Vettikavala Block Launches School Vegetable Gardens Under Harithasree Scheme

What Happened

The Vettikavala block panchayat has launched the Harithasree programme to turn school grounds into vegetable gardens. Six hybrid seedlings – tomato, lady's finger, green chilli, brinjal, cabbage and cauliflower – and organic fertilizers are being given to schools. The funding was drawn from the block's development fund for the 2026‑27 financial year. The scheme covers 56 schools in six gram panchayats. Each school receives at least 450 seedlings, with larger campuses getting up to 600. So far 28,000 saplings have been handed out.

Reaction

Block panchayat president Bindu Lakshmi said the aim is to link children with soil and make farming a hands‑on part of daily life, not just a textbook subject. She noted that the gardens will also supply vegetables for the schools’ mid‑day meals. People's representatives from each block division are actively inspecting the campuses to ensure proper care.

What's Next

The panchayat plans to extend the project to additional schools in the coming years, expanding the reach of organic, locally grown produce for meals.

Context

School garden projects like Harithasree help teach practical agriculture and can reduce reliance on market‑bought vegetables for midday meals, supporting both education and nutrition goals.