The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) has launched the ‘Eco Creativity and Innovation Hackathon’ in partnership with Amazon.in and Pi Jam Foundation on September 26, 2024. This initiative is aligned with Prime Minister Narendra Modi's LiFE (Lifestyle for Environment) campaign, which seeks to empower young minds to address environmental challenges using technology and creativity.
Targeting school students from classes 6th to 12th in government schools, the hackathon invites participation from across 14 states, including Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat, Tamil Nadu, Madhya Pradesh, and Jammu & Kashmir. The program aims to inspire students to develop innovative solutions for pressing environmental issues while enhancing their problem-solving and creative thinking skills.
Kriti Vardhan Singh, the Minister of State for Environment, Forest and Climate Change, highlighted the significance of this hackathon as a vehicle for fostering environmental education among youth. She emphasized the initiative's goal of igniting a passion for tackling environmental challenges, whether on a local or global scale. The hackathon is designed to encourage students to approach problems creatively and think critically, equipping them with the skills needed to devise effective solutions, as reported in Hindustan Times.
Akshay Kashyap, leading the Amazon Future Engineer Program in India, expressed enthusiasm for the collaboration, noting its role in encouraging students from diverse backgrounds to confront urgent environmental issues. This partnership aims to create a platform where students can engage in meaningful problem-solving and contribute to sustainability efforts.
The Eco-Hackathon represents a broader commitment to promoting environmental awareness and innovation among the younger generation, aligning with global efforts to combat climate change and foster sustainable practices.