THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Kerala State Literacy Mission (KSLMA) is all set to take up the role of an awareness-generating agency in a massive way. It has joined hands with the Forest Department to take home the message of bio-diversity among the neo-literates.
On June 5, World Environment Day, it will officially launch ‘aksharamaram’, which will see neo-literates planting saplings at the start of their new academic year. Though this time, it will be the new entrants to the seventh equivalency classes who will participate in ‘aksharamaram’, the KSLMA plans to extend the eco-friendly activity among all its students and to all its centres in the coming months.
According to the KSLMA officials, every person who comes to their ‘vidyakendrams’ would be given a sapling, they are to plant at a chosen place, which could be their home, the learning centre or a public place. If interested, the KSLMA will give a name flap to the candidate with their names printed which can be tied to the plant.
“It is to instil in them the value of bio-diversity that the exercise is meant for. During their learning time and otherwise when they leave our centres, the sapling (or the plant) will be all theirs. It will be their onus to grow it into a healthy tree. We are even thinking of an option where the candidates, who take good care of their saplings, can be given grade marks,” said a KSLMA official.
The neo-literates will be given all support to rear their plants by the KSLMA. The saplings of shady/herbal plants will be supplied from the nurseries run by the Forest Department and it will be distributed to the candidates by the district co-ordinators of the Literacy Mission Authority. The launch of the programme will be held in more than 3,000 continuous education centres of the KSLMA simultaneously. The programme will be attended by political leaders, cultural and social leaders, literacy volunteers, preraks and neo-literates across the State. The KSLMA plans to distribute as many as 1.5 lakh saplings on June 5 alone.