Sapna Keot was unusually enthusiastic on September 17. The day was to become for her yet another memorable day when this worker from a tea estate in Mukhar Gaon of Biswanath district would be planting two commercial saplings and pledging to take care of them for the rest of her life. This lady, a tree lover, had coincidentally become the first person to register her name in the Amrit Brikshya Andolan portal (as reported in the September issue of Asom Barta). Having completed her household chores during the morning hours, she religiously planted the two commercial saplings provided to her by the self help group to which she belonged. She then uploaded her photos and geotagged them on the portal. “It was an unusual experience for me,” she told Asom Barta.
The day etched into the record book because, as planned, more than 70 lakh individuals, organisations, SHGs, and others planted over 1 cr commercial sapling across the length and breadth of the State. Preceding the day, the State and its people had already set nine Guinness records in various ways to tell the world that the idea of a tree economy has well and truly arrived.
The Environment and Forest Department played a vital role in facilitating this near Herculean task.
As a testimony to the importance of the day, Prime Minister Narendra Modi wrote to the Assam Chief Minister Dr. Himanta Biswa Sarma appreciating the importance of the initiative.
Princy Mahan, a student of Sivasagar College, too was part of a record feat on the day. As if to ensure that there is no hiccup, she, along with her friends, took part in a mock exercise at Geleki in Sivasagar district the previous day on the procedure to be followed in planting these saplings.
On the D-Day, she and 1228 other females were part of another record at Athkhel Tea Estate in Geleki of “most people planting trees simultaneously.”
“If there are trees, there will be human beings and our world,” she said while talking to this reporter. Coincidentally, she was also part of a Guinness record on Bihu dance.
Kuhirani Kashyap was also a part of the Amrit Brikshya initiative which was meant to strengthen or define the relationship between nature and women, and their empowerment. “We planted 1229 saplings in 58.48 seconds,” on September 17, she said.
The Environment and Forest Department Minister Chandra Mohan Patowary was present in this programme at Geleki.
The Statewide proceedings was set in motion by the Assam Chief Minister at Janata Bhawan, where he planted a sapling. He spoke of the historical importance of the day not only for Assam but also for humanity, while appealing to the people to come out in large numbers to support the intended objectives of the initiative.
Dr Sarma spoke of the economic benefits that the Andolan would accord to the State after 10 years.
He said that after three years these saplings would be photographed. He was hopeful of an 80% and above survival rate of the saplings. Dr Sarma said that by 2024, his Government is determined to plant three crore saplings in non-forest areas.
