Mysore/Mysuru: District Minister S.T. Somashekar distributed grocery kits to ‘Corona Warriors’ ASHA workers during the ‘Haccha Hasira Mysuru – Viveka Prabheya Mysuru’ programme, a  massive tree sapling distribution initiative marking the birth anniversary of Swami Sureshanandaji, at Sri Ramakrishna Vidyashala in Yadavagiri here yesterday, under the aegis of Sri Ramakrishna Ashram.

The Minister also distributed scholarships to school children enrolled for Viveka Shikshana at the Vidyashala. 

Speaking on the occasion, Sri Ramakrishna Ashram Mysuru head Swami Muktidanandaji said that the initiative involves distribution of saplings to households with an objective of making Mysuru greener. 

Pointing out that the drive for distributing over 26,000 saplings began Saturday, he said that the world’s ecology was subjected to a two pronged attack — one from mankind and other from natural disasters. Noting that while man made disasters are to be rectified by human beings themselves, he said that measures for protecting ecology and environment will largely help in preventing natural disasters. Asserting that humans are breathing out of the nature’s every particle, he regretted the erosion of green cover for the sake of urbanisation. Explaining the concept of Viveka Prabha, he said that people are being sensitised on the importance of a wider green cover for a better and healthy life.

Noting that Sri Ramakrishna Vidyashala in Yadavagiri represents a miniature forest with a wide variety of plants, trees and bushes, he said that the citizens must voluntarily come forward for growing plants in their premises and roof tops. Highlighting the importance of the initiative, he said that a greener Mysuru will show the way for conserving  ecology and environment.

Continuing, Swami Muktidananadaji said that the Vidyashala has trained over 6,500 economically backward students from Government Schools through its Viveka Shikshana initiative in a period extending over 20 years. 

Pointing out that every year 400  children of Kannada medium are imparted education through the initiative, he said that it is happy to note that two of the children had scored 95 percent marks in this year’s SSLC exam.

MP Pratap Simha, in his address, said that Swami Vivekananda’s speech at the Chicago Convention was a historical one for its tone and content.

Maintaining that Swami Vivekananda shed light on the country’s cultural richness to the entire world, he said that the great Philosopher’s influence will stay on for generations to come.

Earlier, Swami Shantivratanandaji welcomed. MLA L. Nagendra and others were present during the event.