An event known as Vriksha Bandhan took place on Saturday, during which women, children, and environmentalists gathered to tie rakhis around a 140-year-old tree while chanting slogans in support of tree conservation efforts. JV Ratnam, the founding secretary of the Green Climate Team NGO, stressed the significance of safeguarding trees. The event was specifically held in honor of a historic tree planted in 1887 to provide shelter for workers during the construction of the Bombay Nagpur railway line. This tree is situated near the railway station’s rest house.
Datla Subrahmanya Varma, the district president of the Nature-Based Farmers Association, emphasized the importance of preserving all trees and referenced the Bishnoi movement initiated by the Bishnoi community in Rajasthan nearly 290 years ago. Dr. S. Padmavati and Raja Praveen, lecturers in Botany, highlighted the Chipko movement of 1973 in Uttarakhand, where villagers embraced trees to prevent their destruction. They pointed out that tying a rakhi to an ancient tree signifies a dedication to raising environmental awareness for future generations and encouraged widespread participation in similar endeavors.
Ramana Murthy, the founder and leader of the Writers Academy, advocated for students to plant 10 saplings each, showcasing his keen interest in participating in the Vriksha Bandhan program annually. He stressed the importance of engaging 200 students to ensure long-term benefits for succeeding generations. Malla Sarita, representing Vanamal: Gardening Friends, mentioned that in Piplantri, Rajasthan, 111 trees are planted for every girl child born, a practice initiated by Shyam Sundar Paliwal in 2006 to combat female infanticide. This initiative has resulted in the growth of 286,000 trees over a span of eight years.
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