Thiruvananthapuram, July 28 (UNI) The Haritha Keralam Mission aims to plant 1 crore saplings across Kerala by September 30, 2025, with over 21 lakh already planted so far.
The initiative aligns with broader goals of ecological restoration and achieving a net-zero carbon footprint for the state, said Dr. TN Seema, Vice Chairperson, Haritha Keralam Mission, which was formed in 2016 by the Kerala Government with a mission to promote cleanliness, water abundance, water security, and safe food production.
She stated that large-scale sapling production will be undertaken in August and September under the leadership of local self-government institutions, educational institutions, Kudumbashree members, neighborhood groups, the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS), the Ayyankali Employment Guarantee Scheme, and the Social Forestry Department.
On the occasion of World Friendship Day, the Haritha Keralam Mission will organize a special sapling exchange program among friends. The initiative, themed “Let Friendship Grow into a Mighty Tree”, is part of the people’s campaign “Oru Thai Nadam” (Let’s Plant a Sapling), aimed at widespread afforestation and raising environmental awareness.
The sapling exchange will take place on Friendship Day across schools, colleges, offices, institutions, libraries, clubs, voluntary organizations, Kudumbashree neighborhood groups, media houses, and more. Friends will exchange saplings to plant and nurture as a symbol of their bond and commitment to nature.
In addition, saplings will be planted in “Green Islands” created under the leadership of the Haritha Keralam Mission, and new green spaces will be established across the state.
The campaign also aims to instill a love for the environment among children through the program “Changathikkoru Thai” (A Sapling for a Friend), encouraging them to plant a sapling in a friend’s name and care for it.
This initiative seeks to foster both ecological responsibility and emotional connection among friends—allowing both the bond and the tree to grow strong together.
