HOME / PROJECTS

Our projects, campaigns & milestones.

Two decades of educating, conserving and raising our voice for the environment across West Bengal.

2003

Founded

20+

Projects

Districts across Bengal

950+

Participants on record

THE WORK

A closer look at the work

Each project below is drawn from CEMO’s own field records — the dates, the partners, who took part and what changed. Filter by the kind of work, or open any project for the full story and the photographs.

The Rhythm of the Wild, Rotary Sadan, Kolkata

20264 photos

Fest

The Rhythm of the Wild

Rotary Sadan, Kolkata

A multimedia skit on biodiversity and habitat, staged at the CEMO Eco Fest ‘Jal-Jungle’.

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2026 · Fest

The Rhythm of the Wild

Rotary Sadan, Kolkata

Date: 26th March 2026
Duration: 1 day
Category: Fest
Who took part: 40 students, plus 35 CEMO members and Friends of CEMO
Partners & collaborators: The BSS School, Garden High School and IPER

The project

A multimedia skit at the CEMO Eco Fest, ‘Jal-Jungle’, built around biodiversity, ecosystems, habitat and wildlife — and the need to preserve them. Students from three schools performed alongside CEMO members and Friends of CEMO.

Impact & outcome

The message was the interconnectedness of species and their habitat, from the micro to the macro level: unity in diversity is at the core of life. Both the performers and the audience came away enriched.

Photographs

Save the Sarovar, Rabindra Sarovar, Dhakuria Lakes, Kolkata

20246 photos

Protest and awareness

Save the Sarovar

Rabindra Sarovar, Dhakuria Lakes, Kolkata

An injunction stopped the transfer of a national lake to a private club. The lungs of South Calcutta held.

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2024 · Protest and awareness

Save the Sarovar

Rabindra Sarovar, Dhakuria Lakes, Kolkata

Date: 5th & 6th June 2024
Duration: 2 days
Category: Protest and awareness
Who took part: 20 CEMO members and 80–100 other participants
Partners & collaborators: Sabuj Mancha, Lake Lovers’ Forum and the Morning Walkers

The project

A large part of Rabindra Sarovar, a national lake, was being violated through the unlawful transfer of land to a private sports club, and the consequent felling of age-old trees and greenery leading to the total destruction of the buffer zone. CEMO launched a powerful protest to preserve the ‘lungs of South Calcutta’ and, together with Sabuj Mancha, took the matter to court.

Impact & outcome

The transfer was stopped through an injunction, and the campaign generated huge public awareness through the media.

Photographs

Trip to the Sunderbans, Tiger Camp Resort, Dayapur Island

2024

Excursion

Trip to the Sunderbans

Tiger Camp Resort, Dayapur Island

Sundari, Hetal and Goran; three kingfishers, crocodiles, fishing cats and a delta read close up.

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2024 · Excursion

Trip to the Sunderbans

Tiger Camp Resort, Dayapur Island

Date: 11th–13th January 2024
Duration: 2 days
Category: Excursion
Who took part: 6 members

The project

The trip could be classified as a sensitisation to the biodiversity of the Sunderbans. Apart from the Sundari, Hetal and Goran trees, there was bird sighting — including three species of kingfishers, egrets, sandpipers and kites. Crocodiles, fishing cats, spotted deer, owls and monkeys were also spotted, making the topographical survey of the entire delta truly memorable.

Impact & outcome

A rich learning experience.

Water Warriors, Silverpoint School, IPER and Garden High School, Kolkata

2023–257 photos

Water conservation

Water Warriors

Silverpoint School, IPER and Garden High School, Kolkata

Water footprints, school water audits and home-built rainwater harvesting models, across three schools.

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2023–25 · Water conservation

Water Warriors

Silverpoint School, IPER and Garden High School, Kolkata

Date: September 2023 to February 2025
Duration: 1 year and 4 months
Category: Water conservation
Who took part: Approx. 100 students, 6 teachers and 10 CEMO members
Partners & collaborators: Silverpoint School, Institute of Psychological and Educational Research (IPER), Garden High School

The project

Water conservation was launched as an immersive awareness project across three schools, over three overlapping years. Various aspects of the water cycle and of conservation were introduced through drama, story-telling, role play, quizzes, experiments, art, discussions and models.

