Bhubaneswar: In a major boost for environmental education and wildlife awareness in Odisha, the Centre for Environment Studies (CES) achieved national recognition for its successful Global Tiger Day campaign.
Spearheaded under the leadership of Dr. K. Murugesan, IFS, PCCF & HoFF-cum-Director of CES, the initiative has successfully mobilized young minds toward tiger conservation and environmental protection.
The campaign was implemented under the Environment Education Programme of the Ministry of Environment, Forest & Climate Change (MoEF&CC), Government of India.
Under Dr. K. Murugesan’s vision, CES organized creative painting and eco-friendly mask making competitions targeting schools situated near the Similipal Tiger Reserve and Satkosia Tiger Reserve. By involving students, teachers, and Eco-club coordinators, the project encouraged children to express their commitment to biodiversity and sustainable lifestyles through art.
Following extensive participation, CES evaluated nearly 120 total submissions, selecting top entries based on creativity, artistic quality, and thematic relevance.
The shortlisted masks and paintings were forwarded for national-level evaluation, leading to a remarkable double victory for Odisha. The state secured first prize in both national categories during the Global Tiger Day celebrations. Rajalaxmi Sahu, a Class IX student from Odisha Adarsha Vidyalaya in Mayurbhanj, won first prize in the national painting competition, while Pritirani Sahu, a Class IX student from Dobalapal High School in Keonjhar, claimed top honors in the eco-friendly mask making competition.
This national achievement highlights the positive impact of CES’s experiential learning approach and Dr. Murugesan’s dedicated leadership. By translating environmental education into active student participation, CES has demonstrated how regional youth can become passionate ambassadors for tiger conservation and wildlife protection across India.