On World Environment Day, 5th June 2024, the Prime Minister of India launched the Global Campaign #एक_पेड़_मां_के_नाम, also known as #Plant4Mother. This initiative aims to honor mothers and Mother Earth by encouraging the planting of trees. As part of this significant campaign, the Ministry of Environment, Forest, and Climate Change has set an ambitious target: to plant 80 crore saplings across India by September 2024 and 140 crore saplings by March 2025.
The tree plantation drive officially commenced on 20th June 2024 at the Asola Bhati Wildlife Sanctuary, where individuals planted trees in tribute to their mothers. This event marked the beginning of a broader effort to involve people from all walks of life in this global movement.
Continuing the momentum, the Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare is organizing a special #Plant4Mother event on 29th August 2024. The event will take place in the esteemed presence of the Hon’ble Agriculture Minister, Government of India. As part of this program, the Ministry will establish a "Matri Van" on a one-acre plot within the Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI) campus in Pusa, New Delhi. The Union Agriculture Minister, along with approximately 200 officers and staff members, will participate in the plantation drive, which is set to begin at 10:00 AM.
In addition to the main event in New Delhi, all subordinate offices of the Department of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare, Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) institutions, Central Agricultural Universities (CAUs), Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs), and State Agricultural Universities (SAUs) across the country have been instructed to conduct similar tree plantation activities at their respective locations on the same day and time. It is expected that over 800 institutions under the Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare will participate, collectively planting between 3,000 to 4,000 saplings during the event.
The #Plant4Mother campaign has quickly grown into a mass movement, with people from all over the country participating to pay tribute to their mothers and the Earth by planting trees. The campaign also aligns with the Government’s Mission LiFE, a mass movement promoting an environmentally conscious lifestyle. In agriculture, tree planting is a crucial step toward achieving sustainable farming practices. Trees contribute to improved soil and water quality, enhance biodiversity, and offer farmers additional income through timber and non-timber products. Moreover, this campaign holds immense potential in preventing and reversing land degradation and desertification, making it a vital component of India’s environmental and agricultural strategy.
(Input from various sources)
(Rehash/Ankur Deka/MSM)
