Introduction

In the heart of our bustling city, where the day's end for many marks t Established in July 2020, the Sustainable Development Centre (SDC) of Shaheed Bhagat Singh Evening College was born not amidst grand ceremonies but in a world grappling with a pandemic—a poignant reminder of the fragile balance between humanity and nature. From its very inception, the SDC was envisioned as more than just a club; it was conceived as the beating green heart of our institution, a dynamic hub dedicated to translating the global vision of sustainability into local, actionable change.

The establishment of the Sustainable Development Centre would not have been possible without the unwavering support of our respected Principal at the time, Dr. S. K. Sinha, who provided the vision and opportunity to create this platform for environmental leadership. We also express our sincere gratitude to Dr. Anupama Hasija, the Teacher-in-Charge in 2020, whose guidance and encouragement helped lay the foundation of this centre. Since then, the SDC has been nurtured and passed down generation after generation by committed student leaders and faculty mentors, each contributing to its growth and impact.

We are equally grateful to our present dynamic Principal, Prof. Arun K. Attree, whose unstinted support and encouragement continue to empower us in carrying forward this legacy of promoting sustainable living and environmental awareness within and beyond the campus.

Our founding philosophy is deeply intertwined with the legacy of our college’s namesake, Shaheed Bhagat Singh. While his fight was for a nation's freedom, the SDC channels that same spirit of revolutionary change towards liberating our future from the clutches of environmental degradation. We believe that true sustainability rests on three pillars: Education, Action, and Community. Over the past few years, every initiative, every campaign, and every achievement has been a testament to this core belief.

Education, Action & Community

Our first year was defined by a focus on the 'Education' pillar. We began with a series of impactful virtual webinars and workshops, bringing experts on climate science, zero-waste living, and sustainable finance directly into the homes of our students. Concurrently, we launched our “Digital Green Pledge” campaign, encouraging students and faculty to commit to small, tangible actions like reducing single-use plastic and conserving water. This campaign successfully built a sense of collective purpose, even in isolation.

The SDC shifted gears to emphasize the 'Action' pillar. Our goal was to transform our physical campus into a living laboratory for sustainability.

Under the Swachta Hi Sewa campaign, the SDC, in collaboration with DRDO and the Ministry of Defence, proceeded with the distribution of swachta kits to around 25 safai mitras of both the college campus and honoured them with garlands for their services — thus giving students and faculty the opportunity to pay respects. Under the Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam initiative, SDC society carried out the distribution and planting of over 500 native saplings on and around the college campus.

Building on this momentum, the SDC has now fully integrated the 'Community' pillar into its work, extending its impact beyond the college gates. This week-long celebration features a vibrant mix of activities: the LiFE Challenge under the LiFE initiative of NITI Aayog, which successfully blends education with celebration, making sustainability an engaging and accessible concept for everyone, especially the youth.

Recognising that environmental justice is social justice, our volunteers regularly organise cleanup drives in nearby public parks and the college campus. These activities are organized around picking up trash and are integrated with the NEP curriculum for the students. They are accompanied by awareness sessions with local residents on waste segregation and the dangers of open dumping, fostering a sense of shared responsibility for our public spaces.

Vision and Future Goals

From a digital seed sown in July 2020, the Sustainable Development Centre has grown into a robust, thriving entity. As we step into the new academic year 2025-26, the SDC has chosen to align its focus with SDG 3 — Good Health and Well-Being, recognising that sustainability is incomplete without the health of people and communities. Through a series of awareness campaigns, stress-relief workshops, mental health sessions, and initiatives promoting clean air, physical activity, and balanced nutrition, we aim to create a campus environment that nurtures both planetary and personal well-being. By connecting environmental care with human health, the SDC hopes to foster a truly holistic approach to sustainable living.

Our vision for the future includes ambitious projects like installing solar panels on the college rooftop, setting up a permanent rainwater harvesting system, launching a ‘Sustainability Literacy’ module for incoming students, and increasing cross-institution collaboration for wider reach.

We invite every student of the Department of Geography to join us in this ongoing journey. Whether you have a passion for gardening, a talent for advocacy, or simply a desire to make a difference, there is a place for you at the SDC.

Together, let us continue to honour the revolutionary spirit of our past by building a sustainable and equitable future, one green step at a time.

Join the Movement. Be the Change.

Convenor

Prof. Anupama M. Hasija
Professor, Department of Geography.

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