MU launches Plant Saplings on Birthdays campaign

Mangaluru: Mangalore University (MU) launched a unique campaign — Plant Saplings on Birthdays— to make birthdays memorable and spread an eco-friendly message. Postgraduate students were requested to plant a sapling on their birthday anywhere on the campus, and look after it until they leave the university.
The campaign was launched last week by vice chancellor PL Dharma at the Kannada department. The campaign, titled ‘Gidanettu Huttuhabba Abhiyana', encourages students celebrating their birthday by planting a sapling. The Mangalagangothri campus has around 1,000 students studying in various PG and PhD programmes.
Kannada department assistant professor Dhananjaya, said that the initiative, conceived by the vice chancellor aims to make birthdays memorable and build a connection with nature. Students will be responsible for taking care of the saplings until they graduate, and they must pass on the task of watering the saplings to juniors. "We have informed the students that each sapling must be taken care of, for at least 2–3 years. Fruit-bearing saplings are recommended because they attract birds, insects, and other animals, enriching the flora and fauna at the campus," he said.
The campaign was launched while celebrating the birthday of a student from the Kannada Department. Students whose birthday falls on a holiday can plant saplings on the following day.
Sources from the vice chancellor's office stated that all departments in Mangalagangothri will soon receive an official letter requesting their support for the campaign. "Last week marked a soft launch of the initiative. Students are currently preparing for term-end examinations and will be encouraged to participate actively, from the next semester."