Bengaluru: Following the declaration of 2019 as the Year of Water by the state government, the Department of Public Instruction (DPI) has directed all 78,000 government run primary and high schools across the State to spread awareness among students and parents about water conservation.
The Commissioner of Public Instruction has issued circular to all the heads of 34 educational districts to educate students about the significance of rainwater harvesting, recycling and judicious use of water as part of Jalamrutha project implemented by Government of Karnataka for rejuvenation of lakes, ponds and water bodies, sources in DPI told Deccan Chronicle.
Karnataka, which has the second largest drought prone area after Rajasthan in the country, has taken up Jalamrutha project, a community-driven movement focusing on drought proofing measures, water literacy, rejuvenation of water bodies, creation of new water bodies and development of watersheds and afforestation activities.
As part of this initiative, instructions have been issued to all schools by DPI to grow medicinal and fruit-bearing plants under the Hasiru Karnataka programme at the land available in the school premises with the help of local administration authorities.
The government has also issued directions to all urban local bodies, panchayat raj institutions, agriculture, horticulture and forest departments to assist education department grow plants in the school premises.
Such measures not only help improve greenery in schools, but also utilize rainwater that falls on the roofs of school buildings and school compounds, said the officials.
Directions have also been issued to headmasters to sensitise students, parents and community by wall writings on school compound highlighting the importance of water literacy, conservation of water, health and sanitation issues, improvement of green cover in school campus, social forestry and grooves forestry in every village.
Schools have been told to take up year-long awareness activities to educate students by holding debates, ‘pratibha karanji’ like dance, music, art and talent festival, painting and quiz competitions, workshops, audio and video demonstrations and special lectures.
Besides, the school heads must also encourage students to take up water conservation programmes in science and eco-clubs, to debate on these issues in student parliament sessions.
Instructions have also given to all education department officers to hold literacy rallies in every village, town and city to sensitize students, public and community for students that highlights the importance of building check dams and percolation pits, rainwater harvesting, recharging ground water, rejuvenation of water sources like lakes and ponds through community participation.
