PANASONIC RECOGNIZES YOUNG TALENT FOR THEIR VISION ON ‘GREEN PLANET’
WINNERS FELICITATED AT ECOSKOOL PROGRAM GRAND FINALE
02nd May, 2013, Delhi, India: Panasonic, the global leader in innovation and technology, today awarded bright young minds for their impressive thinking on creating a greener and better tomorrow. The company felicitated the winners of Panasonic Ecoskool Program, in addition to Kids Witness News and Eco Picture Diary programs. With the philosophy of creating ‘A Better Life, A Better World’, Panasonic has always focused on its community development initiatives that contribute towards a sustainable society for the future. The winner of the grand finale was Cambridge International School, Amritsar with their heart-wrenching story encouraging tree plantation.The first runner-up awards went to Holy Angels Convent School from Muzaffarnagarwhile GSSS Udaipur Chamba Block School from Shimla stood third in the competition.
As a responsible corporate citizen, Panasonic has always been proactive and committed towards preserving the environment and has incorporated the same in its key business operations and procedures. Following its commitment towards sustainable development, Panasonic engaged with children who form the future of the world. With the Ecoskool initiative, Panasonic aims to encourage and engage young minds to contribute towards building a greener tomorrow. With the idea of ‘catch them young’, Panasonic started an educational support program called ‘Kids Witness News’, whichhelps develop creativity and communication skills of school children through video making.Another unique initiative, the Eco Picture Diarycontest encourages students to devise approaches for a positive impact on the environment.In the last three years, Panasonic has positively impacted lives of almost 1,25,000 individuals since start of its environment initiatives in India since 2009.
Panasonic Ecoskool is a reputed nationwide annual environment sensitization program which is driven in over 215 different schools across 24 cities in India, touching close to 75,000 people. Using theatre as the mode of communication, this program imparts knowledge about the impact of global warming and climate change and inspires students to take strong individual and collective steps towards saving the environment.For the initiative, Panasonic collaborated with Eco Roots Foundation - an NGO that aims at sensitizing people towards nature in innovative ways like conducting regular workshops on climate and energy issues.
Speaking on the occasion, Mr.Hem Pandey, Additional Secretary - MoEF (Ministry of Environment & Forest) said, “Considering the grim ecological and environmental conditions we face today, it has become imperative for all of us to recognize our responsibilities towards the planet and towards the well-being of the society. I would congratulate Panasonic for coming forward with an initiative like the Ecoskool Program. It is only through such well-designed mass outreach solutions that we can collectively achieve a greener planet“.
The various fun-filled activities carried out under the Panasonic Ecoskool program were designed to make the children think on how their modest contribution can bring about a change for a greener earth.The programme had city and national roundsencompassing students, teachers and parents. Theatre personalities and environmentalists were involved in this event actively, guiding the participants on the themes and techniques to utilize in their acts. Workshops with children were carried out using the most powerful element of human mind — human imagination to echo the significance of nature.
Congratulating the winners, Mr.Manish Sharma, Managing Director, Panasonic India,said, “The idea of striving for a better world has been a part of our DNA since the company’s inception nearly 100 year ago. World over, we contribute to the society through our corporate citizenship activities that are based on education and co-existence; with focuson environment and next-generation”. He further added, “Our Ecoskool Program is yet another milestone in building a better India by encouraging children to be environment conscious at an early stage of their lives; and I am highly impressed by the talent demonstrated today”.
Present at the occasion, Ms.RadhikaKalia,Head - Corporate Public Relations and CSR, Panasonic India,said, “Complying by our management philosophy, we concentrate on creating a sustainable society and thus view our corporate citizenship activities as an investment in society and not mere profit distribution”.She further added, “Panasonic’s corporate responsibility focuses on three key strategies - addressing social challenges in emerging and developing countries; global promotion of eco learning programs; and raising employees' innovation mindset as a global citizen.Panasonic Ecoskool concept is one of the many remarkable initiatives under our commitment to the environment and education”.