Climate change is becoming a big threat to the world, as can be witnessed in nature’s fury in recent times, wrecking havoc in both populated and unpopulated areas. In this monsoon, India faced the fury of heavy rainfall and cloudburst in Himachal and Punjab while states like Bihar, Odisha and Uttar Pradesh experienced below average rainfall. These changes are alarming and climate experts have been flagging concerns.

One of the surest and easiest way to take on climate change is planting trees as much as we can. 2016 batch IRTS (Indian Railway Traffic Service) officer J Sanjay Kumar is doing just that. He is on a mission to plant trees alongside discharging his duties as a railway officer. He has planted 18 thousand trees and has a target of planting 1 lakh saplings in the next 5 years.

Recently, he took an initiative to plant five native species of fruit trees in around 150 railway stations of Jhansi Division, with the target of 100% survival rate. He completed it in this monsoon season. In fact, he has planted three thousand trees this year in Jhansi division alone. While last year, under his supervision, 15 thousand trees were planted in Prayagraj division, where he was posted there.

Indian Masterminds spoke to Mr. Kumar, who is Sr DOM (Freight) in Jhansi Division and Legislative Assistant to Member of Parliament, to get more details about his initiative.

TREES ARE LIFE

Mr. Kumar believes that if we have to fight global warming, then, we need to think about our environment seriously. With this thought in mind, he started planting trees on a large scale almost two years ago. First, in Parayagraj division, where 15 thousand trees were planted in land owned by railways. He encouraged the railway personnel and staff to take care of the trees. Most of the trees survived.

Now, in Jhansi division, 750 trees have been planted at 150 stations, five each. Most of the trees have been planted in the front area of the station.

Apart from this, almost 2250 trees have been planted at a big railway workshop in Jhansi, the railway colony and staff houses.

Mr. Kumar said, “Climate change is inevitable and the only option left is reducing its intensity. It can only be reduced by mass plantation. Our planted trees will provide shed as well as fruit and will definitely benefit the environment.”

The good thing is that the officer regularly keeps tab on all planted trees’ health. He asks for regular updates with photos on mobile from staff and also pays sudden visit.

He said, “We all have two options. First is only cry for sudden and harmful weather change and second is to fight it by doing something concrete for our environment like planting trees, saving water, using our resources wisely, and loving nature in every way. That is what I am doing.”

CARING FOR THE PLANTS

The positive thing is that railway employees have themselves come forward to care for the trees. Like, for instance, the Station Master (SM) has volunteered to take care of the young saplings as a guardian. There is a mix breed of trees being planted which will not only provide shade but also fruits like Mangos, Wood Apple, etc.

But, how will they ensure 100 percent survival rate? Mr. Kumar said, “We have ensured 100 percent survival rate. It will work in a way that if any tree dies or get destroyed for whatever reason, then immediately a new sapling will be planted in its place. We have ensured that five trees will be grown in every station by any means.”

In this monsoon season, there has been no cause for worry and the survival rate has been 100 percent till now. However, the real struggle will start after the end of the monsoon.

“Then, we will have to take more care. Our original target was to plant 5000 trees, but due to some reasons, we could not achieve that target in this monsoon,” the officer said.

NO FUND REQUIRED

For this initiative, he has not taken any funds till now. He did it all with his motivation and ardent desire to bring about a change. He encouraged some of his friends to help him buy the saplings. The forest and horticulture departments also helped by donating plants. He used maximum of his own resources as well.

“Climate change and global warming are real danger now. Both are leaving their effects in a hazardous way. So we have to fight it and the feasible way is planting more trees. By doing this, we can reduce their impact on our lives,” Mr. Kumar said.

GIFT A TREE

This is not all. The officer has taken one other unique initiative on his own to help the environment. If his acquaintances have their birthdays, then he plants few saplings in their names, takes picture, and gifts them saplings as well.

He said, “I plants the trees in the railways areas which make them look greener and also gives me immense satisfaction.”