The 50-cent campus of Government Middle School in LKP Nagar near Sakkimangalam is home to over 200 trees and a herbal garden.
It is difficult to believe when the teachers say that the school, which is slowly becoming a green campus, had only two trees in 2006.
“We created awareness among the students of the importance of growing trees. The formation of Eco-Clubs in government schools helped us greatly,” says N. Shanthikaleeswari, headmistress.
The Eco-Club functioning in the school since 2009 has 50 members, students from classes VI to VIII, who are entrusted with the task of maintaining the trees such as neem and ‘pungai’, and the herbal garden as well.
“We have constituted five teams in the Eco-Club. Each team takes turn every week for the upkeep of trees and newly planted saplings,” Ms. Shanthikaleeswari explains.
According to T.U. Rajavadivel, coordinator of Eco-Club in the school, new saplings are planted during the birthdays of the students. Last year 50 trees were planted this way, he adds.
“The herbal garden was set up a few weeks ago and we have tulsi, veldt grape, aloe vera and pachilai among others,” he says. On Tuesday to mark the World Ozone Day, 25 saplings were planted on the school premises.
C. Swaminathan, a professor of Agricultural College and Research Institute, who is one of the main donors of the saplings, says that involving students is the best way to safeguard trees.
“I have seen students visiting the school even during holidays to water the trees,” he says.
“We visited the Agricultural College and Research Institute and were awestruck by the greenery. We are working to make our school a green campus,” says N. Pugalenthi, a class VIII student.
“We use only organic manure for the trees and have put up a fence around the herbal garden to safeguard the trees,” says class VII student R. Mohammed Asif.
K. Muniyandi, district environmental coordinator, says that 259 government schools, which include 140 middle schools, have Eco Clubs in the district.
“The clubs conduct awareness programmes on protecting environment,” he adds.
Competitions were conducted in several schools in the district to mark Ozone day celebrations.