Impact & outcome

An extensive experiential impact was observed. The children calculated water footprints, conducted water audits in their schools, and built rainwater harvesting and other innovative water collection models. CEMO supported over a hundred children to become Water Warriors.

Photographs

20225 photos

Awareness

Eco-Awareness Project, Purulia

Jhiling Serang, Purulia, West Bengal

Make a Tree Friend, an alpona workshop, recitation and games — four days with the village children.

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2022 · Awareness

Eco-Awareness Project, Purulia

Jhiling Serang, Purulia, West Bengal

Date: 20th–23rd November 2022
Duration: 4 days
Category: Awareness
Who took part: 4 CEMO members

The project

The members organised a complete package of awareness activities: Make a Tree Friend, an art workshop, recitation and games. Ratnabali conducted an alpona workshop, assisted by Nandini and Lipika.

Impact & outcome

The children became aware of the importance of protecting trees and animals, and learnt to express their way of life through art.

Photographs

Eco-Awareness Project, Purulia — photo 1

Eco-Awareness Project, Purulia — photo 2

Eco-Awareness Project, Purulia — photo 3

Eco-Awareness Project, Purulia — photo 4

Eco-Awareness Project, Purulia — photo 5

Installation of Bio-Toilets, Mamudi and Jhiling Serang, Purulia

2021–223 photos

Field project

Installation of Bio-Toilets

Mamudi and Jhiling Serang, Purulia

Sanitation that keeps villagers out of the elephant corridors — turning conflict into coexistence.

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2021–22 · Field project

Installation of Bio-Toilets

Mamudi and Jhiling Serang, Purulia

Date: Completed 9th February 2022
Duration: February 2021 to February 2022, planning to execution
Category: Field project
Who took part: 12 CEMO members
Partners & collaborators: Rotary Club of Calcutta Inner City, Rotary Club of Calcutta Metro City, Rotary Club of Purulia

The project

The project was initially envisaged as part of the larger Elephant Project Two, and as an effort to turn man–elephant conflict into human–tusker harmony. The toilets were set up to reduce human penetration into the elephant corridors and so minimise the chance of encounters. At the same time, they would keep villagers safer and raise the level of sanitation.

Impact & outcome

The villagers gained access to hygienic, environment-friendly toilets. There was widespread appreciation for a dual mission achieved — service to the environment and to the community.

Photographs

Justice for Tiger Avni, Ashutosh College to Priya Cinema, Kolkata

20183 photos

Protest march

Justice for Tiger Avni

Ashutosh College to Priya Cinema, Kolkata

A march in anger at the killing of the tigress T-1, and the laws bent to justify it.

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2018 · Protest march

Justice for Tiger Avni

Ashutosh College to Priya Cinema, Kolkata

Date: 18th November 2018
Duration: 1 day
Category: Protest march
Who took part: School and college students, activists, members of the public and 15 CEMO members
Partners & collaborators: NGOs and NGIs of Kolkata

The project

A march in anger and protest against the injustice of the killing of Avni (T-1) and the violation of wildlife laws for alleged man-eaters. It highlighted the vulnerability of Indian wildlife to an insensitive and indifferent system.

Impact & outcome

The far-reaching impact of a public march — it sparked a nation-wide controversy on forest laws.

Photographs

Tree Planting at Rabindra Sarovar, Rabindra Sarovar, Kolkata

20164 photos

Plantation

Tree Planting at Rabindra Sarovar

Rabindra Sarovar, Kolkata

An annual ritual on World Environment Day — saplings, and songs and poems written by members.

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2016 · Plantation

Tree Planting at Rabindra Sarovar

Rabindra Sarovar, Kolkata

Date: 5th–6th June 2016
Duration: 1 day
Category: Plantation
Who took part: 12 CEMO members

The project

Tree planting is a regular activity of CEMO, done at least once every year and often on World Environment Day. The programme sometimes also includes singing songs and reciting poems about the environment, composed by members themselves.

