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| A view of Raj Bhavan on Kharghuli hills. File picture |
July 24: Raj Bhavan is out of bounds for the public but school students will now get a chance to visit it as well as enjoy and learn about the rich bio-diversity of the place, the premises of which is home to varied species of flora and fauna.
Raj Bhavan, in collaboration with the Centre for Environment Education (CEE), Northeast, will organise education trips for students of different schools from time to time in the near future under the “Eastern Roshni” project, an initiative of Assam governor J.B. Patnaik to transform the Raj Bhavan campus into a green castle of sustainable practices and create awareness about sustainable habitat by engaging children and youth.
“Raj Bhavan is a place of political as well as environmental importance. Its premises are home to rich varieties of plants, many of which have very unique medicinal value. Varied species of reptiles, mammals as well as birds are also found on its premises. Therefore, we are planning to organise education trips for school students from time to time. The trips are likely to begin within a month or two,” said Simanta Kalita, project co-ordinator of CEE, Northeast.
The Rashtriya Madhyamik Shiksha Abhijaan (RMSA) will select the students from different government schools across the city for this particular educational trip.
“Our main aim is to motivate these students to do their bit in conserving the environment. In the city Raj Bhavan has become a hotspot of bio-diversity because its authorities have made a conscious effort to conserve the species inhabiting its premises. There has always been a sustainable effort on the part of the staff here to plant more trees and prohibit the killing of animals found here,” Kalita said.
He added that during the education trips, the students would also be educated on the vital role that Raj Bhavan plays in decision-making related to the political and administrative aspect of a state. Its historical significance, with special reference to the state’s history, will also be explained to them, Kalita said.
Moreover, these students will also be able to have a first-hand view of the habitat of the Gangetic river dolphins from the premises of Raj Bhavan as the Brahmaputra, which flows by it, turns at different points during its course and it is at these turns or bends the aquatic creatures have been found to reside.
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