Maharashtra, Nov 26: Flipkart Foundation, the charitable arm of the Flipkart Group, has partnered with World Wide Fund for Nature – India (WWF-India) to launch a state-wide environmental education programme ‘Vasundhara Mitr – Young Conservation Leaders of the Eco Clubs of Maharashtra’. Supported by the Social Forestry Division of the Maharashtra Forest Department, the initiative aims to nurture a generation of young, responsible, and action-oriented environmental leaders across Maharashtra.
The 15-month project is being implemented across 36 districts of Maharashtra and will engage 1.5 lakh students from Classes 5-9, along with 6,000 educators and principals (including 72 master trainers). The initiative will establish 3,000 Green Schools that champion environmental education, sustainable practices, and youth-led conservation efforts in schools and surrounding communities, ultimately benefiting more than 9.3 lakh individuals, including community members and families.
The initiative was formally launched in Nagpur on 7 November, in the presence of senior officials from the Maharashtra Forest Department, representatives from WWF-India, and the Flipkart Foundation. The launch marked a significant step towards building a state-wide movement for environmental education and youth-led conservation. Training of Trainers (ToT) workshops conducted across Pune, Thane, Nashik, Sambhajinagar, Nagpur, and Amravati engaged educators from all 36 districts, equipping them with interactive learning modules and facilitation techniques to guide Eco Clubs in schools.
Mr. Vivek Khandekar IFS, Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (Social Forestry), Maharashtra Forest Department, said,
“The Vasundhara Mitr programme embodies the vision of nurturing environmental stewardship and sustainable development through education and community participation. It strongly aligns with the Government’s Mission LiFE (Lifestyle for Environment) and the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, which emphasize integrating environmental consciousness into everyday learning. By bringing our conservation ethos into classrooms, Vasundhara Mitr empowers students and educators to become proactive guardians of their natural surroundings. We appreciate the efforts taken by Flipkart Foundation and WWF-India, in transforming this vision into meaningful action across Maharashtra.”
The programme focuses on nurturing environmental awareness through interactive, activity-based learning. Students will undertake greening projects such as tree tagging, composting, nature observation, waste segregation, and water-quality testing, alongside community initiatives like Green Audits and awareness campaigns on key environmental days. Educators trained under the programme will guide and support these initiatives, ensuring long-term environmental engagement within schools and communities. The structured framework developed under the initiative will equip educators with training resources and measurement tools to ensure the long-term adoption of environmental education across Maharashtra.
Commenting on the collaboration, Sarah Gideon, Vice President, Communications and Flipkart Foundation, said,
“At Flipkart Foundation, we believe that fostering environmental consciousness begins with education and action at the grassroots level. Through this partnership we aim to empower young minds to understand, respect, and protect our environment. By nurturing curiosity and leadership among students, we hope to inspire a generation that not only learns about sustainability but lives it every day.”
Mr. Ravi Singh, Secretary General & CEO, WWF-India, said,
“The Vasundhara Mitr programme seeks to nurture an environmentally conscious generation by deepening their connection with nature, building their capacity for curiosity, self-learning and problem-solving. By equipping educators and students with the tools and skills to take meaningful action, this partnership will help strengthen eco-clubs in the schools under the National Green Corps (NGC) scheme across 36 districts of Maharashtra and inspire innovative solutions for a sustainable future.”
This partnership reflects the shared vision of Flipkart Foundation and WWF-India to promote environmental responsibility, drive community-based conservation, and inspire collective action towards a greener and more sustainable future.
