BeyondHeadlines News Desk
New Delhi: A major plantation drive was launched today in Jamia Millia Islamia (JMI) by its Vice-Chancellor, Professor Najma Akhtar that would go a long way in making the campus environment-friendly.
To mark the occasion, the Vice-Chancellor also honoured six women achievers who narrated the challenges, struggles and other obstacles including gender bias they faced while achieving their goals. They spoke about the role women can play in protecting the environment.
Those honoured into three journalists namely, Smita Sharma, Consulting Executive Editor with TV9 Bharatvarsh, Ritul Joshi, Senior Journalist working with US-based News Channel – Voice of America as its India Representative, and Pratibha Jyoti, currently working as Executive Editor at Hindustan Samachar News Agency.
Others honoured were – Santosh Yadav, first women in the world to climb Mount Everest twice in 1992 and in 1993, Rani Patel, founder President of Aarohan which is working in the education for underprivileged children of the society, women and other community members living in difficult circumstances and Mohammedi Begum, first Meu girl in Mewat community who has initiated a number of schemes for empowerment and upliftment of women through initiatives like microcredit, financial aid from government and entrepreneurial training. She is directly linked with 48,000 women through self-help group.
As part of the plantation drive, nearly 1,250 saplings of Neem, Ashoka, Amaltas, Gulmohar, Ficus Benjamina and other trees along with fruit-bearing plants like Mango, Jamun, Shahtoot, Anar, Anjeer, Chikoo, Guava will be planted on the university campus spreading 230 acres.
The saplings will be planted in teaching, administrative and residential areas of the university including boys and girls hostels.
The function was organized jointly by Horticulture Department and Sarojini Naidu Centre for Women’s Studies, JMI.
It was attended among others by Professor Baran Farooqi, Professor-in-Charge, Sarojini Naidu Centre for Women’s Studies and Professor Masood Alam, Professor-in-Charge, Horticulture Department, students and senior faculty members.
