Red Cross takes up green projects

Ooty: Indian Red Cross Soceity in Nilgiris (IRCS-Nilgiris), which had been focused so far on community service, disaster management and health camps has decided to concentrate more on greening aspects and caring for the environment. The society kick-started its greening project by plantings trees in a dozen schools in the hills over the last few days with an aim to involve the youth and make them commit to a green earth and nature conservation. Indian Red Cross Soceity in Nilgiris, Greening project, Tree plantation

Stating this is a part of the Youth Red Cross (YRC) programme in co-ordination with Red Cross in various hill taluks, Capt K.R. Mani, Chairman, IRCS-Nilgiris, said that in the backdrop of global warming and climate change that is posing real threat to the very life on earth, Red Cross has decided to contribute its mite towards nature care by using its chunk of volunteers in schools and colleges to make them green ambassadors. The society is hoping to make a difference to the society by concentrating on green aspects of life to ensure that eco-care becomes a part of Red Cross activities.

“In the first phase, tree planting was done in about a dozen educational institutions including the Govt arts college and the Govt Polytechnic and St. Joseph’s college of education in Ooty. If tree planting becomes a regular activity in schools, it would enable the imbibing of a sense of responsibility in budding minds towards their role in nature care. In a phased manner, IRCS would reach out to all the schools in the district to make this greening scheme success” he added.

Dr V.Malliga, the principal in-charge at GAC who inaugurated the programme, lauded the role of YRC. Fr Noel, St Joseph’s college of education correspondent, said the tree planting programme is very essential in Nilgiris and urged that this kind of programme be arranged at every nook and corner of the district to ensure that wealth of tress would ensure sufficient seasonal rains.

Prof K.Gopal, secretary, IRCS-Nilgiris, asked the student community take the green project from school to their homes so as to involve their family in tree planting.