A Himachal principal turned waste, water conservation and an old grass craft into classroom lessons; her government school went on to win state environmental honours
At a government school in Himachal Pradesh, lessons do not always begin with a textbook. Students learn about waste by managing it, understand water conservation through activities and explore biodiversity around their campus. They have also been introduced to an old local craft that was at risk of fading from everyday life.Behind this approach is Manjari V Mahajan, Principal of Government Senior Secondary School, Bhaleth, whose work has earned national recognition through the National Teachers Awards 2026.Mahajan is among the 48 school teachers selected for the prestigious award, which recognises educators who have demonstrated innovation and sustained efforts to improve school education. President Droupadi Murmu presented the awards at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi, on Teachers’ Day, September 5.
Turning environmental problems into lessons
At Bhaleth, environmental education has been integrated into everyday school life.Under Mahajan’s leadership, students have participated in initiatives focused on waste management, composting, water conservation and biodiversity. Instead of treating environmental awareness as a topic confined to a chapter, the school has encouraged students to experience these issues through practical activities.The approach connects classroom learning with challenges students can see around them — from managing waste to understanding the importance of conserving natural resources.The school’s efforts have earned recognition beyond the classroom. It secured the top position in Himachal Pradesh for the Environment Leadership Award in 2026 and received the Waste Warrior Award in 2025.
Bringing an old grass craft back to school
One of the more distinctive aspects of Mahajan’s work is her effort to revive Buggad Grass craft, a traditional craft associated with the region.The school organised workshops in which students could learn the craft with the participation of local artisans. By bringing the tradition into the school environment, the initiative connects education with local culture while giving students an opportunity to understand skills that have been passed down through generations.It also demonstrates how environmental and cultural education can overlap: locally available natural materials become both a subject of learning and a medium for preserving heritage.
Learning beyond the classroom
Mahajan’s approach reflects the wider philosophy behind the National Teachers Awards, which recognise teachers for improving learning experiences through innovation, community engagement and student-centred initiatives.Her work shows how a government school can use its immediate surroundings as a learning resource. Waste, water, biodiversity and traditional crafts become opportunities for students to observe, participate and develop practical skills.The school has also participated in Wipro Earthian projects, giving students exposure to broader conversations around sustainability and environmental responsibility.
A national honour for a local transformation
The National Teachers Award places Mahajan’s work among examples from across India where teachers are addressing challenges that extend well beyond examinations.From technology-enabled classrooms to inclusive education and environmental initiatives, the 2026 awardees demonstrate different ways of making learning relevant to students’ lives.For Mahajan and her students at Bhaleth, that transformation has been rooted in their own surroundings. A school’s waste can become a lesson in responsibility. Its water resources can become a lesson in conservation. And an old grass craft can become a lesson in culture, sustainability and community.That is perhaps what makes her story distinctive: the school did not need to look far for innovative lessons. It found them in the environment and traditions around it.
