By Rajkumar Bhavasar

At the time when Government and other organisations are working towards increasing the lung space in both rural and urban areas, here is a Government Lower Primary School located in a tiny village called Manchegowdanahalli in H.D. Kote taluk, Mysuru, which has set an example for the other Schools to follow.

This School in the village, dominated by Jenu Kuruba community, has a total of 18 students from Class 1 to Class 5. The students, who have keen interest in greenery, grow vegetables, green leaves, fruits and others at the school premises which are used for preparing mid-day meals.

Students grow radish, brinjal, ladies finger, ridge gourd, beans, drumsticks and other vegetables. This apart, the students also grow fruits such as papaya, guava, pomegranate, banana and other fruits in the School premises.

The students have adopted organic farming in which they use earth worms to create natural manure for cultivation. They visit the school even on holidays to keep a check on plants. The school, which started in a small house, now functions on a bigger plot. It is because of the efforts of Head Master B.M. Manjunath, who started to work as a lone teacher during 2003-04, that the school has seen the development.

Every day the school welcomes the students through its green walkway which motivates the students to concentration on what is taught in the school. Entire, school premises is covered with lush green which has been providing clean air for the students and the teachers to breath.

The wet wastes generated at School is used as organic manure. There are several compost pits which are dug in the school premises where the waste are stored to prepare the manure.

Recognising the school’s achievement in promoting greenery, the District Administration presented the ‘Parisara Mithra Shale’ award for the year 2016-17 during a programme organised to mark the National Science Day celebrations at the KSOU premises on Tuesday.