Impact & outcome

Passers-by are often inspired to join in these sessions. Efforts are also made to make sure the trees that are planted are nurtured and grow well, greening the environment.

Photographs

Tree Planting at Rabindra Sarovar — photo 1

Tree Planting at Rabindra Sarovar — photo 2

Tree Planting at Rabindra Sarovar — photo 3

Tree Planting at Rabindra Sarovar — photo 4

Brikhoropon (Tree Planting), Shantiniketan & Bolpur, Birbhum, West Bengal

20134 photos

Plantation

Brikhoropon (Tree Planting)

Shantiniketan & Bolpur, Birbhum, West Bengal

Planting at the Brikkhoropon Utsab, then carrying the saplings on to a nearby village.

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2013 · Plantation

Brikhoropon (Tree Planting)

Shantiniketan & Bolpur, Birbhum, West Bengal

Date: 8th August 2013
Duration: 1 day
Category: Plantation
Who took part: 8 CEMO members
Partners & collaborators: Visva-Bharati University

The project

The Vice Chancellor of Visva-Bharati University, Dr. Susanta Dutta Gupta, invited CEMO members to take part in the ‘Brikkhoropon Utsab’. Members also visited a nearby village, where they planted trees as well.

Impact & outcome

The area is greener. The trees have grown big and now provide shade to passers-by, as well as ensuring the area stays green and unpolluted.

Photographs

Mayur Prokolpo (Peacock Project), Rajhat, Hooghly, South Bengal

2013–20153 photos

Conservation

Mayur Prokolpo (Peacock Project)

Rajhat, Hooghly, South Bengal

Rajhat is the only place in South Bengal with wild peacocks. A census put them back at 250 birds.

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2013–2015 · Conservation

Mayur Prokolpo (Peacock Project)

Rajhat, Hooghly, South Bengal

Date: 2013 to 2015
Duration: 2 years
Category: Conservation
Who took part: 10 CEMO members
Partners & collaborators: Local Panchayat, Rajhat

The project

Rajhat is the only place in South Bengal where peacocks are found in the wild. The Panchayat informed CEMO that outsiders were killing the peacocks and stealing the eggs, and their numbers had fallen so far that conservation was needed. Residents were taught how to protect the birds. At the end of the second year, the renowned birder Sumit Sen carried out a census and found the numbers had gone up to 250 birds.

Impact & outcome

The local residents learnt conservation — and became the guardians of the flock.

Photographs

Mayur Prokolpo (Peacock Project) — photo 1

Mayur Prokolpo (Peacock Project) — photo 2

Mayur Prokolpo (Peacock Project) — photo 3

No Plastic at Pous Mela, Shantiniketan, Birbhum, West Bengal

20123 photos

Campaign

No Plastic at Pous Mela

Shantiniketan, Birbhum, West Bengal

Metal and jute bins marked ‘Use Me’, and three days of persuasion at Bengal’s best-loved fair.

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2012 · Campaign

No Plastic at Pous Mela

Shantiniketan, Birbhum, West Bengal

Date: December 2012
Duration: 3 days
Category: Campaign
Who took part: 15 CEMO members
Partners & collaborators: Visva-Bharati University

The project

To make sure waste was disposed of responsibly during Pous Mela, the Visva-Bharati Vice Chancellor Dr. Susanta Dutta Gupta invited CEMO to run an awareness campaign. CEMO donated metal and jute garbage bins with ‘Use Me’ written on them, and every member spoke to visitors at the mela to impress upon them the importance of responsible waste disposal.

Impact & outcome

The mela grounds were much cleaner than in earlier years.

Photographs

Save the Sunderbans, Shahid Minar to Eliot Park, Kolkata

20093 photos

Awareness march

Save the Sunderbans

Shahid Minar to Eliot Park, Kolkata

A climate warning for the delta — issued barely two months before Cyclone Aila proved it right.

