Forest dept’s green gift to school kids

TUMKUR: The state government has decided to give every student a sapling to make sure school compounds go green. The forest department’s project is called ‘Maguvigondu Gida, Shalaegondu Vana’ ( Plant for every Child, Park for every School). The Siddaganga Mutt head Shivakumara Swamiji launched the programme in Tumkur on Saturday.

The forest department will supply saplings which students want and they must ensure they’re planted on the school premises. Through this project, the forest department hopes to raise more than 40 lakh plants. Every student must plant one plant on the school premises and maintain it. From Saturday, every teacher and students could take plants from the forest department.

At the Siddaganaga High School ground, Shivakumara Swamiji, forest minister H Vijayashankar, housing minister V Somanna, primary education minister Visweswara Hegde Kagere planted 104 saplings to inaugurate the scheme.