Kolar, 15 Nov 

The Kolar district administration has launched an initiative to promote healthy habits and environmental awareness among schoolchildren by developing Dhanvanthari Vana (Nutrition Farms) in government schools with available land.

The brainchild of Kolar Deputy Commissioner Ravi MR, Dhanvanthari Vana will come up in 150 schools in the district in six taluks.

The program is also aimed at creating awareness among school children about preserving the environment.

Steps would be taken to nurture herbs and plants with medicinal value, and the students would be taught the importance of such plants, said Kolar Deputy Commissioner Ravi MR.

These farms are likely to come up in 31 schools and 11 Hostels run by the government in Kolar taluk, while Mulbagal taluk will accommodate 29 farms.

In the first stage, 26 various varieties of herbal and medical plants will be planted in these farms, ZP CEO Praveen P Bagewadi said. These are likely to take about ten weeks.  He said all works about these farms will be taken up under the MGNREGA programmes, making use of the locally available manpower. 

Various government departments will collaborate to monitor and implement the project, including the Social Forestry department.

Jala, Assistant Mistress of the government Higher Primary School in Chakarasanahalli, Kolar taluk, said such farms could allow teachers to use the plants as live models for teaching various subjects.