This National Doctors’ Day, medical professionals in Mangaluru sent green signals to society by planting over one hundred saplings, native and fruit-bearing, on the flanks of Bajal Road as well as near Railway Over Bridge at Padil.
The celebrations were organised by the Mangaluru branch of Indian Medical Association (IMA) in association with Medical Consultants-Mangaluru, Natinal Medicos Organisation, Mangaluru, Horticulture Department, Forest Department and Kannada Katte. IMA headquarters had asked to observe the day under the theme ‘Zero Tolerance to Violence Against Doctors and Clinical Establishment’ following recent incidents of violence against doctors.
IMA Mangaluru founding president and senior neurosurgeon K.V. Devadiga, Fr. Muller Hospital’s Chief Medical Officer Sanjeev Rai, and senior neurosurgeon Diwakar Rao planted the first three saplings. They were joined by deputy director of horticulture H.R. Nayak, senior assistant director Janaki, Range Forest Officer P. Shridhar, environmentalist K. Krishnappa and others. Some of the saplings included those of jamun, jackfruit, mango, hebbalasu, etc.
Commending the medical professionals, Mr. Nayak said it was a very good initiative. He said everyone should inculcate the practise of planting saplings for a greener tomorrow. One has to restore the past glory of Mangaluru which was once bustling with green cover, he said.
Speaking on the occasion, Mr. Shridhar said besides producing oxygen and absorbing carbon dioxide from the environment, trees have many other social, economic and environmental benefits. Regretting the mushrooming of apartment complexes in the place of green cover, the RFO said planting saplings in the neighbourhood was one of the best things one could do. He urged doctors to print ‘Plant More Trees for a Cleaner and Greener Tomorrow’ or any other positive slogan at the bottom of their prescriptions.
IMA Mangaluru president Sachchidananda Rai, secretary Sudhindra Rao, medical director of A.J. Hospital and Research Centre Prashanth Marla, and others were present.
