JAIPUR: The Rajasthan University (RU) has decided against holding any flower exhibition due to pandemic this year. However, sale of flower saplings will start from December 8.
Due to pandemic, saplings will be sold only to educational institute like universities, colleges, schools or any private bodies. No individual will be allowed to purchase the saplings personally. Besides, receipts of institution will be made.
It’s been more than three decades when the RU started its yearly sale of saplings. This year, more than 4,000 flower pots known as ‘Guldaudi’ are available in the university nursery.
Ramavtar Sharma, in-charge of nursery, said that their target is not to let any crowd gather in the premises. “We will be organising the sale like every year, but bill will be made in the name of the institution for e.g. any college or university. No exhibition will be held this year and we will directly start selling from December 8 till all the pots are sold,” said Sharma.
One flower sapling along with the pot will cost around Rs 100. Any institution wanting to purchase the flowers have to start booking a day in advance. To purchase on December 8, bookings have to be made on December 7 between noon and 2pm. Institutions have to send their employee with a permission letter on its letter pad to purchase the flowers and identity card of the employee.
Nursery at the RU is spread in 6.5 acres of land. At one point, it had 154 gardeners which is now down to 18 permanent personnel.
According to the university administration, within four years when the permanent ones will retire, it will be difficult for the university to maintain the nursery anymore.
Gardener is a dying cadre which means the post of gardeners has now become obsolete as people will retire and no more posts will be generated.
Ramavtar Sharma, manager of the nursery, has requested the state government for appointment on the post of gardeners.
“A gardener on contract will not be able to work as efficiently as a permanent one. We have maintained the nursery so well and will do even better if we will get more staff,” said Sharma.
With the decreasing number of staff to maintain we can say that we are seeing the last days of nursery at the RU.