Working towards environment protection, Jharkhand Education Project Council (JEPC) took an important initiative and started the plantation of five lakh fruit tress across the State. Administrative Office Jayant Mishra started the mega campaign in the presence of representatives of Union Bank and Utkarsh Finance Bank at the JEPC headquarters on June 6 in Dhurva, Ranchi.

On the occasion Mishra said that it is the collective responsibility of everyone to protect and clean the environment. “Today climate change has become a challenge in the world. To reduce the impact of pollution and climate change, it is necessary that we plant as many trees as possible.”

“For the financial year 2024- 25, a target has been set to plant at least 10 trees in all government schools of the State. In this regard, an amount of Rs 23.02 crore has been made available as grant amount to the Eco Clubs of the schools and this target will be achieved through MGNREGA,” added Mishra.

The top 1000 schools performing best in Eco Club activities will be encouraged as well as 5 schools from each district- a total of 120 schools will be selected from across the State and rewarded.

In the regard, schools have also been instructed to plant large sized grafted trees. The responsibility of ensuring the safety, care, water and fertiliser of these trees will be on the house and Eco Club. Priority will be given to those trees which are fruit-bearing, can be used in mid-day meals or are beneficial for the environment.

The directive issued also stated that if suitable trees are not available in the forest department, then the parents, principal or teachers should purchase the above mentioned sapling from the market and plant it in the schools. If there is lack of space in the school, then the plantation should be done in pots or fish trays. It is also mandatory to plant seasonal and medicinal saplings in the kitchen garden of the school.

JEPC has given the responsibility to each Block Education Extension Officer, Block Program Officer, Block Resource Worker and Cluster Resource Worker to ensure timely utilisation of the grant amount given to the Eco Clubs by continuously monitoring each school and to also update the status of the physical and financial achievement of the amount spent on the management portal every month. The instructions issued also state that the schools have been directed to ensure 100% utilisation of the grant amount for the activities of the Eco Club in this financial year.