The Eco Club,
NSS, D.D Pant Botanical Society and Environment Club of Hans Raj Mahila Maha
Vidyalaya, Jalandhar, in collaboration with the Institution's Innovation
Council, organized a successful one-day workshop on "Beej Se Virasat: Seed
Balls & Native Biodiversity". The State Nodal Agency was the
Environmental Information, Awareness, Capacity Building and Livelihood
Programme (EIACP), Punjab State Council for Science and Technology, in
collaboration with the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change,
Govt. of India. Principal Dr. Ekta Khosla warmly welcomed the guests with
planters, setting the tone for a workshop rooted in nature and sustainability.
In her address, she spoke about the planet and the urgent need for its
conservation, touching upon the importance of biodiversity in sustaining life
on earth. She gave a heartfelt message to the young girls present that keeping
the planet green is responsibility of every individual, and that each one of us
has a role to play by growing and nurturing plants. She also emphasized the
deep connection between faith and seed plantation, noting that the act of
planting a seed is itself an act of hope and belief in the future. She
expressed her earnest wish that the coming generations should not have to face the
environmental problems we see today, and urged students to take up tree and
seed plantation as a lifelong habit rather than a one-time activity.IQAC
Coordinator Dr. Anjana Bhatia explained the concept of the biodiversity index
and its critical role in maintaining the balance of planet earth, describing
how a healthy biodiversity index reflects the resilience and stability of an
ecosystem. She described the seed as a carrier of life itself, holding within
it the potential for future generations of plants and, by extension, entire
ecosystems. She also introduced the audience to the Japanese technique of seed
ball making, tracing its origins as a natural farming method used to restore
vegetation without disturbing the soil, and explained how this age-old technique
has today become a simple yet powerful tool for biodiversity restoration. Green
Sparrows Project Director Ms. Ramanpreet Kaur explained the technique of seed
ball making in detail, along with the types of seeds best suited for the
purpose and the material required, including soil, compost and clay. She guided
participants step by step through the process, ensuring hands-on understanding
of how a seed ball is shaped and prepared for scattering. IT Officer, EIACP,
Ms. Alisha spoke about the importance of the workshop in raising awareness
among students and the local community, and gave a message to participants to
take up afforestation initiatives at their own individual level as a means to
preserve biodiversity, stressing that even small personal efforts, when
multiplied across many hands, can bring about large-scale environmental change.
A special session was also held on the importance of seed banks in preserving
native and traditional plant varieties, along with a display of seed bank
material, highlighting how safeguarding local seed diversity strengthens
long-term food and ecological security. Dr. Kanchan Sandhu ,Associate Professor
KVK Jalandhar,PAU Ludhiana gave a talk on the importance of seeds, their
nutritional value, and their usage in daily life, explaining how seeds carry
immense food value that is often overlooked in modern diets. She placed special
emphasis on millets, discussing their rich nutritional profile and growing
relevance in health-conscious and sustainable eating, encouraging participants
to make seeds a regular part of their family meals. Stage was conducted by Dr
Anjana Bhatia and Dr.Ramandeep kaur Mission life pledge was also taken by
all.During the hands-on-training session Ms Ramanpreet gave a demo of seed ball
making, with participants preparing seed balls using vermicompost along with
native seeds and clay, while Ms.Harpreet Kaur guided participants in preparing
Pinus cone decor items, upcycling naturally shed forest material into
decorative pieces. Members from Sardar Ajit Singh Society and Self Help Group
from Municipal Corporation and students from HMV participated in the workshop.
The workshop was a complete success. An exhibition of seed balls, Pinus cone
decor, and seed bank material was also organized on this occasion. The occasion
was also graced by Dean Academics, Dr. Seema Marwaha, Incharge D.D Pant
Botanical Society Dr.Shaveta ,Dr.Neeru Bharti , Dr. Rakhi Mehta, Dr. Jatinder,
Dr.Rama ,Dr.Urvashi, Mr.Ashish,Mr. Sumit, Dr. Shalinder, Dr. Sakshi, Dr.
Shuchi,Dr Deepti, Mr. Ravi, and NSS Programme Officer Ms. Harmanu.
