Ampati, April 25: School students across the South West Garo Hills district rolled up their sleeves and got their hands dirty on Friday, for nutritious and organic food for children.

Celebrating School Nutrition Garden Day (SNG Day) under the theme “Grow to be Healthy”, students, teachers, and community leaders gathered to sow the seeds, literally and figuratively, of a healthier future.

At Hathisil Government Lower Primary School in Ampati, the celebrations were especially spirited. The school welcomed Clement G. Momin, Vice-Chairman of the State Reforms and Development Commission, as the Chief Guest. Addressing the young gardeners, Momin reminded everyone why kitchen gardens matter. “The very purpose of the Kitchen Garden is to get purely organic food, which is essential and safe for our growth and development,” he said.

The event was further enriched by Jogodish Hajong, Director of the Implementation and Monitoring Committee, who underscored the need to introduce kitchen gardening habits early in life, nurturing a generation that values fresh, nutritious food.

Delivering the keynote address, Emphul Ch. Marak, Sub-Divisional School Education Officer (SDSEO), Ampati, proudly noted that South West Garo Hills had received an award last year for maintaining nutrition gardens in all schools. He urged all schools to continue their commitment to the initiative this year as well.

Experts like Apojit Koch, Horticulture Development Officer, and Giting Ripamchi R. Marak, Agriculture Development Officer, also weighed in, offering practical advice. Koch advocated for purely organic gardening methods, steering clear of chemical pesticides, while Marak painted a colorful picture of the “Nutrition Rainbow”, urging children to eat a wide variety of vibrant fruits and vegetables to ensure a balanced intake of vitamins and nutrients.

To help the young gardeners get started, the Agriculture and Horticulture Departments handed out seeds to all participating schools. Local leader Q.M. Sangma also rallied community support for the initiative, ensuring that the spirit of kitchen gardening becomes a lasting legacy.

Capping off the day, officials and students joined together to plant seeds and saplings, transforming patches of bare earth into future beds of nourishment. The event closed with a heartwarming Tithi Bhojan, a communal feast that brought everyone together to celebrate not just food, but community, tradition, and a shared commitment to health.

Also Read: Pakistani nationals asked to exit Meghalaya following Centre’s directive

Also Watch

Find latest news from every corner of Northeast India at hubnetwork.in, your online source for breaking news, video coverage.

Also, Follow us on-

Twitter-twitter.com/nemediahub

Youtube channel- www.youtube.com/@NortheastMediaHub2020

Instagram- www.instagram.com/ne_media_hub

Download our app from playstore – Northeast Media Hub