'Green Good Deeds' campaign must be extended to schools: environment ministry official

The 'Green Good Deeds' campaign - a social movement to protect environment and promote healthy living - launched by the Environment Ministry must be extended to schools, an official said Thursday.

Additional Secretary, Environment Ministry, A K Mehta also said that 'swacchhta' (cleanliness) is closely linked to the quality of life and health of people and has been an integral part of Indian culture and tradition.

"He stated that the Green Good Deeds campaign, comprising 10 small activities to protect the environment, must be extended to schools," an official statement quoted Mehta as saying.

He was speaking during a 'swacchhta hi seva' programme organised by the ministry here on Thursday.

Earlier this year, Harsh Vardhan had launched the nationwide social movement to protect the environment and promote healthy living.

The environment minister had drawn up a list of over 500 green good deeds and asked people to fulfil their green social responsibility.

At the event, Director General (Forests) and Special Secretary in the ministry Siddhanta Das said the role of children in the Swacchhta campaign is crucial.

He said the ministry has initiated efforts to make all the Protected Areas (PAs) in the country plastic-free and clean.

He also emphasized the need to plant more trees and reduce single-use plastic to enable the environment to cleanse itself.

A pledge was administered to school children during the event while a 'green march' by the students was also flagged off on the occasion.

About 200 students from eco-clubs of schools in Delhi and senior officers were present at the event.