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Jharkhand education department wants schools to carry out tree plantation drives
Jharkhand school education and literacy department has directed schools to carry out a month long tree plantation campaign – the ‘Vriksha Lagao Abhiyan’ 2016 from July 1onwards. The aim is to make children aware of benefit of trees and combat global warming.
Good habits need to be inculcated in childhood and only then do their bear fruits during adulthood. Today earth is facing irreversible damage and climatic changes due to non-existent care about the environment in the older generation. To not repeat the same mistake again schools have started environmental studies and lots of practical visits to encourage youngsters to become more responsible for the environment and do something solid towards improving it.
It is observed that ground water level is depleting rapidly due to the onset of global warming and the only way to arrest it is to plant more trees. The Jharkhand state school education and literacy department has decided to implement the 'Vriksha Lagao Abhiyan' (tree plantation programme) 2016 in collaboration with schools.
According to chief minister (CM) Raghubar Das, all schools, both government and private, will have to organise oath taking ceremony for tree plantation in the morning assemblies from June 20 to 30.
After the oath taking ceremonies, the month- long programme will begin from July 1 and under this programme the schools having boundary wall will be required to plant fruit and flower yielding trees inside the premises and creepers near the boundary wall. Schools not having any boundary walls can construct bio fencing using shrubs and hedges.
The department further suggested the varieties of trees to be planted – mango, guava, jackfruit, banana, papaya, litchi and other fruit yielding trees and plants like jasmine, marigold and other flowering plants.
Department secretary Aradhana Patnaik said, "The schools can contact the nearest nurseries for getting plants. As the monsoon has already started, there would be no problem in plantation. The schools have also been directed to install water harvesting system in their premises."
With this program, the department hopes to help young minds connect with trees and their benefits. Through this program a lifelong friendship can blossom between children and trees and this way a small step would be taken to ensure that the future generation cares for trees and the environment.
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