New Delhi: Hawa Badlo, India’s nationwide clean-air movement focused on driving awareness and collective action against air pollution, has successfully launched the third edition of its flagship student engagement initiative, Hawa Badlo School Warrior 3.0. The launch marks a significant step forward in the movement’s ongoing mission to empower young citizens to actively participate in shaping a cleaner, healthier, and more sustainable future for the country.
The launch event underscored the growing recognition that environmental challenges—particularly air pollution—require not only policy interventions but also strong grassroots participation. Central to this vision is the belief that young people, when equipped with knowledge, platforms, and encouragement, can become powerful catalysts for long-term behavioural change. School Warrior 3.0 builds on this philosophy by placing students at the heart of climate and clean-air conversations.
The initiative was launched in the presence of Mr. Praveer Kumar Agarwal, Executive Director – Training, GAIL (India) Limited, whose continued support has been instrumental in expanding the scale and impact of the campaign. GAIL’s sustained association with Hawa Badlo reflects the crucial role that responsible industry participation can play in strengthening environmental awareness and nurturing youth leadership. By supporting School Warrior 3.0, GAIL has reaffirmed its commitment to social responsibility and environmental stewardship, particularly in the area of clean energy and sustainability.
Hawa Badlo School Warrior 3.0 invites students from schools across India to engage deeply with issues of air quality, sustainability, and responsible environmental behaviour. Through a wide range of creative and expressive formats—including essays, illustrations, short films, videos, innovations, and storytelling—students are encouraged to reflect on the problem of air pollution and propose ideas, solutions, and everyday actions that can contribute to cleaner air. The campaign is designed to ensure that children are not merely passive recipients of information but active contributors to environmental dialogue.
At its core, the School Warrior initiative is a youth empowerment platform. While students may not yet directly influence policymaking, the campaign recognises their immense ability to shape attitudes, influence family and community behaviour, and build momentum for change from the ground up. By fostering curiosity, critical thinking, and environmental consciousness at an early age, Hawa Badlo School Warrior 3.0 aims to cultivate a generation that views clean air not as a privilege, but as a fundamental right and a shared societal responsibility.
A key highlight of the launch event was a thought-provoking panel discussion that brought together experts from diverse fields, along with educators and youth voices, to deliberate on the future of environmental leadership in India. The session was moderated by Mr. Ajay Pandey, Co-founder, Think Through Consulting, and featured an esteemed panel comprising:
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Ms. Taru Mehta, Associate Director – Environment Education & Awareness, TERI
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Ms. Anumita Roychowdhary, Executive Director, Centre for Science and Environment (CSE)
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Ms. Zainab Bie, Climate, Energy & Philanthropy Strategist, United Nations
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A school student and environment enthusiast, representing the youth perspective
The panel discussion emphasised that effective environmental education must extend beyond classroom textbooks and theoretical learning. Speakers highlighted the importance of translating knowledge into small, consistent actions in everyday life—whether through mindful consumption, sustainable mobility choices, or community engagement. The panelists agreed that children and young people will play a defining role in shaping India’s environmental future, and that early exposure to sustainability issues can create lifelong habits and values.
Several speakers shared inspiring examples of students and young innovators who have already begun developing practical solutions to environmental challenges, ranging from waste management ideas to clean-energy innovations. These stories reinforced the need for platforms like Hawa Badlo School Warrior, which provide visibility, encouragement, and validation to young minds eager to make a difference.
While creativity and expression are central to School Warrior 3.0, the campaign also draws attention to the urgency of India’s air-pollution crisis, particularly in densely populated urban centres where deteriorating air quality continues to pose serious health risks. By engaging students at a formative stage, Hawa Badlo seeks to instil long-term environmental thinking, personal accountability, and an understanding of how everyday choices can collectively impact air quality.
Importantly, although School Warrior 3.0 is student-focused, its influence extends well beyond classrooms. Teachers, parents, and local communities become part of the conversation as children share their learnings, ideas, and concerns at home and in their neighbourhoods. In this way, the campaign functions as a bridge between awareness and action, reinforcing the idea that meaningful change often begins with dialogue—and that some of the most powerful conversations start with young voices.
With the launch of Hawa Badlo School Warrior 3.0, the movement once again reaffirmed its commitment to building a clean-air culture in India by empowering the next generation. Supported by GAIL (India) Limited and strengthened by expert guidance and youth participation, the initiative stands as a reminder that safeguarding the environment is a collective effort—and that India’s children are not just future leaders, but active partners in driving change today.
