IIM Shillong commemorated its 16th inaugural day today with a tree plantation drive led by students and stakeholders.
“Over the past 15 years, IIM Shillong has emerged as a prominent institution in the field of management education and research, earning accolades and establishing strong collaborations with international universities and business schools,” the institute stated in a press release.
Today’s event was graced by Jadav Payeng, widely known as the ‘Forest Man’ of India. In his inaugural speech, Payeng emphasised the importance of biodiversity and the need to educate young children about the significance of planting and nurturing trees. He envisioned children becoming ambassadors in the global movement to recreate a sustainable environment for a liveable planet Earth.
Payeng passionately expressed that parents entrust their children to nature’s care, as it provides essential elements such as oxygen, sunlight and more, nurturing them into worthy human beings. He urged the government to implement necessary measures to ban air rifles, thereby preventing the killing of birds. Payeng highlighted that the Molai forest, which he initiated 42 years ago, now serves as a home to 115 elephants, tigers, leopards, rhinoceroses and other wildlife. The forest attracts 80 percent of Indian migratory birds, the press release added.
His dream project of connecting the Molai forest with Kaziranga National Park, a 60-kilometer stretch, is currently in progress, furthering the cause of conservation and biodiversity.
Payeng also highlighted the importance of planting sandalwood trees for their environmental and economic value. Drawing examples from countries like China and Taiwan, he emphasised the need for India to increase its focus on cultivating sandalwood trees, known for their high value. He urged India, with its rich biodiversity and favourable climatic conditions, to also embrace sandalwood plantation as a sustainable and economically viable initiative.
Prof DP Goyal, the Director of IIM Shillong, expressed his heartfelt gratitude to all the participants of the plantation drive and extended his congratulations to everyone who has contributed to the growth and development of IIM Shillong since its inception.
Goyal declared that July 4 will be celebrated as inaugural day every year at IIM Shillong, with a special emphasis on conducting a plantation drive. This initiative will aim to foster a deep sense of responsibility towards nature and the environment among the institute’s community.
Goyal urged all members of the IIM Shillong fraternity, including students, faculty, staff, the 2,050 alumni, and stakeholders, to actively participate in and contribute to the plantation drive. He emphasised the importance of individuals’ collective efforts in preserving and enhancing the environment for a sustainable future.
The plantation drive received an overwhelming response from delegates, with some even bringing fruit trees from their own collections to contribute to the campus’s greenery. The event, graced by distinguished delegates and stakeholders, witnessed a collective effort to enhance the natural environment at IIM Shillong, the seventh IIM in the country.
