As many as seven lakh youngsters in Maharashtra will be able to work as "climate change warriors" as the state government signed an agreement with UNICEF, a senior minister said on Monday. Higher and Technical Education Minister Chandrakant Patil said the "warriors" will operate as a water and environment army in the state and sensitise people about the eco-friendly lifestyle, changing environment and water conservation.

They will have to work with local organisations and institutions that work for environment conservation to accelerate their work of educating people, he said. “Seven lakh youth would be roped in from various state-run universities. Of them, 60 per cent will work in urban areas as the issues of water and pollution are more prominent there,” Patil said.