The government will strive to set up biodiversity gardens and rain pits in around 13,000 schools across the State as part of its action plan to promote the conservation of environment and water resources with the participation of students, Minister for Education Prof. C. Ravindranath has said.
Launching the State-level rain harvesting festival (‘Mazhakkoythulsavam’) to mark the World Environment Day observance at Kozhikode Medical College Campus Higher Secondary School on Monday, he said the project would give ample opportunities for students to familiarise themselves with the nature’s treasures and think beyond their textbooks and classroom lectures.
He said the biodiversity gardens planned by the government would offer a better platform for students to be part of simple agriculture activities and inculcate the habit of farming at a tender age.
Explaining the purpose of the festival, he said it would ensure massive participation of schoolchildren to prepare maximum number of rain pits during this monsoon season and plant maximum number of saplings. They would also spread the message of pesticide-free living and plastic-free lifestyle with various programmes of the department, he added.
A. Pradeepkumar, MLA, presided over the function. Noted environmentalists A. Achyuthan and T. Shobheendran were felicitated on the occasion.