Environment awareness kit for children from Tata Infomedia

This indigenous kit consists of information, illustrations, facts, projects and concepts that will enable children to understand and learn the importance of preserving our environment. These kits will be available throughout the country in all leading bookstores, stationary and departmental stores. The company plans to sell directly to educational institutions and corporate houses.

Be An Environment Champ kit is the latest product from Bright Sparks, the children's book division of Tata Infomedia, which publishes reference reading material for primary school children through activity books, colouring books, story books and information books.

The School Education Secretary, J M Phatak IAS, who graced the occasion and officially launched the kit, said: "The need to educate children on social and moral responsibilities need to be addressed on a large scale. We have embarked upon programmes to bring in new methods of teaching, both in urban as well as rural schools. We see in our daily life, how people have total disregard for our environment.

"By creating awareness within children from the very beginning stages of their education, we can ensure that the same mistakes done by the previous and present generations are not repeated. Concepts that bring fun to learning are bound to impress children better. I'm sure the kit will be a very effective tool to teach children the values and facts on our environment."

Speaking at the launch N D Khurody, chairman, Tata Infomedia, said: "It's very important to inculcate the importance of preserving and restoring our environment to the children from a very young age. Our environment is deteriorating at an alarming rate and it's our priority to educate the next generation on the ill effects of this rapid deterioration. Mankind has already lost hundreds of species of plants and animals due to the negligence, apathy and greed.

"They have been senselessly destroyed, generation after generation, and even today there are some species that are on the brink of extinction. Bright Sparks creates books that supplement the mental development of children. The topics range from math, English, pet care, riddles, moral science, and some are available in Hindi language as well."