'Nakshatra Vatikas' to be developed in MP schools

Keen to educate students about constellations and properties of trees, the Madhya Pradesh government will develop 'Nakshatra Vatikas' in government schools.
The state government has directed divisional and district officers of School Education Department to develop 'Nakshatra Vatikas' in open premises, a Public Relation Department official said today.
The government has directed to complete works in this regard by August 30. They have been asked to seek cooperation of officers of Forest and Agriculture departments in this work, the official said.
Directives have also been given to avail guidance from botany department of local college about soil, fertilisers and insecticides for 'Nakshatra Vatika' (gardens based on the theme of constellation).

The planted saplings will be nurtured by "Children's Cabinet".
'Nakshatra Vatikas' will be developed on the premises of such schools at district level where classes from primary to higher secondary are conducted and schools with open space and boundary wall are being selected, the official said.

Rainy season has been selected for developing such gardens since maximum number of saplings can be planted easily during it.
List of selected schools will be sent to Forest and Agriculture departments, he said.
Children will be apprised of medicinal properties of trees grown in Nakshatra Vatikas. In accordance with constellations and planet positions, saplings of 27 species will be planted in these gardens.

As project work, students will be assigned task to collect data about 'Vatika' (garden). Under it, they will collect information about name of tree, date of plantation, changes occurring in one month, flowering and time taken in it, name of medicinal plant, in which disease it is effective and in which form it is used, the official added.