Andhra Pradesh launches student

A.P.-SECM launches State‑level Short Video Contest on energy conservation for students The Andhra Pradesh State Energy Conservation Mission (A.P.-SECM) has announced a state‑wide short‑video competition aimed at fostering awareness of energy‑saving practices among school‑age children. Open to pupils in Classes 7 to 10 from government, aided and private schools, the contest invites entries in Telugu, English or Hindi that run between 30 seconds and two minutes. Organisers say the initiative is designed to harness the creative potential of young people, encouraging them to translate everyday habits into compelling visual messages that can be shared across social media platforms and school networks..

The contest, which kicks off on 15 November, will run for six weeks, with submissions accepted through a dedicated online portal on the SECM website. Participants must register using their school’s official email address, upload the video file, and provide a brief description of the concept and the energy‑saving tip highlighted. A panel of experts from the energy department, academia and the film industry will evaluate entries on criteria such as originality, clarity of message, technical quality and relevance to the theme of conservation..

According to SECM’s director, Dr Ravindra Kumar, the competition arrives at a critical juncture as the state seeks to cut per‑capita electricity consumption by 15 percent by 2030. “Our children are digital natives; by giving them a platform to express ideas on sustainability, we are building a generation that will champion responsible energy use both at home and in the wider community,” he explained at a press briefing held at the ariat. The mission hopes the contest will also generate a repository of short, student‑crafted videos that can be repurposed for public‑service campaigns..

Schools are being urged to promote the contest through assemblies, science clubs and extracurricular activities. The Education Department has issued guidelines urging principals to allocate time for students to brainstorm, script and film their entries, and to ensure parental consent for minors. Teachers are encouraged to integrate basic principles of energy efficiency—such as turning off appliances, using natural light and adopting water‑saving habits—into lesson plans, providing a knowledge base from which students can draw inspiration for their projects..

The prize structure is designed to reward both individual creativity and collaborative effort. The top three entries will receive cash awards of ₹30,000, ₹20,000 and ₹10,000 respectively, along with certificates of merit. Additionally, ten runners‑up will be granted tablets to facilitate further learning, and all finalists will have their videos featured on SECM’s official YouTube channel, which boasts over a million subscribers..

Winners will also be invited to present their concepts at the upcoming “Energy Futures” symposium in Hyderabad, giving them exposure to policy‑makers and industry leaders. Industry partners have pledged support, with several renewable‑energy firms offering mentorship sessions to shortlisted teams. Representatives from SolarTech India and GreenGrid Solutions will conduct virtual workshops on video‑editing techniques, storytelling, and the science behind energy conservation..

These collaborations aim to bridge the gap between academic learning and real‑world applications, providing students with practical skills that extend beyond the classroom. The contest also aligns with the central government’s “Digital India” and “Swachh Bharat” initiatives, which emphasize citizen engagement through technology and environmental stewardship. By targeting the 12‑16‑year‑old demographic, A.P.-SECM hopes to create ripple effects that influence household behaviours, as students often act as conduits of information to families..

Early research from the Ministry of Power suggests that children who actively discuss energy‑saving habits can increase adoption rates of simple measures—such as unplugging chargers—by up to 40 percent in their homes. To ensure inclusivity, the organisers have made provisions for schools in remote or under‑resourced areas. Participants without high‑end equipment may use smartphones, and a “no‑cost” editing suite is available online, pre‑loaded with templates and royalty‑free music..

Moreover, the submission portal offers captioning tools in all three allowed languages, enabling students with hearing impairments to take part fully. SECM has pledged to distribute printed guidelines to every recognized school in the state, ensuring that language or connectivity barriers do not impede participation. The response from educators has been overwhelmingly positive..

“Our students are excited; they see this as a chance to blend science with creativity,” said Ms Lakshmi Reddy, a senior teacher at a government school in Guntur. She added that the contest has already sparked discussions on topics ranging from LED lighting to rainwater harvesting, illustrating how a simple video brief can catalyse broader environmental dialogues within school premises. Critics, however, caution that short‑term enthusiasm must be matched with long‑term curriculum integration..

A spokesperson from the Andhra Pradesh Teachers’ Association urged the education department to embed energy‑conservation modules into the standard syllabus, rather than treating the contest as an isolated event. In response, SECM has announced plans to develop a supplementary teaching kit, featuring lesson plans, experiment ideas and assessment rubrics, which will be rolled out to schools after the contest concludes. As the deadline of 30 December approaches, the number of entries is expected to surge..

SECM’s data analytics team monitors upload trends, ensuring that the platform remains stable and that any technical glitches are addressed swiftly. The mission also encourages participants to share their videos on social media using the hashtag #SaveEnergyAP, facilitating organic outreach and community voting, though final judging will remain solely with the expert panel to maintain fairness..