CHHATTISGARH
Advancing Climate Action through resilient education
The CARE Project works to support schools and communities in Chhattisgarh in responding to climate change through education.
CARE Project's work in Chhattisgarh is focused in bridging lived knowledge, educators and institutions to understand how education can be enhanced to respond to climate-related risks and support better preparedness among students.
CARE believes that schools can play an important role in preparing communities for environmental changes while encouraging sustainable and healthy living practices.
The project combines science, creativity, and community participation to build awareness and resilience among children, teachers, and schools.
Pollution and Heat Impacted Everyday
Chhattisgarh is India’s second-largest coal-producing state. It feeds several thermal power-plants, both within and outside the state. The lived reality of coal production and mining is that the black dust infiltrates every part of the daily life. Coal lines run through the heart of towns including near schools and public spaces.
Thus while supplying immense thermal energy, the combination of massive coal mining and extreme summer temperatures has lead to a vicious and exhausting climate toll on the lives of people.
The compounded effects of heat, air and water pollution, alongside changing rainfall and temperature patterns underline the lived realities for communities.
CARE is working with educators at different levels from local schools, to Block Resource Cluster (BRC) heads, eventually reaching the government for climate action. The aim is to identify hazards and risks in their area and then collectively create pathways of resilience and climate interventions.
Teacher → school
School → BRC
BRC → Government
Government → Climate action and resilient education
200+ teachers from PM SHRI schools
70 BRCs, impacting 2100 schools in state
Outreach and inreach: CARE involves outreach and inreach as a dialectical reciprocal action research.
September-October 2025
November 2025
January-February 2026
Field Visits
The CARE team visited schools in Korba District (Bilaspur Division) and Jagdalpur District (Bastar Division) to introduce the project and explore opportunities for collaboration on climate change education.
These visits were carried out in coordination with Samagra Shiksha, Raipur under the pilot phase of the CARE Project.
EduResilience Summit 2025:
CARE in Action
CARE conducted an EduResilience Summit in Raipur bringing together 70 BRCs, government and other organisations including UNICEF, LLF and IISER Pune.
70 BRCs -- 1 BRC is responsible for 300 schools in the state.
The summit aimed to strengthen climate action and resilience in schools by bringing together educators, government departments, scientific institutions, and development partners.
“...through this (CARE project), we honor a fundamental child right: the right to a liveable future. We are not just teaching children about the world—we are equipping them to use that knowledge for action”
Dr. Shalini Sharma,
Associate Professor, IISER Pune
Lead, CARE Project
The Way Forward
The CARE Project remains committed to advancing climate action through resilient education in Chhattisgarh and beyond.
Moving forward, CARE aims to:
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Strengthen partnerships with schools, Samagra Shiksha, scientific institutions, UNICEF, and community organisations
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Expand teacher training and capacity-building initiatives on climate education and environmental monitoring through creative hands-on approaches, including arts-integrated trainings aligned with NEP 2020
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Develop locally relevant learning resources and hands-on science activities linked to climate resilience
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Encourage student participation in sustainability practices , environmental observation, and community engagement
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Support schools in creating safer, healthier, and climate-responsive learning environments
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Contribute evidence and field-based insights to inform future education and school resilience policies
Through continuous collaboration, innovation, and community participation, CARE envisions schools becoming active spaces for climate awareness, resilience, and positive environmental action.