More than 50,000 saplings were planted across 31 states on Wednesday as part of a nationwide plantation campaign led by Union Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare and Rural Development Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan in collaboration with the Vriksh Mitra Parivar.
The campaign, held on the occasion of Hariyali Amavasya, also drew momentum from Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s ‘Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam’ initiative. A major plantation programme was organised at the PBG Ground, Central Ridge, near Talkatora Stadium in New Delhi, with ministers, Members of Parliament, government officials, farmers, youth and citizens participating.
The programme began with watering of saplings and the singing of Vande Mataram, followed by a mass plantation drive. Similar activities were organised in villages, towns, panchayats and institutions across the country, with members of the Vriksh Mitra Parivar mobilising citizens to plant and nurture trees.
Addressing the gathering in Delhi, Chouhan said Hariyali Amavasya was not merely a religious occasion but also an opportunity to express gratitude towards nature. He emphasised that India’s traditions view human beings, animals, birds, rivers, mountains and trees as interconnected components of the natural ecosystem.
“Planting a tree is not just about adding greenery; it is an investment in the future of coming generations,” Chouhan said, stressing that plantation must be accompanied by sustained efforts to protect and nurture the saplings.
He appealed to every citizen to plant at least one tree every year and encourage five others to join the campaign. He also suggested that birthdays, wedding anniversaries, the birth of children and death anniversaries of parents could be observed as ‘Vriksh Parv’ through tree plantation.
Focus on survival of saplings
Chouhan called upon panchayats, urban local bodies and institutions to identify designated areas for plantation so that trees could be protected and maintained over the long term.
He underlined the close relationship between environmental sustainability and agriculture, noting that environmental degradation affects farming, water availability, soil health and human well-being.
For farmers, he said, access to water and healthy soil were as important as the availability of seeds and fertilisers. He called for wider adoption of Mission LiFE, energy conservation and reduced dependence on plastic as part of efforts to strengthen environmental protection.
Chouhan stressed that natural resources should be used responsibly rather than exploited and conserved for future generations.
Delhi joins green campaign
Delhi Cabinet Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa said the Delhi government had drawn lessons from Chouhan’s green initiative and was encouraging greater public participation. He said more than one lakh people in Delhi had been connected with the campaign, while schools, colleges and other institutions were also being encouraged to undertake plantation activities.
Delhi Cabinet Minister Parvesh Verma said the Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam initiative should inspire citizens to take responsibility for protecting the environment. He emphasised that development and environmental conservation must go hand in hand, with sustainable development requiring a balance between infrastructure expansion and preservation of green cover.
The programme was attended by MP Darshan Singh Choudhary, representatives of various institutions, officials from agricultural universities, personnel from ICAR, DARE and Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs), besides a large number of members of the Vriksh Mitra Parivar.
The nationwide campaign was aimed not only at increasing tree cover but also at building sustained public participation in environmental conservation. The organisers stressed that planting a sapling was only the first step, with its survival and growth requiring continued care and collective responsibility.
Members of the Vriksh Mitra Parivar are continuing to take the message of plantation and environmental responsibility to communities across the country.
