Mon Sep 22 15:12:50 UTC 2025: Here’s a summary and a rewritten news article based on the provided text:
**Summary:**
Eleven institutions in Kerala, primarily educational but also including a jail and a stone crusher, have been declared carbon negative by the Haritha Keralam Mission. This achievement is a result of participation in the Net Zero Carbon Keralam campaign and successful carbon emission audits. The Kannur Central Jail is notable for being the first jail in the state to achieve this status, overcoming challenges related to waste and water management through innovative, localized solutions. One school, Navodaya Adivasi Aided Upper Primary School, achieved the status relatively easily due to existing sustainable practices.
**News Article:**
**Kerala Jail Leads the Way in Carbon Negativity as 11 Institutions Earn Green Status**
**KOCHI, September 22, 2025** – In a remarkable achievement for sustainable development, eleven institutions across Kerala have been declared carbon negative by the Haritha Keralam Mission. This announcement highlights the state’s commitment to environmental responsibility and the success of its Net Zero Carbon Keralam campaign.
Among the honored institutions, Kannur Central Jail stands out as the first correctional facility in Kerala to achieve carbon negative status. The jail overcame significant challenges related to wastewater, plastic waste, and water management through innovative solutions like a locally-designed wastewater treatment plant and the conversion of cow dung into fertilizer.
“We observed many challenges when we carried out the carbon audit,” said E.K. Somasekharan, district coordinator of the mission in Kannur. “With consistent efforts from the staff and jail inmates, we could address the gap and they could enter into a carbon negative state.”
The Kannur Central Jail official pointed out one of the issues, “Perhaps this is the first time that an old jail has become carbon negative. It is relatively easier for newer structures to achieve carbon negativity as they can be built that way. Consistent efforts from the inmates and staff helped achieve this,”
Other institutions recognized include Mar Gregorios College of Law Thiruvananthapuram; Jyothi Engineering College, Thrissur; Teak Museum, Nilambur; Navodaya Adivasi Aided Upper Primary School, Manikavu, Wayanad; College of Engineering, Thalassery, Kannur; AC Kannan Nair Smaraka Govt UP School, Melangot, Kasaragod; Bishop Moore College, Mavelikara; Nehru Arts And Science College, Kanhangad; GLPS Malappanchery, Kasaragod, and Tashko Stone Crusher Unit, Kasaragod.
Notably, the Navodaya school in Wayanad achieved carbon negativity with minimal additional effort, showcasing the effectiveness of already established sustainable practices. The success of these institutions serves as a model for others across the state and beyond, demonstrating that carbon negativity is achievable through dedication, innovation, and community involvement.
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