NEW DELHI: The Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE), under the Union Power Ministry, has decided to use textbooks and schoolchildren as a "tactical weapon" to inculcate a sense of "conservation" in the people.

Apart from setting up energy clubs in schools, the BEE is developing a new "module" in seven languages — English, Hindi, Tamil, Malayalam, Marathi, Assamese and Bangla — to make it part of the curriculum on efficient use and conservation of energy. In the first phase, this campaign will be launched in 10 schools in each State and depending upon its success, the programme will be extended to other schools and institutions, says BEE Director-General Ajay Mathur.

The effort has already borne fruit with the National Council for Education and Research training (NCERT) agreeing to include energy conservation in the syllabus for standards VII and IX from this academic session. It will be extended to other classes in the coming years.

The NCERT has also agreed in principle to introduce a chapter on energy conservation in the school curriculum.

Training of teachers

The BEE has initiated the process of sensitisation training of selected teachers, says Mr. Mathur.

It plans to reach out to schoolchildren in 10 cities in the initial stage.

Related activities will include a national painting competition, debates and cartoon illustration contests to inspire children.

There can be no better way of educating adults and inculcating the habit of conservation in them than involving children in the campaign.

"The impact of such a movement and its chances of success are quite high as we have seen in the initial stages in Delhi,'' says Mr. Mathur.

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