First Citizen shows the way

While parts of Delhi are reeling under power cuts and water shortage, it is the President’s Estate which is showing the way forward on how to conserve ene­r­­gy and preserve the environment in an eco-friendly way.

Conceived and launched by President Pratibha Devisingh Patil, Roshni is an initiative aimed at making the President’s Estate a green and environment friendly habitat which practices conservation and efficient use of power, water and even encourages recycling of waste.  

Roshni is an innovative idea for holistic development of a habitat encompassing environment management and empowerment of the community, especially women and children. It is a catalyst for sustainable habitats and can drive the nation to build several sustainable habitats through positive changes and by generating an environmental conscience.

Archana Datta, OSD and Press Secretary to the President shares details of the initiative, “Roshni was conceived and launched by the President for sustainable urban habitats, energy conservation, educating the youth and empowering the women. This is the first time that an urban habitat (the President’s Estate) was awarded ISO 14001: 2004 Certification for Environment Management.”

One of the major achievements of Roshni has been the setting up of five Self-Help Gro­ups (SHGs) within the Pre­si­dent’s Estate where fem­ale family members of employees such as gardeners, drivers, peons and electricians etc working on the Estate, are involved in making vermi-compost, organic compost, art and craft items and handmade paper bags apart from being engaged in other activities like masala grinding and waste management etc.

These SHGs have not only empowered women economically but have also enhanced their self-esteem. Similarly, setting up of a Sopan – a crèche for children of casual labourers working in Rashtrapati Bhavan under the aegis of Roshni has enabled children to get nutritious meals and basic education while their mo­t­h­­ers earn their livelihoods.

To facilitate the process of universalisation and to ensure a systematic institutionalisation, The Roshni Prachodaya Society was formed and registered under the Registration of Societies Act 1860 with the aim to pursue and promote the President’s vision of making urban habitats within the country eco-friendly and sustainable in years to come.  

Now in association with India@75, a CII initiative, the society is working towards a greener environment. Arun Chaube, a consultant at India@75, says, “People in India want to work towards a hea­l­t­hy habitat but don’t know how to do it. They do not have ma­ny resources either. So, we are helping people by teaching them how to conserve their envir­o­n­ment. We are working with the Rashtrapati Bhavan and want to replicate the idea of Roshni outside the Bhavan. So we are reaching out to schools to educate children also about their responsibility towards the environment.”

Robin Singh, a Std X student from Kendriya Vidyalaya Border Security Force (BSF) School at Bandipore, Jammu & Kashmir who won the logo competition for Roshni informs that the information for the competition was given to him by his Art teacher. “I made a hut which showed that we can use eco-friendly things while building our homes and I made a tree, which showed that all of us should plant at least one tree.”

The awareness of the cause seems to be bearing fruit already, we say.