Sullia: Sneha School which has many firsts to its credit has embarked on a new concept by creating a rare medicinal garden within its premises. The garden consists of various Ayurvedic medicinal plants, creepers, flowering plants, root vegetable varieties and shrubs. The three-acre lush green surrounding has more than 250 varieties of plants and sufficient care is taken during their growth stages. Efforts are on to create environmental awareness among children where all plants are listed with their names for easy identification. 
Even little children are able to identify plants and their application with ease.
Andipunaru, Ambate, Atovu, Ashoka, Shanthi, Ashwatha, Uppalige, Wild Badam, Kachupuli, Devadaru, sandalwood, Kenda sampige, Kavate, Kasaraka, Hale Jambunerale and cotton are among the 83 sapling varieties planted.
Anthorium, Anathapushpa, Abbalige, Ashoka, Kanaka Champaka, Kashikepula, Kakada Mallige, Kumkum, Gaja Thumbe, Garuda Pathala, Giji Giji Kayi, Go Sampige, Gauri Hoovu, Jaji Mallige, Draupadi Hoovu, Lotus, Night Queen, Magnolia, Nandi Battalu and Nityapushpa are among the 61 flowering plants spreading rare and soothing fragrance in the serene atmosphere.
Pineapple, Aati soppu, Adu Soge, Kallashathwa, Kallu Shivani, Kaadu Kepula, curry leaves, wild coriander, Kadu Basale, Kiratha Kaddi, Coorambila, Gandhasaale, Chitramoole, Nakshatra Nerale, Nela Nelli, Panchapatre, Paashana Bedhi, Madhunashini, Dalchinni and Tulsi are among the 87 plants which belong to shrub family in the garden.
Amruth Balli, Choori Mullu, Cheenikayi, Darbe, Nannari Balli are among the 52 creeper variety plants. Ambe Haladi, Turmeric, Kallu Shunti, Sweet Potato, Tapioca and Yam are among the root vegetable varieties found in the garden.
Terrace agriculture and floriculture have been employed where saplings are planted in various tiers which support rainwater harvesting as the water flows downhill providing enough moisture to all the plants before it reaches the last tier. Plants are watered during summer to protect them from scorching sun.
In addition there is a solar planet garden in the premises where Ekka plant representing Sun is placed in the middle and Palash representing moon, Kadira representing planet Mars, Shami representing Saturn. Ashwatha representing Jupiter and Uttrane, cotton, Garike and Darbe are grown in the planet garden to represent all other planets within the solar system.
Children Fed with Free Medicinal Drinks to Counter Diseases:
During rainy season when viral and bacterial infections rise, children are provided with free medicinal drinks called “Kashaya” to counter airborne and water borne infection among children. Leaves, creepers, buds and roots of medicinal plants are extracted and boiled in water to prepare the medicinal drink to feed children in school.
Bhama-Rama,Shelter with Sand Mounds
The new rectangular tiled roof shelter replacing the dilapidated one, built at a cost of Rs 5 Lakh is another added attraction in the school. Heaps of sand gives enough avenues for small children to scribble and erase on sand according to their liking. The children can run, play, and improve their writing and memory in the new shelter. According to teachers, children when they write on sand using their fingertips their memory and retention power increases. Each grade children spend an hour in the shelter and indulge in meditation during free time. The shelter houses quotes of seers from the past, poems and scientific data. It provides information on rivers, general knowledge and has ample room for creative activities.
The buzz created when children interact is equivalent to those of the birds in the nest. “The facility is provided to spread environmental awareness among children along with regular scholastic activities. It also gives them opportunity to be creative where learning becomes an enjoyable experience”, says Dr. Chandrashekar Damle, school president and the brain behind Barahada Mane project.
