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Young World
Campaigning for nature
SANGEETH KURIAN
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The natural state of the earth is our responsibility.
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Photo: S. Mahinsha
Greener world: Save nature.
SRS Upper Primary School at Naruvamoodu-Pallichal, Thiruvananthapuram and St. Mary’s High School, Maruthonkara, Kozhikode have shared the ‘Vanamithra Award’ instituted by the State Government for conserving nature.
The Minister for Forest, Benoy Viswom, lauded the school for leading the conservation efforts of more than 6,000 schools that participated in the ‘My Tree’ campaign launched last year. He said that a similar campaign would be launched this year for college students.
The schools were selected for the award from among 40 schools that participated in the campaign. The award panel consisted of top-level officials of the departments of Forests and Education and Kerala Forest Research Institute, in addition to leading environmentalists. The prize money is Rs 1 lakh and will be divided equally between the two schools.
Our environment
The project which triggered an attitudinal revolution in villages across the State was jointly organised by the Department of Education and Forest in connection with the World Environment Day last year.
For the 25 lakh children who participated in the campaign it was also an attempt to get into the Guinness Book of World Records by planting 25 lakh saplings at their respective neighbourhood on a single day. The project is expected to increase the total tree coverage, that is the total number of trees in the State, by at least four per cent.
Children from classes V to IX studying in various government aided, unaided and recognised schools were involved in the project.
As a part of the project each student was given a choice of 25 different species of saplings from which they could select one. However, a majority of the students who took part in the programme opted for teak indicating its monetary value. The saplings were then planted at the premises of their home, neighbourhood and public places. The students were also entrusted with the responsibility of taking care of the saplings for at least a year.
According to the Education Department the project was aimed at instilling a feeling of love for nature in the minds of the students. The idea is to enable children to imbibe the spirit of the project and plant a tree in their mind first before embarking on the task. This will make their relationship with nature long-lasting, said a senior district educational officer.
The representatives of local bodies such as ward members were also entrusted with the task of monitoring the implementation of the project in their respective areas. In addition to this there were also organising committees in each school, sub-district, educational and revenue district for its effective implementation.
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