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2009 · Awareness march

Save the Sunderbans

Shahid Minar to Eliot Park, Kolkata

Date: 26th March 2009
Duration: 1 day
Category: Awareness march
Who took part: Over 250 students, teachers and activists, plus 30 CEMO members
Partners & collaborators: Schools of Kolkata and other NGOs

The project

A fundamental climate awareness and mobilisation event. It highlighted Kolkata’s and the entire delta region’s vulnerability to climate change, cyclones, rising sea levels and the deforestation of mangroves — almost a prophetic warning against the devastating Cyclone Aila two months later.

Impact & outcome

Far and wide outreach for school students, activists and the general public. One of the first campaigns to build pressure for better ecological policies and environmental advocacy in the state.

Photographs

Tiger Conservation, Academy of Fine Arts, Kolkata

20082 photos

Awareness for school children

Tiger Conservation

Academy of Fine Arts, Kolkata

The Tiger Man of India, brought from Ranthambore to a Kolkata hall full of schoolchildren.

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2008 · Awareness for school children

Tiger Conservation

Academy of Fine Arts, Kolkata

Date: 24th April 2008
Duration: 1 day
Category: Awareness for school children
Who took part: CEMO members and over 100 school children
Partners & collaborators: WWF

The project

CEMO members and WWF officials had visited the Indian conservationist Mr Fateh Singh Rathore — known as India’s ‘Tiger Man’ — in Ranthambore. He was subsequently invited to Kolkata, where he gave an illuminating talk on tiger conservation to almost a hundred school children.

Impact & outcome

CEMO members and the school children of Kolkata learnt about tiger conservation first-hand, from the man who had spent his life at it.

Photographs

Walk to Save the Tiger, Shahid Minar to Eliot Park, Kolkata

20082 photos

Awareness march

Walk to Save the Tiger

Shahid Minar to Eliot Park, Kolkata

Walking with the Tiger Man of India through Kolkata, for the national animal and its vanishing habitat.

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2008 · Awareness march

Walk to Save the Tiger

Shahid Minar to Eliot Park, Kolkata

Date: 24th April 2008
Duration: 1 day
Category: Awareness march
Who took part: 150+ students, 30 CEMO members and countless members of the public
Partners & collaborators: Schools of Kolkata and other NGOs

The project

A grassroots mobilisation and sensitisation effort around the plight of the national animal in Ranthambore and in the other sanctuaries of India. Fateh Singh Rathore’s strident call ‘Jangal bachao, bagh bachao’ woke Kolkata up to the vital connection between animal and habitat, and to the dangers of poaching.

Impact & outcome

Far and wide outreach among school students, activists and the general public — and a unique experience to walk with the Tiger Man of India on the streets of Kolkata.

Photographs

CEMO Eco-Jamboree, Army Territorial Grounds, Kolkata

20086 photos

Camp

CEMO Eco-Jamboree

Army Territorial Grounds, Kolkata

CEMO’s first mega school event — skits, models, extempore and a bonfire concert with Bhoomi.

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2008 · Camp

CEMO Eco-Jamboree

Army Territorial Grounds, Kolkata

Date: 1st & 2nd February 2008
Duration: 2 days
Category: Camp
Who took part: Around 200 participants
Partners & collaborators: 20 schools across Kolkata

The project

CEMO’s first mega school event, with 20 schools taking part — and a mega success. It featured nature-themed skit contests, a display of models and extempore speeches by students. The grand finale was a bonfire and a fantastic concert by Bhoomi, with children, guests and members singing and dancing to the music. It was an event to remember.

Impact & outcome

For many students it was an unforgettable experience in hands-on learning about nature, habitat and conservation. The outreach covered about 200 students from different backgrounds.

Photographs

HOW WE WORK

From awareness to lasting change

Every CEMO initiative moves through the same five stages — because change has to take root before it can grow.

Aware

Spark awareness through eco-jamborees, fests and public programmes.

Educate

Train students, teachers and principals through schools and workshops.

Conserve

Run wildlife, habitat and water conservation projects on the ground.

