Special event on February 19 to mark 5 years of Union Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan’s tree-planting pledge

New Delhi/Bhopal (The Uttam Hindu): On the completion of five years of the unique tree-planting pledge of Union Minister for Agriculture & Farmers’ Welfare and Rural Development and former Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh, Shivraj Singh Chouhan, a special programme will be organised on February 19 at AP Shinde Hall, NAASC Complex, Pusa, New Delhi. This event celebrates the green journey that began on February 19, 2021, on the occasion of Narmada Jayanti at Amarkantak, when Shivraj Singh Chouhan planted Rudraksha and Sal saplings and took a pledge to plant at least one tree every day—a pledge he has fulfilled with complete consistency.

The programme on February 19 will begin with tree plantation, during which five saplings will be planted, symbolising the continuity of this pledge and future green commitment. This will be followed by the formal inauguration of the main programme, including the presentation of a special video and an introductory segment based on the journey of “Five Years of Tree Plantation by Shivraj Singh Chouhan.”

During the programme, key highlights of this campaign—beginning from Shivraj Singh Chouhan’s personal pledge and expanding into public participation, environmental awareness, and social consciousness—will be showcased. In his keynote address, Shivraj Singh Chouhan will speak in detail about his five-year daily tree-planting pledge, the experiences associated with it, public participation, and the future roadmap, sharing his vision of taking environmental protection forward as a mass movement.

The programme will also feature addresses by Dr. Chinmay Pandya of the All World Gayatri Parivar, Justice Prakash Shrivastava, Chairperson of the National Green Tribunal (NGT), environmentalist Shri Anil Joshi, Sadhvi Rithambara Ji, senior journalist Shri Ashutosh Jha, and Director General of the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) Dr. M.L. Jat. Through these voices, the relevance of this pledge will emerge from spiritual, judicial, social, and environmental perspectives. The event will stand not only as a successful programme but also as a powerful message of a green resolve for future generations.

Background of the daily tree-planting pledge

Many people take pledges for environmental protection, but the continuity and strong will required to implement them in daily life are rarely seen. In this context, Shivraj Singh Chouhan’s pledge emerged as an example when, during his tenure as Chief Minister, he decided to take environmental protection beyond speeches and bring it into practice for the masses. On the occasion of Narmada Jayanti (February 19, 2021), by planting saplings on the banks of the Narmada at Amarkantak, he pledged to plant at least one tree every day, and this practice has continued uninterrupted since then.

Even during the difficult days of the COVID-19 pandemic, when public life had nearly come to a standstill, his tree-planting pledge did not stop—whether he was in his home state, another part of the country, or on an overseas visit. Wherever he went, he planted a tree every day and fulfilled his responsibility towards the environment, and today this number has crossed more than 6,000 trees.

This personal vow compelled people to think that if a public leader can include daily tree plantation in his routine, then ordinary citizens can also make it a natural part of life. This pledge did not arise from a momentary emotion but from an environmental vision developed over the years. At the conclusion of the historic Narmada Seva Yatra led by him in 2017, more than 60 million trees were planted in Madhya Pradesh, giving the protection of rivers, forests, and climate the form of a mass movement. In the same sequence, the “Ankur Abhiyan” was launched, encouraging citizens to plant saplings, upload photos/selfies on a portal, and pledge to protect them. Through this initiative, nearly 10 million trees were planted, with participation from various sections of society.

Over time, this initiative expanded beyond the boundaries of Madhya Pradesh to acquire national and international dimensions. By promoting tree plantation on occasions such as birthdays, wedding anniversaries, birth anniversaries, or death anniversaries of loved ones, he developed a unique tradition of linking personal celebrations with environmental service. Inspired by him, people living in India and abroad also began planting trees on their special occasions, becoming part of this green journey, through which a leader’s personal pledge has now transformed into a widespread mass movement.