Shillong, August 06: The Rotary Club of Orchid City Shillong organized a plantation drive under Project Hariyali Trees for Future, sponsored by Mahindra Finance at St. Joseph Higher Sec. School, Umden Village, Ri-bhoi District on 3rd August 2022.
Under the initiative, more than 200 fruit tree saplings (peach, plum, etc) were planted. Shri Arpit Upadhayaya, IAS, Deputy Commissioner, Ri-Bhoi District, joined the green movement as the Chief Guest. Team from Mahindra Finance, Nongpoh branch, led by Uttam Khanal, members of the Rotary Club of Orchid City Shillong.
Tree plantation was led by President, Rtn (Prof.) Devesh Walia, Fr. Glorias and other members of St. Joseph along with students participated in the movement aimed to save the environment and increase the green scene.
Fr. Glorias welcomed everyone and thanked Mahindra Finance & Rotary Club of Orchid City Shillong for this noble initiative and choosing St. Joseph Higher Sec. School for this project.
He said that the planted saplings will be taken care by school as it grows. Shri Arpit Upadhayaya appreciated the efforts of Mahindra Finance & Rotary Club of Orchid City Shillong and said that saving environment is our top priority. He further said that, as the plantation is important, so is the caring of planted saplings as it grows.
He thanked St. Joseph for not only providing space for plantation, but also taking pledge to care for it as it grows. He asked everyone to join hands to save environment.
Rtn Vivek Kumar, Vice President & Chair-Project Hariyali said that protecting environment is our collective responsibility and tree-sapling plantation is one of the ways of achieving it. He thanked school authorities for opening doors and proving home to green lives.
He asked each student to plant a tree sapling during the drive, tagging the tree with their name, pledge to take care of it as it grows. He asked everyone to take nature as we take care of ourselves, considering nature as a part of us.
He also informed everyone that Project Hariyali, was launched this year on 28th July 2022 at Khliehtyrshi Village, Jaintia Hills in collaboration with Rotary Club of Jowai and Khliehtryshi Dorbar Shnong, then a mega plantation drive was organised at Nongkhlaw Village.
He said under this project, more focus is on the caring of planted young tree engaging active participation from the members of the community as the young tree grows into an adult tree. He concluded his address by saying, ‘I am nature defending nature’. Rtn Matthew Umdor, Secretary of RCOCS thanked everyone for joining in the efforts.
