Bhubaneswar: To enhance the greenery and spread ecological awareness, the NSS Bureau of SOA Deemed to be University undertook a massive plantation drive at its Agriculture Research Station at Chhatabar in Khurda district on July 16.
Around 70 NSS volunteers, faculty members and members of the local community participated in the event planting a variety of saplings including Jamun (Indian Blackberry), Ou (Elephant Apple), Bel (Wood Apple) and Boula (Indian Medlar) while taking a pledge to protect the environment.
The plantation drive was named ‘Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam 2.0’.
An engaging environmental awareness quiz was also organised for the NSS volunteers which witnessed enthusiastic participation.
The event was graced by Prof Santosh Kumar Rout, Dean of Institute of Agricultural Sciences (IAS), SOA’s faculty of agricultural sciences, Prof Nachieketa K Sharma, SOA’s Director, University Outreach Programme and International Relations, D. Kamal Lochan Mahanta, NSS Programme Coordinator of the university, Prof Saroj Kumar Mohanty and Dr Nilesh Jena, both NSS programme officers, Raj Shekhar Behera, Dr Jayakrushna Panigrahi, Working President, Odisha Environmental Society, Dr Bijay Ketan Patnaik and Dr Lala Aswini Kumar Singh, Vice-Presidents of OES, Manoranjan Mishra, Secretary of OES, Dr Nimai Charan Mishra, former Professor, OUAT and Nirod Baran Khuntia, Training Coordinator, NSS–ETI, OUAT.
Mahanta also provided saplings in nearby villages to be planted and looked after by the local people. This initiative is a part of the ongoing efforts by SOA’s NSS bureau to create ecological awareness and promote the concept of sustainable living among the students.