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Over 50,000 saplings planted across 31 states
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Friday, 14 August, 2026, 08 : 00 AM [IST]
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Our Bureau, Mumbai
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More than 50,000 saplings were planted across 31 states on the occasion of Hariyali Amavasya as part of a nationwide plantation campaign led by Union Minister for Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare and Rural Development Shivraj Singh Chouhan in collaboration with the Vriksh Mitra Parivar. The initiative also drew momentum from Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s “Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam” campaign.
The central programme was held at PBG Ground, Central Ridge, near Talkatora Stadium in New Delhi, with ministers, Members of Parliament, government officials, farmers, youth and citizens participating in the plantation drive. The event began with watering of saplings and the singing of Vande Mataram, followed by mass plantation. Similar programmes were organised across villages, towns, panchayats and institutions across the country, with Vriksh Mitra Parivar members mobilising citizens to plant at least one tree.
Addressing the gathering, Chouhan said Hariyali Amavasya was not merely a religious occasion but also an opportunity to express gratitude towards nature. He highlighted the interconnectedness of human beings, animals, birds, rivers, mountains and trees within the natural ecosystem and stressed that planting a tree represents an investment in the future.
The Union Minister said plantation must be accompanied by a commitment to protecting and caring for saplings to ensure their survival. He urged every citizen to plant at least one tree each year and encourage five others to join the campaign. He also suggested observing birthdays, wedding anniversaries, the birth of children and the death anniversaries of parents as “Vriksh Parv” through tree plantation.
Chouhan called upon panchayats, urban local bodies and institutions to identify designated plantation areas where saplings could be protected and maintained over the long term. Linking environmental sustainability with agriculture, he said environmental degradation has a direct impact on farming, water availability, soil health and human well-being. For farmers, he noted, access to water and healthy soil are as important as seeds and fertilisers.
He also urged wider adoption of Mission LiFE, energy conservation and reduced dependence on plastic. Emphasising responsible use of natural resources, Chouhan said environmental protection required conserving nature rather than exploiting it.
Delhi Cabinet Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa said the Delhi Government had drawn valuable lessons from the initiative and that more than one lakh people in the capital had been connected with the campaign. Schools, colleges and other institutions are also being encouraged to participate in plantation activities, he said.
Delhi Cabinet Minister Parvesh Verma said the “Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam” initiative should inspire citizens to take responsibility for environmental protection. He emphasised that development and environmental conservation must progress together, with sustainable development requiring a balance between infrastructure expansion and preservation of green cover.
The programme was attended by Member of Parliament Darshan Singh Choudhary, representatives of various institutions, officials from agricultural universities, personnel from ICAR, DARE and KVKs, and members of the Vriksh Mitra Parivar.
The nationwide campaign sought not only to expand green cover but also to strengthen sustained public participation in environmental conservation. Organisers emphasised that planting a sapling is only the first step, while ensuring its survival and growth remains an equally important responsibility. Members of the Vriksh Mitra Parivar are continuing to take this message to communities across the country.
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