Madhu Bhatnagar

Madhu Bhatnagar, Head of the Environment Consciousness Programme at The Shri Ram Schools and Consultant for Shri Educare Schools, has devoted 36 years to education, spearheading transformative environmental initiatives across India. Her pioneering work has profoundly influenced environmental consciousness in education, impacting over 200,000 students and training hundreds of teachers in groundbreaking ways.

Even before the Supreme Court's 1994 mandate on environmental education, Ms. Bhatnagar made it a compulsory part of the curriculum, inspired by the first Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change report in 1990. She firmly believes in the role of schools in educating the broader community and society, and under her leadership, The Shri Ram Schools have become exemplars in sustainability. Key achievements include establishing water harvesting models, creating zero-waste zones, and implementing bans on firecrackers, polythene bags, and single-use plastics. In 2009, she introduced Vriksha Bandhan and developed a specialized Environmental Education Curriculum, now adopted by schools nationwide.

A committed conservationist, Ms. Bhatnagar advocates the principle, "Give Nature Half, and it will balance itself." During the 2005 Tiger Crisis at Ranthambhore National Park, she played a crucial role in halting poaching by aiding in the rehabilitation of the Moghya tribals. Currently residing in DayalBagh, an Eco Village in Agra, she continues to volunteer with local schools, bridging societal gaps through education.

Her remarkable contributions have earned her numerous accolades, including the Green Teacher National Award by Sanctuary Asia, the Eco-Warrior Award by the Vice President of India, and the Karamveer Chakra National Award by I-Congo and the United Nations.