Guwahati: The Assam govt will involve 10 lakh students from Class IX onwards in a plantation drive to plant one crore saplings from Aug 10 to 14 across the state, coinciding with Independence Day, forest and environment minister Jayanta Mallabaruah said on Thursday.“This initiative will be a part of the Amrit Brikshya Andolan. Each of the 10 lakh students of Class IX onwards, including college, engineering and medical students, will plant 10 plants,” the minister said. He added that to ensure the long-term survival of the plantations, each student will be assisted by a job card holder under the VB-G-RAM-G framework.“Job card holders will receive an incentive of Rs 1,500, equivalent to five days’ wages, in instalments, subject to the survival of at least 50% of the planted saplings. This will also ensure livelihood opportunities for rural workers. Students who successfully maintain their plantations by uploading geo-tagged photographs will be awarded the ‘Briksha Bandhu’ certificate in recognition of their contribution towards environmental conservation,” he added.The minister also announced another initiative, ‘Phalbari’ (garden of fruits), under which one crore indigenous fruit saplings will be planted in Assam in April next year.Mallabaruah participated in a plantation programme organised at Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary to mark the 77th Van Mahotsav, where he, along with local residents, forest department officials and other participants, planted 77 saplings. Van Mahotsav began on July 1.Addressing the gathering, he reaffirmed the state govt’s commitment to making environmental conservation a people’s movement and outlined several flagship initiatives that will be implemented across Assam in the coming months.On the concluding day of the Van Mahotsav on July 7, every forest range in Assam will set up a birthday garden and citizens will be encouraged to celebrate their birthdays by planting a tree and taking a pledge to protect the environment.Highlighting the govt’s focus on ecological restoration, the minister announced a new Char-Chapori (riverine areas) Greening Initiative to restore the barren char and chapori areas of the Brahmaputra.“As a pilot project, seed-balls will be used aerially using drones in selected char areas. Based on the outcome of the pilot project, the programme will be expanded across Assam on a larger scale,” he added.The minister said CM Himanta Biswa Sarma led govt is committed to protecting forests while encouraging active public participation in conservation efforts, thereby laying the foundation for a greener, healthier and more sustainable future for the state.
