Saturday, 13 JULY 2024 | PNS | DEHRADUN
The Education minister Dhan Singh Rawat has instructed the Chief Education Officers (CEOs) of all districts to collaborate with the Horticulture department, Forest department and various NGOs to plant trees in all the government schools on the occasion of the Harela festival on July 16. Stating this, Rawat said that this initiative aims to celebrate the folk festival with enthusiasm in all government schools across the State. The department has planned to plant over two lakh plants on this occasion. In view of this, he said that he has directed the CEOs of all the districts to ensure the planting of trees in schools by working closely with the relevant departments and NGOs. Rawat further emphasised that all students, teachers and staff will participate in tree plantation in and around their schools. Primary schools are required to plant at least five fruit and shade trees, whereas high schools and inter colleges should plant at least 10 fruit and shade trees. The selection of trees will be based on the local climate and will include Bel, guava, Jamun, Amla, orange, Malta, lemon, apricot and others, he added. He further added that the schools will be responsible for the proper maintenance of the planted trees. Further, the schools will organise various competitions such as essay writing, art, poster making, debates and oration to raise awareness about environmental conservation on the occasion of Harela. Rawat also added that the syllabus will soon include chapters related to environmental protection and enhancement in accordance with the provisions of the National Education Policy 2020, for which instructions have been given to the officials.
