The role of nature in ensuring the physical and mental wellbeing of the people was stressed at a function organised here on Wednesday to distribute prizes to volunteers of the National Green Corps (NGC) who had excelled in various competitions organised recently by the district chapter of the NGC. Participating as the chief guest, Chief Education Officer (Sarva Siksha Abiyan) S. Ravikumar said that people particularly students should familiarise themselves with various aspects of nature and learn to respect its laws. The Field Officer, CPR Environmental Education Centre M. Kumaravelu also spoke.