Need for gardens in schools stressed

Mangalore University former Vice-Chancellor M.I. Savadatti has regretted the fact that most schools do not have gardens on their campuses these days.

He was here to inaugurate the Shala Parisara Mitra award distribution ceremony on Thursday.

Mr. Savadatti said almost all schools used to have gardens earlier and gardening was part of learning. But today, gardens are missing from most school campuses. Children need to be taught about nature and its protection.,” he said.

Karnataka State Pollution Control Board (KSPCB) officer Vijayakumar Khadakbhavi said the award was instituted to encourage schools to have nature-friendly activities.

Of 400 applications received, 30 were selected after scrutiny.

An expert team visited those schools and selected 20 schools (10 in yellow and 10 in green category) for the award. Of these schools one school was selected for the special first prize.

Shivananda Bharati Higher Primary school of Sulla village in Hubballi taluk won the first prize.

The awards were given away to the winning schools. The programme was organised by KSPCB.