Senapati, July 1: Senapati Forest Division celebrated Van Mahotsav by planting trees along a 1 km stretch from DRDA, Senapati to Assam Rifles Camp on Tuesday.
Van Mahotsav, meaning “Forest Festival,” is an annual tree-planting festival in India, celebrated during the first week of July. It was initiated in 1950 by the then Union Minister of Agriculture, Dr. K.M. Munshi, to promote afforestation and environmental awareness. The festival encourages the planting of trees to increase green cover, combat deforestation, and highlight the importance of trees for ecological balance and human well-being.
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This year’s theme, “Ek Paudha Maa Ke Naam 2.0”, encourages citizens to plant a tree in the name of their mother, symbolizing the nurturing relationship between a mother and her child. The slogan for this year is “Plant a Tree, Secure Our Future,” emphasizing the importance of tree planting for a better tomorrow.
Senapati Forest Division kicked off the Van Mahotsav Celebration 2025 by organizing roadside tree plantations along a 1 km stretch, starting from the DRDA Office, Senapati to Assam Rifles Camp, Senapati. A total of 200 participants from various schools, colleges, DLOs, CSOs, student bodies, police and army personnel, church leaders, women societies, VDVK members, and representatives of various banks in Senapati took part in the program.
Smt. Soreiphy Vashum, IFS, Addl. PCCF, graced the function as the Chief Guest; Mamoni Doley, IAS, DC, Senapati, as the Guest of Honour; and ML. Kaisungbou, MPS, Addl. SP, Senapati, as the Special Guest.
The Chief Guest emphasized the importance of conservation and encouraged all participants to “plant a tree, nurture it, and contribute to a greener tomorrow.” To celebrate the occasion, a mass-scale tree plantation drive was carried out by Senapati Forest Division across the district, planting over 200 seedlings. The department stated that it aims to plant 1 lakh seedlings during the first week of July 2025 to mark Van Mahotsav in the district. The department urged all citizens of the district to join hands to make Van Mahotsav 2025 a success by planting trees.
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Addressing the media, Shanngam S., IFS, Divisional Forest Officer, Senapati District Forest Division, stated that as part of the observance of Van Mahotsav 2025, the division has undertaken roadside tree plantation with avenue trees. The DFO expressed his excitement that the department is using recycled plastic bottle tree guards. In the coming week, the DFO added that the department is planning multiple tree plantation drives across the district, engaging all rangers, beat officers, and mobilizing villagers to carry out the plantations in line with the theme “Ek Paudha Maa Ke Naam 2.0,” which means planting a tree in the name of one’s mother.