Krisha Foundation in association with NSS Unit of H R College and HPCL Ltd organized a tree plantation at Gorhe village, in Palghar District of Maharashtra on 17th August 2019. Under Article 48A of the Directive Principles of State Policy, The State shall endeavor to protect and improve the environment and safeguard the forests and wildlife of the country. In addition, under 51A(g) of the Fundamental Duties of India it shall be the duty of every citizen to protect and improve the natural environment including forests, lakes, rivers and wildlife, and to have compassion for living creatures.

The National Forest Policy aims and emphasizes at maintaining 33% of the country’s geographical area under forest and green cover. In view of this and as a part of the 50 crore plantation programme within Maharashtra, the Maharashtra Forest Department aims to take up 50 crore plantation program intended to increase the forest cover in the state from the current 20% to the nationally mandated 33% of Maharashtra’s land area. Insufficient manpower with the Forest Department call for the initiative of Green Army.In view of this Krisha Foundation was delighted to organize a Tree plantation drive for the same. The NSS volunteers planted 250 saplings in and around Gore Village in Palghar District. This initiative was also supported by the Gram Sewak, Mr. Bhagwat Kamble.

The Tree Plantation drive was to support the ‘MISSION PLANTATION’, an initiative of the Government of Maharashtra under the leadership of our Hon’ble Chief Minister Shri. Devendra Fadnavis to plant 330 million trees by the end of 2019.

The Volunteers also conducted awareness about 24-hour toll free helpline number 1926 called ‘Hello Forest’, which has been set up to provide information regarding plantation, protection and for mass awareness. The Forest Department had created a mobile application called ‘My Plants’ to record details of the plantation such as numbers, species and location into the computer system of the Forest Department. Volunteers were encouraged to download the same.

The green patches are depleting day by day and there is an alarming need for us to wake up and save our environment to save the future generation. This event was led by NSS volunteers under the Swachhta Pakhwada . Volunteers had their Lunch and commenced with the Tree plantation at the barren land on the way . This land is a base to Kohoj Hill . The main aim was to initiate mass tree plantation for a greener society . The villagers supported us throughout the cause. Volunteers were divided in groups of four for the same. The Gram Panchayat provided Gardening Tools and Saplings for the event . The program Officer of NSS unit of H R College Prof. Rahul Mishra planted saplings and motivated the volunteers throughout the event. Mr. Kamle instructed the volunteers and taught them the right way to dig and complete the entire process.

It was decided to give the responsibility of the preservation of these trees to the local villagers and in the next year come again to gore village to understand the survival rates of the trees.