The survival of the human race wouldn’t have been possible without trees. Serving humankind since time immemorial with its shade and cover, food and livelihood resources, trees play a vital role in sustaining life on the planet. An ever silent creation, yet living, life giving even when burnt, its ashes serve its purpose, an un-wasteful treasure!
Kanaiyalal Maneklal Munshi, the then Union Minister for Agriculture and Food way back in the 1950s, to create an enthusiasm in the mind of the populace for the conservation of forests and planting of trees held one week tree planting festival what we call Van Mahotsav. The first-ever national awakening to the necessity of planting trees and attempts at tree rehabilitation on a national scale came in July 1947, with a successful tree plantation drive in Delhi. Such drives are now conducted around the whole country. On this day educational institutes organize various events like planting saplings, awareness walk, screening of documentaries etc. Similar activities are also undertaken by governmental and concerned private organisations. Other activities include exhibitions, seminars, distribution of free saplings to citizens and so on.
In fact, the total remaining tree cover of India that included forests and non-forest areas was 24.16% in 2015 and now due to development, the forest have been massacred besides in our own State what we have witnessed last year in the lockdown, about the Bhagwan Mahaveer Wildlife Sanctuary and the Mollem National Park, which is doom of wildlife and green cover in Goa these days. The forest at Balli!!! The cutting down of age old trees from the slope of Sotrant Cortalim highway till Agassaim police station!. Certainly, the harmless silent trees massacred. The cutting down of hill at Bambolim, Cortalim slope! The breath that we breathe in, is what the trees give out for us free of cost, undoubtedly, has silently spoken to us. Did we hear them speak?
Usually held from July 1 to 7, the festival finds mass participation of people, including government agencies, civic bodies and educational institutions across the country who come together every year to plant saplings. But this year too due to the lockdown it has been a pain in the neck.
Few days back we read on the dailies ‘OHeraldO’ that under the Green Goa Plantation Initiative, Shel-Melauli villagers planted around 50 plus medicinal and fruit bearing saplings like of lemon, guava, jackfruit, pineapple at the site that was proposed for the IIT project was stated by a villager Shashikant Sawardekar, is to be applauded and recognised. And many others are doing these kind acts of restoration of the green cover that goes unnoticed!
This year too due to the Pandemic, students are confined to their homes and are these days busy with virtual learning. Yet, the spirit of the institutions is to be applauded, as the institutions with the staff members planted saplings to keep alive the spirit of Kanaiyalal Maneklal Munshi.
Throughout, the year and this month we still can continue to plant a tree and gift a living and help restore the green cover of the Planet Earth.
