A special programme will be held on February 19 at AP Shinde Hall, Pusa, New Delhi, to commemorate five years of the daily tree plantation pledge undertaken by Union Minister for Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare and Rural Development, Shivraj Singh Chouhan. The event marks the completion of a sustained environmental commitment that began in 2021 and has since evolved into a wider public awareness movement promoting ecological responsibility.
The initiative began on February 19, 2021, on the occasion of Narmada Jayanti, when Shivraj Singh Chouhan planted Rudraksha and Sal saplings at Amarkantak and resolved to plant at least one sapling every day. Over the past five years, the pledge has continued uninterrupted, including during the COVID-19 pandemic, and the number of saplings planted under this commitment has crossed 6,000.
The programme on February 19 will commence with the ceremonial plantation of five saplings symbolising continuity and renewed commitment. This will be followed by the formal inauguration of the event and a special presentation outlining the journey of the daily plantation initiative over the past five years. The progression of the campaign from a personal discipline to a broader participatory environmental movement will be highlighted.
In his keynote address, Shivraj Singh Chouhan is expected to reflect on the experiences gained through the daily pledge, emphasise the need for sustained public participation, and outline a roadmap to transform environmental protection into a mass movement rooted in everyday life. The central theme of the event underscores the idea that tree plantation should not remain a symbolic activity but become a consistent personal and collective responsibility.
The programme will feature addresses by Chinmay Pandya of the All World Gayatri Pariwar, Justice Prakash Shrivastava, Chairperson of the National Green Tribunal, environmentalist Anil Joshi, Sadhvi Ritambhara, senior journalist Ashutosh Jha, and M. L. Jat, Director General of the Indian Council of Agricultural Research. Their participation is expected to bring spiritual, judicial, environmental, agricultural and social perspectives to the discussion on ecological conservation.
The daily plantation pledge builds upon earlier large-scale environmental campaigns. During his tenure as Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh, Shivraj Singh Chouhan led the Narmada Seva Yatra in 2017, culminating in the plantation of more than six crore saplings across the state. The Ankur Abhiyan followed, encouraging citizens to plant saplings and upload photographs to a dedicated portal, resulting in nearly one crore additional plantations. These initiatives expanded environmental action from policy-driven efforts to citizen-led participation.
Over time, the daily plantation initiative extended beyond Madhya Pradesh and gained resonance at the national and international levels, with individuals adopting tree plantation on personal milestones such as birthdays and anniversaries. What began as an individual commitment has gradually transformed into a broader campaign encouraging environmental stewardship as a way of life.
Organisers describe the five-year milestone not merely as a celebration but as a renewed call for collective action. The event aims to reinforce the message that sustainable environmental practices must be integrated into daily routines to ensure long-term ecological balance and intergenerational responsibility.
