The Assam government will plant one crore saplings across the state on World Environment Day on June 5, in a large-scale afforestation drive involving more than 35 lakh women Self-Help Group (SHG) members, officials aware of the development informed.
The initiative aims to strengthen the state’s green cover through community participation, with a special focus on women-led grassroots engagement in environmental conservation.
Panchayat and Rural Development Minister Atul Bora said the plantation drive reflects the state government’s commitment to ecological preservation and sustainable development. He said Assam has been prioritising afforestation, forest restoration, clean energy promotion and the use of modern technology in conservation efforts.
Bora said the programme will be implemented with active public participation and strict monitoring to ensure effective execution. He reviewed the preparations in Guwahati during a meeting with senior officials of the Panchayat and Rural Development Department and representatives of the Environment and Forest Department.
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Officials said the plantation campaign is being designed as one of the largest environmental drives in the state, combining government coordination with grassroots mobilisation through SHG networks.
Senior officials, including Additional Chief Secretary B Kalyan Chakravarthy, Commissioner Keerthi Jalli, Mission Director Kuntalmoni Sarma Bordoloi, SPMS Anindita Deka, Nabajit Bharali and Hirdesh Mishra, attended the review meeting along with senior forest department officials.
The plantation drive will also be linked with ongoing rural development programmes, including the Lakhpati Baideo scheme, officials said.
The government said the initiative is expected to significantly contribute to improving Assam’s green cover while promoting community ownership of environmental protection efforts.
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