Bal Urja Rakshak Dal (BURD) Programme

GEDA is implementing a statewide School Energy Education Programmes BURD (Bal Urja Rakshak Dal Programme) ‘teams of child energy guards’. The programme targeted at Secondary Schools was initiated at the behest of Hon’ble CM, Gujarat in 2004-05.  The objective is to mobilize children as Urja Rakshaks, energy guardians, who will take on - the challenge to motivate responsible, rational, and restrained use of energy in their homes, schools and community by encouraging right and honest energy choices. The programme focuses on inculcating energy skills as life skills through various participatory activities in Homes, Schools and the community. Through this programme GEDA annually motivates a force of 50,000 School Children from 1800 Primary and 1800 Secondary Schools since 2005-6 - till today.  As a result in 2008-09, the Bal Urja Raksahk Dals have conducted Energy Audit in 5000 Homes and 1600 Schools across the state.

Brief of the Bal Uraj Rakshak Dal (BURD) Programme

  1. GEDA (Gujarat Energy Development Agency) is the state nodal and designated agency.
  2. One of the main missions is to create energy literate citizenry.
  3. BURD (Bal Urja Raksha Dal) Programme –Teams of Child Energy Guardians, is implemented in the state since 2004 with mandate to generate awareness on best practices on energy conservation and inter-related environmental issues. The programme focuses on inculcating energy skills as life skills through various participatory activities in Homes, Schools and the Community. GEDA through the activities under the programme annually motivates a force of 50,000 school children from 1800 Primary and 3600 Secondary Schools.
  4. As a result today, GEDA through the Action-8 programme; has conducted Energy Audit in 9000 homes and 1800 Schools across the state and achieved 38-74% results in terms of achieving the targets in 6 zones during 2008-09.
  5. In the past two years (2007-08 and 2008-09) GEDA provided the knowledge on energy auditing to 3600 Urja Agevans (School Teachers) that has enabled and Urja Rakshaks (School Students) to gauge the consumption pattern of their schools and their homes, imparted knowledge of the electrical gadgets so that they can differentiate between energy wise devices and the energy guzzlers and how one could be a wise energy consumer. 
  6. A need was felt to educate the school children on how design planning and basics of the climatic conditions, building orientation, ventilation and vegetation surrounding any building can help reduce their electricity consumption in their homes.
  7. In 2009-10, effective use of project-based learning engaged the BURD (Urja Rakshaks) in Sustainable Built Forms and Best from Waste Project Work, which helped in understanding the basic concepts of energy conservation in buildings and productive use of waste.
  8. The objective is to spread participatory awareness about the energy consumption of the traditional vis-à-vis contemporary dwellings and commercial establishments.
  9. The project work was carried out by the students through their teachers to that generated awareness on traditional construction practices that include best energy and water conservation practices. The intention is to bring forth this knowledge to the students who already have understood the importance of energy conservation through the energy audit studies projects in their homes and schools.
  10. The Urja Rakshaks - School Children responded with models, charts, poems, models of water and construction structures and even a skit... scripted by themselves.
  11. Students from as many as 1800 schools in the state submitted their collaged entries on the glossy calendar with every photograph depicting them were immersed in their learning process -- some sketching in the tranquility of the Vav, or the structure they select for their project work the intricately carved walls as backdrop making miniature models of clay and cardboard organizing exhibitions and drawing. Posters by them with messages like "Each drop of water is precious", adorn the calendar. Even poetry, penned by young minds are juxtaposed among the photographs, each unit of energy saved is generating 2.5 units of electricity and many more slogans.

This year a target of 1800 Secondary Schools is envisaged for the implementation of the BURD Programme. The motto of the programme in the current financial year is: How to make your School Green? Harit Urjit Shala.