After having taken an energy audit programme to school students, the Gujarat Energy Development Agency (GEDA) is introducing energy conservation awareness course modules in engineering colleges across the state. Preparing special course modules, the agency is all set to hold special workshops in 25-odd engineering colleges in the state.

GEDA senior project executive R N Pandya said that special course modules have been prepared which will be taught to final year engineering students from electrical and mechanical streams. The education modules are aimed at teaching students the specifics of energy efficiency in lightings systems, boilers and furnace systems, and electric motors. Also, energy consultants are being roped to conduct workshops in colleges.

‘‘Eventually we intend to hand over the course material to respective colleges and will help them run the course as and when required,’’ said Pandya. GEDA is already working with school children through its Bal Urja Rakshak Dal programme, where students predominantly from tribal and rural schools have been roped in to carry out energy audits in their respective schools and neighbourhoods. Aimed primarily at checking power theft, the programme has, however, proved effective in energy conservation as well as cutting down electricity bills.

Though the GEDA college programme is not as ambitious as the Bal Urja Rakshak Dal programme, the agency said that the additional input in the engineering course curriculum is the first step towards imparting energy conservation studies.While this year, the primary focus of the GEDA programme remains engineering colleges, it intends to target polytechnics and diploma engineering students from the next year onwards, said Pandya.

Source: Expressindia.com

Healwell Wellness Centre, a healthcare initiative, of Sintex International Limited has recently distributed homoeopathic preventive doses for chikungunya to about 13,000 students of 43 Ahmedabad Municipal School Board-run schools. School Board chairman Jayprakash Desai inaugurated the event at Ellisbridge School-26.

Dr Shivang Swaminarayan, Head-Healthcare Division, addressed the teachers and students on the occasion by providing insight on chikungunya, its cause, symptoms, measure to prevent the same, a Sintex release said.

Due to Jayprakash Desai’s sensitivity towards the magnitude of spread of chikungunya, homoeopathic preventive doses for chikungunya were distributed. Sintex has been providing free medicines for chikungunya from Healwell Wellness Centres in Kalol and Ahmedabad.

Source: Expressindia.com