Action plan to increase green cover being evolved

In government schools of Madurai district

FOR A NOBLE CAUSE: Middle school teachers attending a meeting on treeplantation in the city on Wednesday. Photo: S. James

An action plan to increase green cover in Government schools in the district is being evolved by the Department of School Education.

To spearhead the ‘Go Green’ campaign, a meeting of environmental coordinators from Government middle schools was convened here on Wednesday. Teachers from 54 schools attended the programme.

Planting of trees and creating gardens was discussed and the role of Eco Clubs in schools was emphasised.

The constraints faced by middle schools in tree plantation were taken note of.

This would be looked into by Chief Educational Officer S. Nagaraja Murugan and District Elementary Education Officer Subhashini.

Various aspects related to pollution control, climate change and environmental protection were explained to the school teachers.

Rain water harvesting, reuse of waste water, biodiversity, fencing, planting of more saplings, kitchen garden, energy efficient transport, waste management, segregation of waste, culture and environment and forming of energy clubs were among the topics on the agenda.

K. Muniyandi, District Environmental Coordinator in the School Education Department, said that the support of Forest Department is being taken for the ‘Go Green’ drive. Funds are likely to be allotted to each school for undertaking tree plantation.

Also, those schools which do not have compound walls and hence are unable to create green cover on their premises would be taken care of as part of the National Green Corps Mission.

Two schools in Madurai district -- Kunnathur Middle School and L. K. P. Middle School --, which are maintaining good gardens on their campuses, have been taken as models and others will be encouraged to follow suit. Herbal and medicinal plants too would be grown depending on space available in the middle schools.