Udupi — The Children’s Islamic Organization (CIO) of Udupi district has kickstarted a month-long environmental awareness campaign titled “Hands with Soil, Hearts with India”. The launch event was held on Friday at Salihat Educational Trust in Hoode, according to campaign coordinators Arfa Karkala and Muhammad Rafan Bengre.
Speaking at a press briefing, they announced the campaign’s ambitious goal — to plant 5,000 saplings across the district, with one tree symbolizing each child. Trees will be planted in schools, madrasas, public parks, and open community areas, they said, aiming to instill a deep sense of environmental responsibility among children.
To actively involve students, competitions in painting, essay writing, poetry, and social media reels will be conducted across educational institutions. An eco-gardening workshop will be organized in collaboration with the Department of Agriculture at Doddanagudde, Udupi.
As part of the campaign, clean-up drives are set to be carried out in 25 key locations, including parks, school grounds, madrasa campuses, and mosques. Volunteers will also conduct door-to-door outreach to 5,000 homes, promoting green practices.
Environmental awareness rallies are planned in over 20 locations, including Udupi, Malpe, Hoode, Thonse, Kaup, Katapady, Udyavara, Kundapur, Gangolli, and Karkala.
The campaign’s finale on July 27 will feature a review session, prize distribution, and addresses by civic and religious leaders. As a fitting conclusion, students will visit Alva’s Ayurvedic Park on August 3.