Teacher plants over 5,000 saplings

CHATRA: Manoj Kumar Singh, a teacher at Government B.Ed college in Hazaribag has been on a mission to plant trees. So far, he has planted more than 5,000 saplings in Hazaribag, Chatra and Ramgarh. Singh also takes care of the saplings till they grow to their maximum. Every morning, he visit all those areas where he has planted trees with support of local people and students of B.Ed college to water them and give required care.
State government will felicitate Singh on Monday for his exemplary work in a program at Project Office in Ranchi along with seven others.
Singh started planting saplings in 2002 when he got transferred to Sarubeda Sarswati Shishu Mandir in Kujju of Ramgarh district. But his ‘maha abhiyan’ took shape when he was deputed to Hazaribag’s Government B.Ed college where he planted 70 saplings of mango.
Singh who will retire from service this year in September is credited for running three campaigns in Hazaribag. First, he took up the massive plantation drive and later, planting saplings in memory of dead ones and on special occasions like anniversaries and birthdays. He also gifts saplings to newly wed couples while attending their reception party. Singh said so far he has planted trees at the famous Hazaribag lake area, banks of all ponds in the city, Curzon stadium and different localities. He has planted hundreds of trees around Hazaribag lake including 70 saplings of jamun in 2018.
“When I walk on the streets of Hazaribag amid greenery, I breathe satisfaction which in turn brings smile on my face,” Singh said. “I focus on planting fruit bearing trees. Now I am working towards developing a 2km stretch from District Mor to Vinoba Bhave University in order to plant 160 peepal saplings on both sides,” he added. “I have started this work not for fame but to contribute something for this earth,” he added.