PUNE: What is a fuel? What is energy? What are the current reserves of exhaustible energy? What is the need for fuel conservation...
These are just some of the issues that secondary school students as well as graduates, irrespective of their disciplines (art, science or commerce), will soon be addressing in their classrooms. For, under a central government initiative, a course in energy conservation is being designed for ninth standard and second-year bachelors' degree students.
"Given the rising oil prices in the global market and the declining oil reserves, the best alternative is to educate youngsters in the judicious use of all energy sources," explained, Leena Mehendale, as joint secretary and executive director of Petroleum Conservation Research Association (PCRA),which comes under the ministry of petroleum and natural gas.
The initial directive to this effect came from the human resources development ministry, said Mehendale, a Maharashtra civil servant, on deputation to the ministry.
While a committee, comprising Sujata Phadke from the SNDT university; L. Chandrashekaran, manager, Bharat Petroleum Corporation Ltd; agricultural scientist Rajesh Urkude; and A. Kaushik from PCRA, are working on the syllabus, a workshop will be held in April for course writers. "The idea is to invite maximum participation from all corners of the country," said Mehendale, who is on a visit to the city.
The PCRA has also decided to involve school students from across the country to conduct surveys, mostly in rural areas, on energy usage and conservation -- both in agriculture and domestic purposes, Mehendale said.
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