The city’s Directorate of Education is set to launch an extensive tree plantation campaign involving over 3.7 lakh saplings.
Slated to commence on July 1, the initiative—titled “Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam”—is poised to become a cornerstone of the capital’s drive to foster green, breathable urban spaces through youth-led environmental stewardship.The campaign aligns with broader national and global climate goals, aiming to mitigate urban heat islands, enhance biodiversity, and restore ecological balance within the city’s rapidly concretising environment. Targeted primarily at schools, the campaign will engage thousands of students and teachers in planting and nurturing trees and shrubs across campuses, playgrounds, and neighbouring areas.
Spanning nearly a month and coinciding with the culturally significant festival of Hariyali Teej, the campaign is more than a symbolic gesture. Each government school has been tasked with planting at least 350 saplings annually, including a mix of 100 trees, 180 shrubs, and 70 bamboo plants. The saplings, to be provided at no cost by state-run nurseries, are expected to not only bolster the capital’s dwindling green cover but also nurture a culture of environmental responsibility among young citizens.Integral to the campaign is the role of Eco Clubs and school leadership, who have been entrusted with both implementation and community mobilisation.
Schools will engage students in parallel activities like street theatre, essay contests, poster-making, and slogans—creative formats aimed at spreading awareness and deepening public participation. These cultural components are intended to transform the campaign from a routine civic exercise into a citywide movement rooted in empathy and collective action.To ensure transparency and impact, schools are mandated to file monthly reports tracking the status and survival of planted saplings. These reports will feed into the ‘Meri LiFE’ portal managed by the Department of Forest and Wildlife, reflecting the city’s broader commitment to measurable and accountable green governance.
This initiative comes at a critical juncture for Delhi, which has long struggled with alarming pollution levels, shrinking tree cover, and the health impacts of a warming urban climate. While past plantation drives have often lacked follow-through, the structured, school-based model being introduced this time offers a chance for long-term impact, particularly if sustained maintenance and student engagement are prioritised.By centring the campaign around the deeply emotional and symbolic idea of dedicating a tree to one’s mother, the initiative taps into a universally relatable sentiment—transforming environmental action into a personal act of love and responsibility. It is this emotional resonance, combined with institutional rigour, that may offer Delhi a real shot at re-greening its future.
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Delhi Schools to Plant Lakhs of Saplings
