Tamil Nadu schools to grow herbal gardens soon

The first-of-its-kind initiative will see medicinal and aromatic seedlings being distributed to schools and households as well.  

A senior official from Forest department told DT Next, “The NMPB has invited project proposals from Tamil Nadu to implement schemes under ‘Promotion of school/institution and public herbal gardens’ for three years starting 2018 to 2020 at a cost of Rs 3.54 crore.” The main objective of the scheme is to distribute medicinal and aromatic seedings based on local specific needs and demand to interested schools and households. 

Students will also get a chance to go trekking to understand medicinal plants. Individual schools will be provided with appropriate technical inputs during creation and maintenance of school herbal gardens. Herbal kits will also be distributed to the students and other stakeholders. 

Publicity materials like pamphlets detailing the importance of herbal plants will be printed for wide distribution in the schools.  Even citizens would be encouraged to grow medicinal plants in kitchen gardens and roof gardens.  

Appropriate mechanisms will be evolved in consultation with school authorities, teachers, students, parents and NGOs for maintenance of the herbal gardens after withdrawal of project funding. Officials will conduct seminars for department staff, farmers and students on conservation and management of such gardens.