One crore saplings to be planted across State by 2014

State Federation of Non-government Organisations is on a healthy green mission — planting one crore medicinal sapling by 2014 throughout the State.

Aptly named ‘Vriksha Dasoha ‘ (Distribution of saplings), the programme in association with the Karnataka State Pollution Control Board, aims to plant more saplings through schoolchildren in the first phase. Saplings will further be extended to farmers in the second phase.

The programme was officially launched at a school here on Wednesday.

Medicinal plants

Significant medicinal plants like tulsi, amruthaballi, mehndi and such have medicinal properties. Tulsi is good for bad breath, Amruthaballi is suggested for diabetics. Besides, Menhdi is known to cure tooth pain. But many are not aware of it. Through the programme, people will be educated about the benefits of having such plants in their backyard, said Nagaveni of Yashaswini Mahila Mandali, Somenahalli, told Deccan Herald.

The organisation will distribute the saplings in Kolar and Bangalore rural districts. Considering lack of water in many of the villages in this region, the Mandali has decided to distribute at least two saplings among the students first, and also distribute them free to farmers.

Seven lakh

A total of seven lakh saplings will be planted in Bangalore rural and Kolar districts through NGOs, which are quite active in the region. She further said that NGOs willing to take the onus of supplying, will be given saplings and the federation will bear the transportation charges.

By the end of 2013, the federation aims to have one crore saplings. At least two thousand saplings were distributed among the students of Chinmaya School in the city. Later, six thousand saplings in Government School, Harati, Kolar taluk and five thousand saplings in Kolar, Kembodi and Bhatrahalli school.