AICTE joins hand with Energy Swaraj Foundation to Combat Climate Change with Groundbreaking Youth Initiatives
May 2023, Delhi All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) introduced two groundbreaking programs aimed at tackling the pressing global issue of climate change in collaboration with The Energy Swaraj Foundation ( ESF )
Under the umbrella of the ‘Youth Actions for Climate Correction’ initiatives, the Energy & Climate Fellowship Program and the Energy and Climate Mentorship Program seek to empower the youth in combating climate change and creating a sustainable future.
The Energy & Climate Fellowship Program targets students who have completed their courses or are in their final year of study. Ten outstanding students from AICTE-approved institutes will be selected as Energy Swaraj Fellows and will dedicate one year to this transformative initiative. Throughout their tenure, fellows will receive comprehensive training and provide guidance to institutes across India, assisting them in combating the climate crisis through various actions and awareness plans formulated by the Energy Swaraj Foundation. The program also aims to promote the adoption of solar energy as a clean and renewable power source. Interested students can register for the fellowship through the following link: https://bit.ly/esf-aicte-fellowship.
The Energy & Climate Mentorship Program, on the other hand, is designed to support AICTE-affiliated institutes in their efforts to mitigate the impact of climate change. This program offers mentorship by Energy Swaraj Fellows and is limited to 100 institutes. Through this initiative, an Energy Swaraj Fellow will be assigned to each participating institute for a period of 15-20 days, assisting them in implementing various activities outlined in the action and awareness plans developed by the Energy Swaraj Foundation. Institutes can register for the mentorship program by visiting: https://es-pal.org/mentorship-program.
This joint endeavor by AICTE and the ESF aims to harness the potential of the youth, recognizing them as important stakeholders in shaping the future and facing the increasingly grave consequences of climate change.
Distinguished personalities such as Prof. T.G. Sitharam (Hon’ble Chairman AICTE), Dr. Rajive Kumar (Hon’ble Member Secretary AICTE), Dr. Mamta R. Agarwal (Advisor AICTE), and Prof. Chetan Singh Solanki (Professor at IIT-B and Founder of ESF), also known as the Solar Man of India, along with their respective teams, graced the launch event with their presence.
Speaking on the occassion Dr. Rajive Kumar, Member Secretary, praised Prof. Solanki’s mission to address climate change and underscored AICTE’s achievement of a 20% reduction in electricity consumption through conscious energy usage and avoiding unnecessary energy expenditure.
The event was launched by Prof. T.G. Sitharam,
he expressed his unwavering support for both initiatives and commended the noble cause of addressing and mitigating climate change.
Prof. Solanki introduced the fellowship and mentorship programs, emphasizing the centrality of energy in all aspects of life. He shed light on the pressing need to transition from using dark energy, which contributes to the problem, to embracing clean energy sources.
Prof. Solanki also advocated for his two fundamental principles of limiting consumption and localizing production. He lauded AICTE’s support and encouraged academic institutions to adopt these principles on their own campuses, involving every student in the process.
With the vision of combatting the climate crisis and directing the budding minds towards a sustainable future, India can become an example of a ‘Climate aware and Energy conscious global citizen’ in taking action for mitigating climate change.
