School students participated in a plantation drive and an environmental awareness programme organised by Saraswati Higher Primary and High School, in association with Bidar Parisara Vahini, at Hallikhed (B) in Humnabad taluk of Bidar district on July 16.

The programme was part of Bidar Parisara Vahini’s initiative to take environmental awareness campaigns to schools across the Kalyana Karnataka region. Its president, Shailendra Kavadi, said the organisation has been conducting plantation drives and awareness programmes to encourage students to take an active role in environmental conservation.

Inaugurating the programme, Humnabad Tahsildar Jagadish Chour said sustainable development depends on maintaining harmony with nature. He urged farmers to plant more trees, including fruit-bearing varieties, around their fields to minimise human-wildlife conflict.

Shankarananda Mahaswami of Chalkapur Siddharoodha mutt emphasised the need to introduce environmental education at the primary school level.

Social Forestry Officer Prakash Nippani urged farmers to make use of government agroforestry schemes to increase green cover. Assistant Director of Agriculture Sharan Kumar called on farmers to plant more trees to prevent soil erosion.

Rajasekhar Basanayak, Head of the Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK), Bidar, said involving students in plantation activities is an effective way of promoting environmental awareness while encouraging farmers to seek technical guidance from the KVK.