Gauhati Commerce College emerges as State-Level Summit winner, USTM runners-up

Syllad | The Rising MeghalayaJune 1, 2024

Gauhati Commerce College (GCC) emerged as the State-Level Summit winner followed by USTM (University of Science and Technology Meghalaya) as 1st runner’s up from Assam in the State-Level Summit of ECHO conducted by WWF-India Assam state office at MCB Conference Hall, Cotton University in Guwahati.

ECHO is an annual innovation platform that engages interdisciplinary teams of university students to explore and ideate innovative solutions to accelerate environment conservation efforts. Through this programme, the WFF-India builds the capacity of youth to contribute to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG), enhance their leadership qualities, and develop entrepreneurial skills.

The ECHO 2023-24 theme is SDG 11 titled ‘Sustainable Cities and Communities.’ The objective of SDG 11 is to make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable.

The event was conducted by WWF-Indiaa’s Assam state coordinator Archita Baruah Bhattacharyya.

The winning team from GCC will now represent Assam in the National Summit. Their project “A Holistic Development of a Slum,” aligns with Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 11, encouraging people to reduce cloth waste through upcycling and reuse of materials, promoting sustainable urban development and reducing environmental impact. They provided income opportunities to slum dwellers through eco-friendly business ideas, focused on community involvement and slum women empowerment.

Seven finalist teams from prestigious institutions of Handique Girls’ College, Cotton College Zoology Department, USTM Zoology Dept, GCC, SB Deorah, TISS Guwahati and NLU Guwahati presented their pilot projects on environment-friendly Dwij Paper from paper waste, Biodegradable Cutlery for Sustainable Food Habits, Waste to Wealth: Egg Shells as Animal Feed, EcoChar: Turning Weeds into Warmth, Eco-Friendly Food Vending, Natural Latex Water Bottles.

The jury members Dr Merry Baruah Bora and Shirshendu Sekhar Das have judged the projects presented based on several ECHO parameters such as innovation and scalability.

Several dignitaries, including Prof. Ranjit Chowdhury, Chairperson WWF Assam Advisory Board, Prof. Ramesh Ch. Deka, the Vice Chancellor of Cotton University, Dr Arindam Garg, the Registrar of Cotton University, and Prof. Mala Dutta, HOD Geography Department  graced the event and interacted with the participants.