Often, it is seen, that much of the efforts undertaken by successive governments to increase the green belt, are limited to paper only due to lack of better implementation. However, there are officers who not only implement it on the field, but also give a unique twist to it by adding incentives to it, so that it can be implemented it in a much better way.
Due to such innovative approaches, 2004-batch IAS officer Chander Gaind has not only been able to increase the green belt in 11 districts of Punjab, but is ensuring that it is also being properly taken cared of. In order to restore the green belt and forest area in Punjab, Mr. Gaind, who is the Faridkot Divisional Commissioner has made it mandatory to plant five saplings for renewal of arm license in the three districts of Faridkot, Bathinda and Mansa. He has written a letter to the Deputy Commissioners of the districts in this regard, wherein he has directed officials to ask arms licence applicants to plant five saplings and submit selfies taken with each plant.
Indian Masterminds interacted with Mr. Gaind to know more about his initiative.
PLANT TREES, GET LICENCE RENEWED
This is not the first time that Mr. Gaind has taken such an initiative. Earlier, when he was the Commissioner of Patiala division, he had made it mandatory to plant 10 saplings for getting arm license and 5 saplings for its renewal.
“I implemented this in 2019, when I was posted in Ferozepur. That time also, I made it mandatory to send selfies with the planted saplings as proof after a month, so that we come to know that the person is taking care of the plants. This initiative benefited a lot and lakhs of trees were planted,” he said.
TREE FOR GUN
In 2020, Mr. Gaind became the Commissioner of Patiala division. Here, too,he started the same initiative in the seven districts, and named it, ‘Tree For Gun’. The only difference is, there is no condition for applying for new licenses as it is closed in the whole of Punjab. That’s why now the order is only for renewal.
“Choose the place and plant the saplings wherever you want, but care will have to be taken. You can’t just put on a show and then forget all about it. That’s why, at the time of license renewal next time, these five plants will be checked and if they are not found okay, we will not renew it. Rest of the rules will remain same,” the officer said.
The rules also demand that one would have to submit a selfie with each planted sapling at the time of filling of the application, and after one month, before moving the application for police clearance and dope test, the applicant needs to furnish a fresh status of the planted trees by submitting fresh selfies.
MANY BENEFITS
Mr. Gaind said that this will increase the green belt without spending any money. The other big advantage is that ground water level will also get increased. “Green belt is now increasing in the 11 districts where I have taken this initiative. The environmental crisis is a big challenge in the country today. To save the environment, a small beginning will impact the future.”
Seeing the success of the initiative, it has been replicated in many other districts by several officers. However, he wants the government to issue such orders from its own level, so that it will be implemented on a bigger scale.
FUTURE PLAN
He is now planning to issue similar order for driving license as well. “It might be possible that we pass such an order regarding driving licence as well. Crores of people have driving license. This can increase green belts considerably.”
FOREIGN MEDIA LAUDED
In 2019, when he first took up this initiative, many foreign media houses and newspapers had covered it. He said, “First of all, they took out all the data to check how many arm licenses were made and renewed. Then they cross-checked by going to the villages and cities. Only after verification, they published stories praising the initiative.”
