A workshop on preparing eco-friendly Holi colours will be held on March 2 at Vivekananda Academy, Borpowai, under the Union Environment Ministry’s Environment Education Programme (EEP), officials said, as part of a wider drive to promote environmentally responsible festivities in Assam. The programme, supported by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change and implemented locally by the Assam Science Technology and Environment Council (ASTEC) under the State Science and Technology Department, is being rolled out across multiple districts ahead of Holi.
An official list under the EEP framework names 44 Eco Clubs across 23 districts to conduct similar hands‑on workshops in their areas. The selected districts span the state from Biswanath and Karbi Anglong to South Salmara Mankachar and Sribhumi, reflecting a coordinated, statewide outreach to encourage natural, biodegradable festival colours.
Vivekananda Academy is the only institution chosen from Tinsukia district; education officials said the selection recognises the school’s active eco‑club engagement and sustained participation in environmental awareness activities. Participating schools and clubs will train students and community members to make herbal colours using locally available ingredients such as turmeric, flower petals and plant extracts.
The initiative responds to growing concern over synthetic Holi colours, many of which contain harmful chemicals and heavy metals. Environmental advisories have repeatedly warned that such substances can damage water bodies and soil and pose risks to public health, including skin and eye ailments.
Organisers said the workshops aim to promote safer alternatives that reduce ecological harm while preserving the festival’s spirit. Officials described the effort as part of a broader strategy to instil environmental consciousness among students; they noted eco‑club activities often have a multiplier effect, influencing families and neighbourhoods to adopt more sustainable practices.
The programme also underlines opportunities for small‑scale entrepreneurship in producing natural festival colours, particularly in semi‑urban and rural areas where demand and local raw materials exist. While the notification clarifies the published list is informational and not a formal sanction order, the participation of 44 institutions across 23 districts signals an organised push to mainstream eco‑friendly celebrations.
Original Source: https://nenow.in/north-east-news/assam/assam-vivekananda-academy-among-44-institutions-selected-for-eco-friendly-holi-workshop.html
Category: Assam,Northeast News,Top News
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Publish Date: 2026-03-01 16:58:00
