Forest Minister Umang Singhar has said that 1.20 lakh students of Government and private schools will be taken on tour to the forest areas this year to promote eco-tourism.
Singhar was addressing the closing ceremony of the state level wildlife week at Vihar Vithika at Van Vihar on Monday. He said that people are moving away from forests today. Therefore, it has become necessary to encourage eco-tourism.
Singhar further said that Madhya Pradesh has been declared as a Tiger State. There are now 526 tigers in the state. The Government of Gujarat has been urged for its cooperation in increasing this number.
On this occasion, Singhar administered the oath to the people for protection and conservation of forests and wildlife and released the Green Calendar. A documentary 'Forest Guard Protector of Paradise' was exhibited. The Forest Minister presented a memento to the young filmmaker Farhan Khan, the producer of the documentary.
The Forest Minister gave away prizes to the winner students of colleges and schools of various competitions.
About 3200 participants participated in the competitions held at the state level Wildlife Week 2019. During the week, painting, wildlife photographs, Yuava Sansad for wildlife conservation, photography workshop, teacher workshop, creative workshop, rangoli, palm painting and mehndi quiz, fancy dress, face painting competitions were organised.
In the programme, the Principal Chief Conservator of Forests and Chief Forest Force UK Prakasham, Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (Production) SP Ryal, Managing Director Minor Forest Produce Cooperative Federation SK Mandal, Managing Director Forest Development Corporation Bharat Kumar Sharma, Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (CAMPA) AB Gupta, Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (Work Planning and Forest Land Records) Ramesh Kumar Gupta and Director Van Vihar Kamlika Mohanta were present.