In order to increase the greenery in the universities and college campuses, UGC (University Grants Commission) has introduced a new campaign. This campaign is called ‘One Student, One Tree’ and it asks every student to plant a sapling while he or she is staying in a university or college.
As a part of this initiative, UGC has directed the vice chancellors of the universities to offer free saplings to the students so that they can plant them.
Under this scheme, a student will be involved in the process of nurturing a tree in order to preserve the environment. Also, NSS and other related departments operating in the institution will be instructed to make sure that every student plants at least one tree while he or she undertakes the course in the institution.
This new campaign called One Student, One Tree and its objective were revealed by Jaspai Sandhu, the Secretary Professor of UGC in his letter sent to the vice chancellors of various universities and colleges. The plantation campaign is also meant to be followed by the colleges that are affiliated as well.
The UGC Secretary claimed that the university will be providing free saplings to the students and they should be involved in the plantation. They will also be a part of the special plantation drive that will be conducted to make the campus go rich in green.
Apart from the UGC instructions that are given to the institutions, he reiterated that universities follow a compulsory implementation of a six-month core module syllabus on the subject of Environmental Studies for the under graduate students irrespective of the branch they have chosen. This move is claimed to develop awareness among the students regarding preservation of the environment.
The universities have been instructed by UGC to implement this course module regarding the environment immediately. UGC has been asked to look after the progress on a regular basis as the Supreme Court of India has given the instructions regarding the same.
