PANJIM: The Directorate of Education has said that a survivability audit of fruit bearing and medicinal tree saplings planted by polling officers as part of green initiative of CEO Goa will be conducted periodically to monitor their growth.

In a circular, Director of Education Shailesh R Sinai Zingde said, “As a follow-up of the green initiatives taken up during the Lok Sabha election 2024 in the State, the office of the Chief Electoral Officer has mandated that the responsibility for the maintenance of the saplings planted on poll day at the polling stations (schools), shall come under the purview of teachers in the respective schools.”

Zingde has directed all the heads of government/government aided/primary/secondary/higher secondary and special schools wherein saplings were planted on the poll day to assign their school teachers the task to ensure that the saplings planted are watered regularly and receive adequate care in promoting their growth and survival.

“Survivability audit will be conducted periodically to monitor the progress and effectiveness in maintaining the saplings,” the circular stated.