“One Tree in the Name of Mother 2.0” Plantation Target Achieved by Sai Government: Forest Minister Kashyap
Raipur, August 22
Forest Minister Kedar Kashyap today participated in the Forest Festival and fruit orchard inauguration program held at the Government College in Besoli, Bastar. On this occasion, Minister Kashyap planted a ‘Maulshree’ sapling to formally inaugurate the Bastar Forest Division’s Forest Festival. He appealed to the general public to actively participate in this campaign by planting trees around their homes, neighborhoods, and nearby areas.
During the program, Mr. Kashyap presented a cheque of Rs. 2 lakh to Mr. Sridhar Baghel from village Cherakur under the Raj Mohini Devi Tendupatta Social Security Insurance Scheme.
Forest Minister Kedar Kashyap stated that since 1950, Forest Festivals have been organized across the country with the aim of forest conservation, promoting tree plantation, and spreading awareness about the importance of trees. He added that the government led by Chief Minister Vishnudev Sai had set a target of planting 27.6 million saplings in Chhattisgarh during the financial year 2025-26, which the Forest Department, with the support of the citizens of Chhattisgarh, self-help groups, and women beneficiaries of the Mahtari Vandan scheme, has successfully achieved. Even after reaching this goal, tree plantation activities continue to preserve the greenery and beauty of the state.
He mentioned that under the “One Tree in the Name of Mother 2.0” campaign, large-scale tree plantation has been carried out across the state over the past two months. This effort included not only the Forest Department but also the Rural Development Department, Jeevika groups, Horticulture Department, other government institutions, NGOs, and social clubs. He expressed heartfelt gratitude to all those involved.
Notably, about 775 fruit-bearing and other plants have been planted over a five-acre area of the college campus, including 180 mango, 175 jamun, 175 guava, 75 jackfruit, 75 custard apple, 95 flowering plants, along with ramphal, lakshmanphal, hanumanphal, rudraksha, lakshmi tree, and bel trees—totaling 775 plants of various species.
At the Forest Festival, Minister Kedar Kashyap distributed “Charan Paduka” (footwear assistance) to women beneficiaries who collect tendupatta (tendu leaves). He pointed out that under the previous government, neither tendupatta purchase nor important beneficiary-oriented schemes like Charan Paduka, which directly benefit tribal brothers and sisters, were implemented. He added that the government of Chief Minister Vishnudev Sai has restarted this scheme, and over 200,000 Charan Paduka have been distributed across Bastar division so far.
Former MP Mr. Dinesh Kashyap, Mr. Ved Prakash Pandey, Mr. Nirdesh Diwan, Mrs. Shakuntala Kashyap, along with local representatives and departmental officers and staff, were present on the occasion.