Climate Hits Kids: Schools Fight Back in India

Climate change increasingly impacts children's health and education through extreme weather and water scarcity. Globally, nearly a billion children are at high climate risk, with India facing significant annual challenges. Recognizing this, Reckitt's Dettol Banega Swasth India initiative, in partnership with the Government of Uttarakhand, has established Dettol Climate Resilient Schools (DCRS) across the Char Dham region.

The DCRS programme, built on campus, collaboration, and curriculum pillars, integrates climate resilience into school infrastructure and educational content. An independent evaluation by AIIMS Rishikesh compared four DCRS schools with nine non-intervention schools. The findings reveal significant positive impacts.

Students in climate-resilient schools demonstrated improved hygiene, with 94.1% using soap for handwashing. Zero bacterial or parasitic infections were reported, and attendance remained high, ensuring learning continuity. Children became hygiene ambassadors, extending positive practices to their households.

These findings underscore the program's success in fostering self-driven hygiene habits and enhancing overall wellbeing. The initiative aligns with Mission LiFE, promoting sustainable lifestyles and demonstrating a scalable model for empowering future generations against climate challenges.