A special programme will be held on February 19 at the A.P. Shinde Hall, Pusa, New Delhi, to commemorate five years of Union Minister for Agriculture & Farmers’ Welfare and Rural Development Shivraj Singh Chouhan’s unique daily tree plantation pledge. The event celebrates a green journey that began on February 19, 2021, on the occasion of Narmada Jayanti at Amarkantak, where he planted Rudraksha and Sal saplings and resolved to plant at least one tree every day — a commitment he has continued without interruption.
The programme will begin with the plantation of five saplings, symbolizing continuity and a renewed commitment toward environmental stewardship. This will be followed by the formal inauguration of the main event, including the screening of a special video documenting five years of his plantation initiative and the broader evolution of the campaign.
In his keynote address, Shri Chouhan is expected to reflect on his five-year-long daily plantation practice, share personal experiences, and outline the future direction of the movement. He has consistently advocated for transforming environmental conservation into a people’s movement driven by public participation and civic responsibility.
Several eminent personalities will share their perspectives during the event, including Dr. Chinmay Pandya of the All World Gayatri Pariwar, Justice Prakash Shrivastava, Chairperson of the National Green Tribunal, noted environmentalist Anil Joshi, spiritual leader Sadhvi Ritambhara, senior journalist Ashutosh Jha, and Dr. M. L. Jat, Director General of the Indian Council of Agricultural Research. Their participation will bring together spiritual, judicial, environmental, social, and scientific perspectives on the relevance of sustained ecological action.
Background of the Daily Plantation Initiative
While many pledge to protect the environment, few sustain such commitments consistently. Shri Chouhan’s initiative stands out for its discipline and continuity. During his tenure as Chief Minister, he chose to embed environmental action into his personal routine, rather than limiting it to policy discourse. Since taking the pledge in 2021, he has maintained the practice regardless of location — whether in his home state, elsewhere in India, or during overseas visits. Even during the COVID-19 pandemic, when public life was largely disrupted, the daily plantation effort continued uninterrupted. To date, he has planted over 6,000 trees.
The initiative builds upon earlier large-scale environmental campaigns. In 2017, under his leadership, the Narmada Seva Yatra culminated in the plantation of more than 60 million saplings across Madhya Pradesh, reinforcing river and forest conservation efforts. Subsequently, the “Ankur Abhiyan” encouraged citizens to plant trees, upload photographs on a dedicated portal, and commit to their care. Through this initiative, nearly 10 million saplings were planted with active public participation.
Over time, what began as a personal resolution has expanded beyond state boundaries to acquire national and international dimensions. By encouraging people to plant trees on occasions such as birthdays, anniversaries, and memorial days, the campaign has linked personal celebrations with environmental responsibility. Citizens within India and abroad have adopted this practice, transforming an individual commitment into a broad-based green movement.
The February 19 programme is therefore not merely a commemorative event but a reaffirmation of a long-term ecological vision — one that seeks to embed environmental protection into everyday life and inspire sustained public engagement for future generations.
By
