Union Minister for Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare and Rural Development Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan will lead a plantation drive in New Delhi on Wednesday, August 12, marking the auspicious occasion of Hariyali Amavasya. The initiative is being organised to promote environmental conservation and encourage citizens to celebrate the festival by planting and nurturing trees.
Shri Chouhan will undertake plantation along with hundreds of colleagues at PBG Ground, Central Range, near Talkatora Stadium in the national capital. Simultaneously, thousands of members associated with the Vriksh Mitra Abhiyan will conduct plantation programmes in villages, cities and panchayats across the country.
As part of the nationwide initiative, participants have collectively pledged to plant more than 50,000 saplings. The campaign seeks to turn Hariyali Amavasya into an occasion for people to actively contribute to environmental protection while strengthening awareness about the importance of trees and greenery.
Hariyali Amavasya: A Celebration of Nature
Speaking about the significance of the festival, Shri Chouhan said Hariyali Amavasya provides an opportunity to express gratitude towards nature. He noted that Indian festivals traditionally carry both cultural and practical messages aimed at improving human life.
The festival coincides with the period when agricultural fields become lush green and farmers look forward to a new crop. According to the Minister, the sight of greenery brings happiness and hope, making the occasion an appropriate time to reaffirm society’s connection with nature.
He emphasised that gratitude towards the natural environment should extend beyond words and be reflected through concrete action. Planting trees, he said, offers a meaningful way for people to demonstrate their commitment to protecting the environment and creating greener surroundings.
Vriksh Mitra Members to Take the Plantation Message Nationwide
Members of the Vriksh Mitra Parivar have resolved to mark the occasion by planting saplings in their respective communities. The initiative is expected to involve people from different parts of the country, allowing the environmental message to reach villages, urban areas and local panchayats.
Shri Chouhan himself will participate in the plantation programme in Delhi along with his colleagues. He has appealed to citizens to make Hariyali Amavasya memorable by planting at least one sapling.
The campaign places particular emphasis on community participation. By encouraging people to undertake plantation in their neighbourhoods and local communities, the initiative aims to make environmental conservation a shared responsibility rather than an individual activity.
Appeal to Plant One Tree and Inspire Five Others
The Union Minister has urged every citizen and Vriksh Mitra to plant at least one sapling on August 12. He has also proposed a chain of participation under which each participant encourages five additional people to take the plantation pledge. Those five participants can, in turn, motivate five more people to join the campaign.
The objective is to expand the initiative through families, friends, neighbours and community networks, eventually transforming tree plantation into a broad-based public movement.
Shri Chouhan said planting a sapling is not only an investment in environmental protection but also a contribution towards a safer and greener future for coming generations. The campaign therefore seeks to combine the cultural significance of Hariyali Amavasya with a practical commitment to environmental conservation.
Citizens Encouraged to Share Plantation Activities
To strengthen public participation and visibility of the campaign, citizens have also been encouraged to upload details and photographs of their plantation activities on shivrajsinghchouhan.co.in.
The initiative aims to bring together people from diverse sections of society around a common environmental goal. Through widespread participation, the Vriksh Mitra Abhiyan hopes to give Hariyali Amavasya a strong green dimension and inspire citizens to continue caring for the trees they plant.
With thousands of people expected to participate across the country and a collective target of more than 50,000 saplings, the August 12 plantation drive seeks to turn a traditional festival into a nationwide message of environmental responsibility and community action.
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Author: Shivam
Shivam Dwivedi is a senior journalist with extensive experience in research-driven journalism, policy communication, and multi-platform storytelling. His areas of interest include international relations, defence, science & technology, education, urban development, agriculture, spirituality, and environmental sustainability. His work focuses on in-depth analysis, public discourse, and impactful narratives across governance and development sectors, with a strong commitment to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Contact: [email protected]