Advocate

Hold rallies, seminars and protest walks for policy and protection.

Partner

Join hands with NGOs, Rotary, Inner Wheel clubs and communities.

OUR JOURNEY

Milestones since 2008

A fact file of the campaigns, festivals, workshops and protests that mark CEMO’s work. Entries with a filled marker have a full project record — click one to open it.

2008

CEMO’s first mega school event — skits, models, extempore and a bonfire concert with Bhoomi.

2008

Walking with the Tiger Man of India through Kolkata, for the national animal and its vanishing habitat.

2008

The Tiger Man of India, brought from Ranthambore to a Kolkata hall full of schoolchildren.

2008

Students’ Awareness Programme

June–September; about 12 schools covered and sensitised.

2009

A climate warning for the delta — issued barely two months before Cyclone Aila proved it right.

2009

Teachers’ Awareness Workshop

A full-day workshop at the Agri-Horticultural Society Hall, Kolkata.

2009

Rally on Climate Change

Organised in October with the Calcutta Action Group.

2010

CEMO Wild Spring Fest

Inter-school skit competition at Ballygunge Shiksha Sadan; about 12 schools.

2010

Joint Environment Project, Birbhum

Launched in Birbhum villages with Rotary Club, Tagoreland.

2010

Principals’ Awareness Workshops I & II

Held at Shantiniketan and the Tollygunge Club.

2010

Tree Planting Day

Papuri and Jogyanagar villages, Birbhum, with Rotary Club, Tagoreland.

2011

Rural Teachers’ Workshop

A two-day workshop with rural teachers in Shantiniketan.

2012

Metal and jute bins marked ‘Use Me’, and three days of persuasion at Bengal’s best-loved fair.

2013–2015

Rajhat is the only place in South Bengal with wild peacocks. A census put them back at 250 birds.

2013

Planting at the Brikkhoropon Utsab, then carrying the saplings on to a nearby village.

2014

Santragachi Jheel Survey

Survey and advocacy with the Mayor of Howrah on drainage and garbage clearance.

2014

No Plastic Zone

Inaugurated at the Visva-Bharati campus in December.

2015

CEMO Monsoon Fest

A monsoon celebration of the environment.

2016

An annual ritual on World Environment Day — saplings, and songs and poems written by members.

2017

National Seminar

‘Green Environment & Development — an Intractable Conflict’, at the Calcutta Club.

2018

A march in anger at the killing of the tigress T-1, and the laws bent to justify it.

2021–22

Sanitation that keeps villagers out of the elephant corridors — turning conflict into coexistence.

2022

Make a Tree Friend, an alpona workshop, recitation and games — four days with the village children.

2023–25

Water footprints, school water audits and home-built rainwater harvesting models, across three schools.

2024

Sundari, Hetal and Goran; three kingfishers, crocodiles, fishing cats and a delta read close up.

2024

An injunction stopped the transfer of a national lake to a private club. The lungs of South Calcutta held.

2026

A multimedia skit on biodiversity and habitat, staged at the CEMO Eco Fest ‘Jal-Jungle’.

Marked entries have a full project record — click to open it.

QUESTIONS

Good things to know

How can I join or support CEMO?

You can become a member, a Friend of CEMO, a volunteer or a donor. Send us a message through the contact page and our team will guide you.

Are donations tax-deductible?

Yes. CEMO is a registered non-profit with 80G status, so eligible donations qualify for tax exemption. We provide a receipt for every contribution.

Where is CEMO based and where do you work?

Our registered office is at 95, Rash Behari Avenue, Kolkata 700029. We work across West Bengal — including Kolkata, Howrah, Birbhum, Purulia and Bandel.

What do you focus on?

Environmental awareness and education — especially in schools — alongside wildlife and habitat conservation and green advocacy.

Can schools or other NGOs partner with CEMO?

Absolutely. CEMO is a platform for NGOs and NGIs and works closely with schools across Bengal. Reach out and we will find the right way to collaborate.

Help the next project take root.

Your support powers awareness drives, conservation work and years of care for Bengal’s environment.