Special event on February 19 to mark five years of Union Minister Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan’s tree plantation pledge
Special event on February 19 to mark five years of Union Minister Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan’s tree plantation pledge
Union Minister for Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare, and Rural Development, Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan will lead a special programme on February 19 (Thursday) at the AP Shinde Hall, Pusa, New Delhi, to mark the completion of five years of his unique tree plantation pledge. The event will celebrate the ‘green’ journey that he initiated on February 19, 2021, on the occasion of Narmada Jayanti, when he planted saplings of ‘Rudraksha’ and ‘Sal’ at Amarkantak and resolved to plant at least one sapling every day. Since taking that pledge, he has consistently upheld it with unwavering commitment and continuity, making daily tree plantation an integral part of his routine and public message on environmental responsibility.
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The programme on February 19 will begin with a ceremonial plantation of five saplings, symbolising the continuity of the pledge and a renewed commitment to a greener future. This will be followed by the formal inauguration of the main event, during which a special video presentation and an introductory note based on the five-year journey of daily tree plantation by Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan will be showcased.
During the programme, key highlights of the campaign — beginning as a personal resolve and evolving into a movement marked by public participation, environmental awareness, and social consciousness — will be presented. In his keynote address, Union Minister Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan will speak in detail about his five-year-long daily tree plantation pledge, the experiences associated with it, the role of public participation, and the way forward. He will share his vision of transforming environmental protection into a people’s movement.
Distinguished speakers at the event will include Dr. Chinmay Pandya of the All World Gayatri Pariwar; Justice Prakash Shrivastava, Chairperson of the National Green Tribunal (NGT); noted environmentalist Shri Anil Joshi; Sadhvi Ritambhara; senior journalist Shri Ashutosh Jha; and Director General of the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) Dr. M.L. Jat. Their participation will bring forth the spiritual, judicial, social, and environmental dimensions of this pledge, underscoring its broader relevance. The programme will not only mark a successful milestone, but will also serve as a powerful message of a green commitment for future generations.
Many people take pledges for environmental protection, but only a few demonstrate the sustained commitment and determination required to integrate such a pledge into daily life. In this context, the resolve of Union Minister Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan has emerged as an inspiring example. During his tenure as Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh, Shri Chouhan decided not to limit environmental protection to speeches alone, but to also make it a part of his personal conduct and carry that message to the people.
On the occasion of Narmada Jayanti on February 19, 2021, he planted saplings on the banks of the Narmada River at Amarkantak and resolved that he would plant at least one sapling every day. Since then, this practice has continued without interruption and without pause.
Even during the difficult days of the COVID-19 pandemic a few years ago, when public life had largely come to a standstill, his tree plantation pledge did not stop. Whether in his home state, in other parts of the country, or even during visits abroad, he continued to plant a sapling every day, fulfilling his responsibility toward the environment. Today, the number of saplings planted under this personal pledge has crossed 6,000.
This personal commitment prompted many to reflect that if a public leader can incorporate daily tree plantation into his routine, then ordinary citizens too can make it a natural part of their lives. The pledge did not arise from a momentary sentiment but from a long-standing environmental vision cultivated over the years.
In 2017, under his leadership as the Chief Minister, the historic Narmada Seva Yatra concluded with the plantation of more than 6 crore saplings across Madhya Pradesh, transforming river, forest, and climate conservation into a people’s movement. Building on this momentum, the ‘Ankur Abhiyan’ was launched, encouraging citizens to plant saplings, upload photographs or selfies on a dedicated portal, and take responsibility for nurturing them. Through this initiative, nearly 1 crore saplings were planted, and people from diverse sections of society joined the campaign.
Over time, the initiative expanded beyond the boundaries of Madhya Pradesh and acquired national and international dimensions. By encouraging plantation on occasions such as birthdays, wedding anniversaries, birth anniversaries, and death anniversaries of loved ones, Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan developed a unique tradition of linking personal celebrations with environmental service.
Inspired by his example, people living in different parts of India and even abroad began planting saplings on special occasions, thereby becoming part of this ‘green’ journey. What began as the personal resolve of a leader has gradually evolved into a wider public movement marked by collective participation and shared responsibility towards nature.
The five-year completion of this daily tree plantation pledge thus represents not only the perseverance of one individual but also the strengthening of an environmental consciousness that aspires to make ecological responsibility a way of life.
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