An IAS officer in Madhya Pradesh is actively encouraging people in his district to plant saplings on their birthdays to mark the occasion. He is the District Collector of Singrauli, Mr. Rajeev Ranjan Meena, IAS, and through this initiative, he wishes to spread awareness amongst people about the need to plant more trees to save our planet from climate change and global warming.
SAVE ENVIRONMENT CAMPAIGN
Mr. Meena came up with this idea to involve the people of Singrauli in protecting the environment. He initiated a sapling-planting campaign, whereby residents of Singrauli were urged to plant saplings on their birthday. He himself requested them to take a pledge to plant as many saplings as possible on their special day.
To make it sustainable, the officer has asked the people to continue planting saplings every year for their next five birthdays. He has promised to do the same and requested his colleagues and staff to take part in the campaign as well. He has even urged public representatives to motivate the common people to do the same.
PLANT A TREE ON YOUR BIRTHDAY
According to the District Collector, planting saplings is one of the most virtuous tasks that a person can do in his life. He believes every person in the world should take the responsibility of protecting the environment in one way or the other and fulfill their duties to nature.
And what better day to do the good deed than on the day that one came into the world?
“Plantation is done once but its merit is available for many years. If you are planting a sapling, then you are protecting your future generations,” Mr. Meena says.
INVOLVING SCHOOL TEACHERS
The collector is also spreading awareness amongst the teachers of schools of Singrauli to motivate the students studying in their schools to plant at least one sapling on their birthday and explain to them the importance of tree plantation.
Through these initiatives, the officer hopes to get as many trees planted in the district as possible. He has also urged the residents of the district to take care of the saplings like their own children for the next five birthdays, at least.
