Chandigarh: Haryana Social Justice, Empowerment, Scheduled Castes and Backward Classes Welfare, and Antyodaya (SEWA) Minister, Krishan Kumar Bedi, while addressing the second phase of the 77th District-Level Van Mahotsav at village Bharedi Kalan under the ‘Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam’ campaign at Narayangarh, Ambala district, said that Van Mahotsav is not merely an occasion for tree plantation but a reaffirmation of society’s commitment towards nature, environmental conservation and future generations.
He urged citizens to transform environmental conservation into a people’s movement, stating that Haryana can become a greener State only through active public participation.
The Minister said the ‘Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam’ campaign, launched by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, is a unique tribute to both nature and motherhood and has received overwhelming public support in Haryana under the leadership of Chief Minister, Sh. Nayab Singh Saini.
Highlighting the challenges of climate change, rising temperatures, air pollution, water scarcity and biodiversity loss, he said tree plantation, forest conservation and sustainable management of natural resources are essential to securing the future.
Krishan Bedi said Haryana has set a target of planting 1.40 crore saplings during the current monsoon season with the active participation of government departments, panchayats, urban local bodies, educational institutions, industries, voluntary organisations and the public. Stressing that the objective is not only to plant saplings but also to ensure their survival, he said the State is developing dense Miyawaki forests over nearly 48 hectares in urban and semi-urban areas while promoting indigenous tree species and conserving natural and cultural heritage.
The Minister further said Haryana is the first State in the country to introduce the Pran Vayu Devta Pension Scheme for the conservation of trees aged over 75 years. He appealed to every citizen to plant a tree in honour of their mother and nurture it until it matures. He also urged students and youth to become ambassadors of environmental conservation and lead plantation and tree protection drives in their respective areas.
During the programme, the Minister also announced the construction of a shed in village Bharedi Kalan on the request of the Gram Panchayat. Earlier, he planted a sapling and participated in the Van Mahotsav programme, where the live telecast of Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini’s State-level Van Mahotsav event from Manesar was also screened.
