Daijiworld Media Network – Bengaluru (EP)

Bengaluru, Oct 20: Department of Forests in the government of Karnataka has brought out a novel plan to create awareness about environment among schoolchildren. The department has offered to give grace marks to students of primary and high school, if they plant saplings and look after them.

“As destruction of environment has become a major problem and pollution is increasing every day, the government has come forward to create love of plants, trees and nature among school going children,” said minister of forests, R Shanker.

The department is contemplating about giving ten grace marks to students who plant saplings and take good care of them.

As per the proposal, an eighth standard student should plant a sapling in school, in his home premises or roadside. The department of forests will provide ten saplings such as mango, jackfruit, coconut tree etc to the student. The student should look after the sapling for three years i.e. until he or she completes tenth standard.

"The department will inspect the sapling and allot marks on the basis of its growth. It is intended to include the marks in SSLC examination marks cards," said the minister.