is aimed at increasing public participation in scientific solid waste management and encouraging cleanliness practices in schools, households and communities across Kashmir.
The launch programme was attended by Srinagar Municipal Commissioner Faz Lul Haseeb, senior SMC officials, school heads, teachers, students and other stakeholders.
