Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Apr 6: In a significant initiative aimed at promoting environmental sustainability, Minister for Education, Social Welfare, Health and Medical Education, Sakeena Itoo today launched a mega plantation drive across Jammu and Kashmir from SRML Higher Secondary School (HSS) here to instil the sprit of environmental protection and green development among students.
MLAs Qaysar Jamshaid Lone; Justice (Retd) Hasnain Masoodi and Showkat Hussain Ganie; MD ICDS, Sajad Hussain Ganai; Director School Education Jammu; Naseem Javid Choudhary; Director Social Welfare Jammu, Ranjeet Singh; Director Health Jammu, Principal SRML HSS Jammu, CEO Jammu, Principals and Headmasters of other HSSs and HSs of Jammu district, large number of teachers and students were also present on the occasion.
The drive has been organised collectively by School Education, Higher Education, Social Welfare, Health and Medical Education departments.
Addressing a large gathering after planting a sapling, the Minister highlighted that that environmental protection must begin at the grassroots level and schools play a pivotal role in shaping responsible future generations. “This day is not just the launch of a programme, today we started a movement, a movement to clean our land, protect our future and nurture life”, she stated.
She added that around 2.50 lakh tree saplings are being planted across Jammu and Kashmir in Schools, Higher Secondary Schools, Colleges, Hospitals, Anganwadi centres, Healthcare facilities and other places.
Calling students the ambassadors of environmental protection, Sakeena Itoo said that students are not just participants in this mission, they are its ambassadors.
Giving slogan of one student -one tree, the Minister said, “Let every student make a promise and pledge one student-one tree. Let every tree you plant grow with you, as a symbol of your responsibility and your love for this land”.
The Minister also called upon the teachers that the schools should be examples of protecting nature.
The Minister also underlined the role of Social Welfare Department, adding that their reach at the grassroots is unmatched and they are the backbone of this movement.
“It is not about how many young trees we plant in a day. It is about how many trees survive, grow and become a part of our lives”, Sakeena Itoo said.
On the sidelines of the programme, Sakeena Itoo also distributed sports kits among various Government schools to encourage physical fitness and promote sporting culture among youth. The kits included equipment for multiple disciplines aimed at strengthening extracurricular engagement and identifying sporting talent at an early stage.
In another major boost to educational infrastructure, the Minister also handed over technical equipment like desktops and other stuff to several schools to enhance digital learning and skill-based education.
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