In celebration of World Environment Day, IIIT-B organized a plantation drive at HSR Layout, Bengaluru, in Sudarvana Urban Forest. The location of the plantation drive was an erstwhile dump yard, which for years housed waste from neighboring localities. Thanks to the persistent efforts of local citizens and the Jeevanmukthi Foundation Charitable Trust, the area has been reclaimed to develop into a green urban forest. The event marked a significant milestone in this journey, as IIIT-B planted 50 saplings to contribute to the growing green cover. The initiative was carried out in collaboration with the Jeevanmukthi Foundation Charitable Trust, founded by Ms. Rupa, which has played a pivotal role in citizen-led environmental drives, including the revival of the Sundarvana Forest in HSR Layout. Prof. Debabrata Das, Director IIIT-B along with other senior officials, staff, and students from IIIT-B participated enthusiastically in the plantation drive, reinforcing the institute’s deep-rooted ethos of environmental stewardship and community engagement.
To further raise awareness about environmental concerns, an insightful session was conducted by Ms. Suma Narasa Prakash, a pioneering woman in technology, Senior Software Engineer at Oracle, Founder of S.A.V.E. (Serve And Value Every Life), and a key contributor to the development of Aadhaar QR Code Technology. The session was well-attended and offered participants a deep understanding of the growing threats to our planet, the alarming rise in pollution levels, and practical steps each of us can take to protect and preserve the environment.