Loyola School Jamshedpur students plant 55 saplings on National Forest Martyrs Day

Jamshedpur, Sept 11: Loyola School, Jamshedpur, observed National Forest Martyrs Day on Thursday to honour the sacrifices of those who laid down their lives protecting India’s forests. The programme was held at the Tarumitra Centre, Jesu Bhawan, Mango, where about 55 saplings were planted.

The saplings, provided by Shaba Alam Ansari, IFS, Divisional Forest Officer, were planted by Loyola students under the guidance of teachers and forest officials. The first sapling was planted jointly by Forest Department officials, Principal Father Vinod Fernandes, and Father Rector Michael T. Raj. Students were encouraged to take responsibility for nurturing the plants.

The day began with yoga, meditation, tree-hugging, and a biodiversity walk at the Tarumitra Centre. Students then made group presentations without using electronic gadgets. The event was designed as a “bagless day” to help students relax and reconnect with nature, offering them relief from the stress of upcoming examinations.

During the activities, students observed various insects, animals, and plants in their natural environment. They also engaged in teamwork, which helped many overcome hesitation in group settings. Volunteers from Standard 11 supervised Standard 8 students, gaining valuable experience in leadership and time management.

The programme was coordinated and supervised by teachers Sudha Rao and Pubalee Bera.