The NSS wing of the Bapujee HS School (BHSS) did a commendable job in the on-going monsoon after its volunteers took out a mammoth programme of tree plantation and launched a massive awareness drive among the local residents on protection of forests and generation of new forests at Garhpalasuni gram panchayat in Dhenkanal district.
During the seven-day Van Mohotsav, about 20 NSS volunteers led by programme officer KC Sahani planted hundreds of tree varieties like cashew, mango, guava, besides raising a flower garden inside the campus of the higher secondary school.
The volunteers took out massive rallies and shouted slogans in various villages to make the locals aware of the value of trees and the need to protect the existing forests.
The NSS department was aided by the local Forest and Horticulture departments. The local forest ranger, forester, assistant horticulture officer and several other staff members of the two departments had been to the venue where plantation programme was being carried out.
Jarada village was the adopted village of the NSS volunteers this time where a camp was set up at the local primary school and a host of programmes were undertaken.
Among others, BHSS Principal and environmentalist Bhagaban Sasmal, Garhpalasuni Degree College Principal T Sahu, G Baitharu, B Tripathy, JK Sahoo and local PRI members and scribes encouraged the volunteers.
Best volunteers were awarded with citations and prizes. A series of seminars were also held. Mayadhar Sahoo, Subash Parida, Prafulla Samal, Brahmananda Samal and Ashok Samal coordinated.