Page 234 - Muzaffargarh Gazzetteer

3. Given the weather pattern, this subject was to be taught for 3 months
either in September-November or February-April or both trimesters
each year, to avoid exposing children to extremes of weathers.
4. The period of this subject was to be held at the end of the day so that
children did not have to come back to classes if their hands or clothes
got dirty. However, gloves, aprons and other protective gear as well as
necessary gadgets/equipment for gardening chores were required to
be arranged for the children by the schools as matter of precaution.
5. Reading material/guide books were created for the purpose by
consulting the material available on the subject with the help of
teachers who themselves had ample interest and background
knowledge on the issue.
6. Deforestation, agriculture, kitchen gardening, pollution and other
environment related topics constituted contents of the course.
7. It was envisaged that the students would join the gardeners of schools
to assist them in their jobs and keep their schools green.
8. The students were to be assigned plants/trees which they would look
after during their stay at school. The plants/trees would thereafter be
allotted to other students after the graduation of the earlier students.
9. Cluster approach was followed for the purpose whereby nurseries
were developed in the biggest school of a given cluster of schools.
Those nurseries provided healthy saplings, and their replacements,
to other schools of the cluster on need basis.
10. Generally, plantation was carried out along boundary walls, walk
ways, and other appropriate places without affecting, or
compromising on, the playgrounds of the children.
11. Schools were required to ensure allied arrangements such as
watering, sweet soil, laser leveling, when required, and more.
12. Another focus of this subject was on promoting ‘organic’ practices.
The children were to be taught the side effects of using pesticides,
insecticides, and chemical fertilizers, and the need of resorting to
their natural alternatives.
13. Annual prizes were to be announced for the high performers to
promote healthy competition amongst the students.
14. Local species as well as fruit trees were used for plantation. It was
decided that the fruits, on ripening, would be distributed to school
children to share the ‘fruits of their toil’ with them. In addition, the
children would be encouraged to distribute those fruits amongst the
poor and the destitute of the society, residing around the schools or
their homes, to promote alms giving and compassion in them.

As part of the initiative, majority of the public schools of Muzaffargarh got
their grounds levelled through the use of manual labour, tractors – and in
some instances – even laser levellers. A large number of schools arranged
sweet soil from the river bed. Similarly, watering arrangements were made in
almost all the schools. Subsequently, nurseries were established in 42 out of

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