GREEN INITIATIVES

GREEN INITIATIVES

Green initiatives within and outside the campus have been a significant contribution in raising environmental consciousness. Meera Girls College green initiatives encompass greening the campus, sweeping away wasteful inefficiencies, conservation of energies, correct disposal and handling of waste, purchase of environment friendly supplies and effective recycling program. Green Initiatives The college is committed to maintaining a green and clean campus, inculcating Green Spirit among the students to make them aware of the environmental challenges faced by people around the world. The college has initiated diverse green initiatives to make students aware of these practices, contributing towards generating environmental awareness. Green initiatives over the years have resulted in the spread of green and vegetative cover on the campus. 275 plants were planted in the campus and outside the campus. Ten small gardens, RASHI VATIKA, MEERA VATIKA, SARASWATI VATIKA, HERBAL GARDEN AND GREEN BLOCK, have been developed on the college campus for different purposes. About a Hundred medicinal, Forty xerophytes, Eight gymnosperms, Ten rare, Twenty fruit, several ornamental plants and various types of grasses are planted and maintained in different gardens and campus area. The garden boundaries are demarcated by planting hedges and decorated by planting ornamental plants, climbers and grass. For ensuring the participation of students in developing the greenery and environmental consciousness, students are promoted to plant trees in the neighborhood of their houses. The wastewater produced from the centralized RO plant is utilized for watering the plants; the water collected through rainwater harvesting systems is also used to water the plants in all the gardens in the college. Students enjoy the fresh air and a green environment during their stay on the campus.

Compost Pits College Administration effectively manages waste disposal. Separate bins are placed at appropriate places for the collection of different types of waste. Two compost pits, one in botanical and the other in the herbal garden, are used for preparing the compost by plant litter. The college has a functional vermicompost unit for the disposal of biodegradable solid waste. Campaigns for spreading awareness towards energy conservation, pollution control, ban on polythene etc through messages on flex and banners are displayed all over the campus. Rainwater Harvesting Rainwater harvesting refers to the trapping and storing of rainwater so to enable its use on-site whenever required. Rainwater harvesting systems are installed, on the academic and administrative block and library, in a decentralized manner. Rainwater is collected from roofs and is directed to collection tanks using channels of pipes. Tanks for the collection of rainwater are designed to recharge borewells and raise the water table of campus. The primary purpose of rainwater harvesting is to use the locally available rainwater to meet water requirements throughout the year. Installation of rainwater harvesting helped in improving groundwater quality by dilution, improved soil moisture and reduced soil erosion by minimizing run-off water. Liquid Waste Management Effluents from toilets and laboratories are the primary liquid waste. These are collected in the septic pits and allowed to settle into the soil and get filtered. The septic tanks are located distantly from the water supplies. Wastewater produced from a centralized RO plant is used for watering plants, cleaning floors and mopping. The college plans to set up a wastewater treatment plant to use filtered water for irrigation purpose. E-Waste Management Black bins are placed outside the IT Centre (Administrative block) and outside the Smart classrooms. Eco Tours Various departments and committees of the college organize field trips to nearby places rich in biodiversity. Field trips are unique in natural settings and cannot be duplicated in the classroom. Sajjangarh Biological Park, Bio-Diversity Park, Banki Forest are among the few. These trips generated a positive attitude towards the environment and created authentic learning opportunities for students, regardless of the content area. Excursions provide opportunities for experiential learning that is authentic, first-hand, sensory-based learning, allows activities like explore, touch, listen to, watch, move things, disassemble and reassemble. Energy Conservation and Pollution Control Measures Traditional bulbs are being replaced by LED lamps as part of an energy conservation campaign on campus. The car-free day is observed on the first Monday of every month as a carbon-neutrality measure. We take pride in the effective implementation and sustenance of the ‘green drive’ at the minimum possible cost. Environmental Awareness Activities World Environment Day, Earth Day, Ozone Day, World Wildlife Day are celebrated in the college every year, students and staff actively participate. Nature Eco Club, NSS, NCC, Rangering units and Departmental councils (Botany, Geography and Zoology) organize extension lectures, quiz competitions related to environmental awareness etc. Collaborative activities with Forest Department are also organized on these special days. Other activities include Harit Shapath), Monsoon Utsav (Mansoon festival), Harit Saptah (Green Week) are some of the programmes organized to symbolize the green activities on the campus. The programmes under “Jal Swavlamban Abhiyan” are part of the ISR initiative by the institution. To usher in environmental awareness plants are presented as a souvenir to guests, experts, resource persons, eminent personalities and other visitors. Under the Harit Rajasthan campaign initiated by the Government of Rajasthan, NSS swayam-sevikas planted 100 plants. Pedestrian Friendly Roads Walking paths around the vatikas and garden within the campus have been constructed to enable exercise around the green cover. The hostels are within the campus; walkways and local pathways are available for easy commutation of hostellers on foot. Polythene Free Campus Awareness and sensitization programs under Swachhta Abhiyan are organised to realize the goals of the polythene free campus. Adequate measures towards waste management – Dustbins, vending machines etc are installed at different locations around the campus. Paperless Office The account section functions on a paper-less mode while the establishment section is partially- paperless.