The University of Delhi recently published a notice titled “Planting a Tree is part of New Curriculum in DU/From Environmental Education to Environmental Action”. The University took a new initiative where it will move from environment education to environmental action on ground.
With the new academic session rolling in, it has now become compulsory for every student to plant a tree. The student can plant a tree anywhere in the country during the course of their study. The initiative is applicable to Undergraduate, Postgraduate and M.Phil/PHD students. Every college will monitor the program scientifically. The methods and processes of evaluation have been made simplified and made easier. This is done so that students can actually contribute to the environmental cause.
The press release explicitly address humanitarian problems that the world is facing. Not only COVID but several environmental factors have been causing the problems to humanity. There are certain economic challenges also. The initiative comes as a move to make change by individual efforts. “Each one, plant one” is starting to make sense at University level.
As the notification mentions, human has realized the value of oxygen during second wave of the pandemic. The notification expresses how planting useful trees and flourishing the environment, restoring the greenery is the best way to combat humanitarian crisis. Massive student participation, as P.C. Joshi says will fasten the process of environment restoration.
In a conference related to the launch of initiative, P.C. Joshi said, “Every year Delhi University admits lakhs of students from different parts of the country and they will be our climate warriors.” Professor Dianbandhu Sahoo is the Director for Centre for Himalayan studies and the brain behind this proposal.
“Planting and subsequent maintenance of trees will not only create a big supply chain in creating jobs at various levels but also will yield several valuable products which will provide suitable income at a different level.”, P.C. Joshi said. The University has a responsibility in fulfilling UN SDG goals and what is a better way than getting students to participate in it.
