Jammu and Kashmir is charting a new course for institutional sustainability, moving beyond mere compliance to genuine environmental leadership. The Green Campus Initiative , launched under the Swachh Bharat Mission Urban 2.0 (SBM-U 2.0) , isn’t just a program; it’s a statement of intent: to transform the region’s educational and institutional hubs into enduring models of green living.




A Local Mission with Ambitious Scope
What makes this initiative particularly compelling is its deep local ownership. The monumental task of certifying 1093 campuses was not handed down by a central ministry, but boldly spearheaded by the Housing and Urban Development Department, Jammu and Kashmir. This local drive ensured a powerful, ground-up commitment to the mission.
The entire framework relies on a decentralized network, with all 80 Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) tasked with the essential job of auditing and guiding campuses across all 20 districts of the Union Territory.
The initiative’s reach is intentionally broad, treating every bulk waste generator as a vital participant. This includes not just Universities and Schools, but a meticulously quantified group of institutions now held to a higher standard:
- The total number of Green Campuses initially identified was 1057.
- This identification included 271+ Government Offices and 46 Hospitals.
- The net was cast even wider to include high-footfall areas like 152 Restaurants and 10 Parks.
- The list is rounded out by 30 Other Institutions, encompassing religious places, banquets, shopping malls and private institutes.


The Three Pillars of Transformation
The journey from a standard institution to a certified Green Campus is a structured process of change, divided into three crucial phases.
1. The Identification Phase: Setting the Stage
This initial stage successfully identified and enrolled the target 1093 campuses, setting the foundation for the systematic transformation.
2. The Preparatory Phase: A Commitment to Operational Change
This intensive period demanded significant operational and behavioral change. Institutions had to fundamentally rethink their consumption and disposal habits:
- Waste Management: Waste is now mandated to be tracked and segregated into dry and wet streams. To dramatically reduce landfill dependency, institutions implemented on-site processing of wet waste (such as food scraps) through composting.
- Plastic Ban: A total ban on single-use plastic was strictly enforced across all premises.
- Cultural Shift: Students and teachers are now actively directed to bring sustainable items and bottles, making reusability a core part of the institutional culture.
Integrating Sanitation and Art
Beyond waste management, the preparatory phase introduced tangible quality-of-life improvements. The focus on sanitation included a comprehensive plan for toilet improvisation across all campuses:
- Gender-Specific Facilities: Provision of separate toilets for male and female users.
- Cleanliness Standards: Facilities must be clean and well-maintained, equipped with liquid handwash.
- Sanitary Waste Management: Every toilet must have a dustbin, with female washrooms featuring special dedicated bins for sanitary pads.
- Modern Amenities: Crucially, female washrooms were upgraded with the installation of incinerators and vending machines.
Meanwhile, a creative initiative rooted in sustainability took hold: the ‘Waste to Art’ initiative. This was not merely decoration, but a functional and beautiful way to engage institutions:
- Waste to Art Corners: Established after the single-use plastic ban, these corners convert waste materials into educational tools and decorative pieces.
- Green Spaces: The initiative prioritized the creation of institutional green spaces, which feature well-maintained plants, and are decorated and set up using items derived from recycled waste products.


3. The Declaration Phase: Verifying the Change
The final stage begins with a formal Letter of Commitment from campus leadership, formalizing their ownership of the sustainability parameters. This is followed by a self-evaluation, which is then verified through mandatory field visits by the respective ULB and partner teams. Final certification is awarded only upon achieving a score of 75% or higher.The initiative has already delivered its first monumental triumph: Anantnag became the first ULB to successfully declare the campuses within its jurisdiction as Green Campuses. This pivotal milestone validated the viability and success of the entire structured program.
Throughout this process, the IEC (Information, Education, and Communication) Team has played a central and crucial role, ensuring that progress is diligently tracked via daily waste logbooks and that awareness is maintained through consistent education.The ultimate output is far more profound than a certificate. Successful institutions are officially declared Green Campuses, receive their certificate from the ULB, and have their efforts recognized through promotion on SBM-U and ULB social media pages. By successfully transforming the institutions identified as part of the total 1093 campus target , this initiative has ingrained environmental consciousness and practical, sustainable habits across its institutional fabric.




























