Jamshedpur, Sept 12: Students of Loyola School in Jamshedpur marked National Forest Martyrs Day on Thursday by planting saplings at the Tarumitra Centre, Jesu Bhawan, to honour personnel who lost their lives protecting India’s forests.
About 55 saplings, donated by Shaba Alam Ansari, divisional forest officer of Jamshedpur, were planted by students, teachers and forest officials. The first tree was planted jointly by forest officers, school principal Father Vinod Fernandes and Rector Father Michael T. Raj.
The initiative was designed not only as a tribute but also as an exercise in environmental awareness and stress relief. Students began the day with yoga, meditation, tree-hugging and a biodiversity walk, followed by presentations without electronic gadgets, in what the school described as a “bagless day.”
“The activities encouraged students to spend time in nature, observe biodiversity and work in teams, helping them relax ahead of exams,” a school statement said. Senior students from Standard 11 guided younger peers from Standard 8, gaining experience in teamwork and leadership. The event was supervised by teachers Sudha Rao and Pubalee Bera.
