HT and Thane schools plant saplings

THANE:ON Saturday morning, Thane received heavy showers. But that did not deter the spirits of 100-odd students from Smt Sulochana Devi Singhania School, who were on a green mission. Along with students of Gram Vikas Mandal’s Pandit School, students of Singhania School planted trees in their school campus. Pandit School is a Yeoor-based school for tribal children.

The event was organised by Singhania School in association with Hindustan Times

‘Go Green Mumbai’ initiative and Heartfulness Institute.

The students of both schools planted trees in the school campus. The Singhania school has been organising various activities with the Pandit school for last two years.

Revathi Srinivasan, principal of Singhania School, said, “We started helping tribal students in Yeoor two years ago. I felt my students should learn to reach out to the less fortunate. Thus, we started inviting children from Yeoor to our school during weekends. Earlier, we would give them stationaries and books, but later began planning educational activities.”

Students of Singhania School have taught the tribal students to use computers, communicate in English and various outdoor activities.

Nutan Joshi, principal of Pandit School, said, “Our school is 40-years-old. We have over 90 students. Singhania School has given our students a good opportunity, which will help in educational and social development.”

Srinivasan said, “We realised that students from both schools, despite their social differences, bond very well. We undertook four projects in Yeoor, focusing on primary health, education, solar energy and drinking water.

The plantation drive was part of the exchange programme between school students. Singhania School had also initiated a special drive to celebrate their Golden Jubilee this year.

The principal had asked each student to plant one sapling on their birthday in the school.

Thus by the end of the year, the school will have 6,500 saplings.

For the students of both the schools, the entire experience has been very fulfulling.

PRAFUL GANGURDE/HT At an event held in association with HT, students of Singhania School planted saplings in their school premises with students from a tribal school in Yeoor, on Saturday.