Date:03/04/2007 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2007/04/03/stories/2007040322550200.htm

Tamil Nadu - Madurai

Green crusaders come to the rescue

S.S. Kavitha

Students try to find answers to some difficult questions

GROWTH PROSPECTS: Students of Velammal Matriculation School planting saplings as part of `World Forest Day' celebrations.

MADURAI: Everyone is aware that man and nature are interdependent. But the real cause of concern for many is man, who continues to pollute the environment. When problems are one too many, who will protect the environment? What could be the right steps towards creating a pollution-free world? Global warming signals the lurking danger. It is a signal that it is high time human beings gathered their wit to think of nature-protecting strategies.

Velammal Matriculation School in the city tried to find the answer for some of these questions — to make children fight pollution and bring about an attitudinal change among the youth and elders to protect the nature.

To catch them young and make them green crusaders, the Eco Club of the school organised `World Forest Day' on the school premises last week.

As part of the celebrations, the chief guest, K. Kaleeswara Moorthy, Wildlife Ranger, Department of Forests, highlighted the `need of the forest' and `service of trees to humanity.'

Later, he also planted saplings on the campus. Students also took a pledge to protect trees.

The club, with its unique programmes, would enhance awareness of environmental safeguard and upkeep among students, who would, in turn, emphasise the importance of `environmental protection' among peers and family members, said B. Chandrasekeran, Principal.

It would also sensitise students to adopt good environmental practices such as minimising waste generation and use of plastic bags and water.

Eco Clubs had been playing an important role in creating environmental awareness among the future generations, especially among the impressionable age group of school children, Mr. Chandrasekeran said and added that it would be easy to bring in attitudinal change among elders rather than breaking the fossilised mindset of adults.

Merit badges

Achievers should be honoured. Understanding it, the school recently organised a function to distribute merit badges. The first, second and third rank holders of all standards were honoured with merit badges based on their performance throughout the academic year. R.M. Ravi, Project Director, Tamil Nadu Rural Development Organisation, was the chief guest.