Rama Krishna Sangem
In a landmark event organized by Igniting Minds’ Green India Challenge, on second day after launching on Sunday, students took part in palpation campaign and planted more than 1000 trees at SJ College at Kaipadar under Khurdha district, Odisha, on July 22, Monday.
Odisha assembly speaker Surama Padhy launched a massive 1 crore tree plantation campaign. The event, held at Government High School, IRC Village, Bhubaneswar, and saw the participation of prominent dignitaries including former Rajya Sabha MP, Mr. Santosh Kumar Joginapally, the Commander-in-Chief of Igniting Minds Organization and the chief architect of the Green India Challenge (GIC) from Telangana, as well as the co-founders of Igniting Minds, Mr. Karunakar Reddy and Mr. Raghava Sanjeevula, according to a press release on July 22.
The campaign, themed “Cool the Earth, Save Lives,” aims to plant 1 crore trees in Odisha over the next five years. This initiative is part of the national Green India Challenge (GIC) campaign, which was launched in 2017 and is dedicated to the former President of India, Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam.
The overarching goal of GIC is to plant 1 billion trees across India by leveraging artificial intelligence and community participation to combat climate change and create resilience for millions of vulnerable populations.
19.5 crore trees planted
Since its inception, the Green India Challenge has successfully planted 19.52 crore trees across various regions in India. The initiative has garnered widespread support and endorsements from all walks of life, including the Prime Minister and President of India. Leading celebrities, scientists, environmentalists, and corporate leaders have also joined the campaign, encouraging the efforts to reach its ambitious targets.
India, as the third-largest emitter of global greenhouse gases, faces significant challenges in maintaining economic growth while transitioning to net zero emissions by 2070. The Green India Challenge, through its various initiatives such as rainwater harvesting and tree plantation drives, aims to address critical climate crises, including water insecurity, forest and biodiversity loss, intense heat waves, agriculture challenges, and rapid urbanization.
Odisha’s Climate Context:
Prof. Prafulla Dhal, National Patron of Igniting Minds and its Odisha leader, highlighted the urgency for Odisha to address climate change. Despite having only 3.47% of the national population and less than 3% of India’s geographical area, Odisha emits 9.3% of India’s total greenhouse gases, the highest per-capita emission rate in the country. The state is also highly susceptible to climate disasters, having recorded the highest number of heatwave days (over 27) by the end of May 2024.
Prof. Dhal shared insights from the Global Forest Watch 2024 report, which revealed that Odisha had 1.85 million hectares of natural forest in 2010, covering 12% of its land area. By 2023, the state had lost 11.5 thousand hectares of natural forests, equivalent to 5.52 million tons of CO2 emissions. Although green coverage has been increasing recently, more efforts are needed to restore the state’s forestry and greenery.
Collaborative Efforts:
Dr Dillip Srichandan, the “Tree Man of Odisha” and President of the Green Army, emphasized the importance of collaborative efforts to optimize government initiatives in reforestation, agroforestry, and afforestation. “We acknowledge the government’s serious and honest efforts in restoring the state’s ecology with numerous tree plantation initiatives in recent years. However, Odisha needs to plant more trees to regain its historical forestry and greenery. This effort by GIC aims to complement and enhance the government’s reforestation initiatives,” said Dr. Srichandan.
In continuation of the plantation drive, Sri Jagannath College in Kaipadar Village, Khurda District, near Bhubaneswar, saw its students plant 1,500 fruit trees. Eminent dignitaries
The Green India Challenge calls upon individuals, communities, and organizations to join this noble cause. By planting trees and participating in climate resilience activities, we can collectively work towards making India a greener, healthier, and more sustainable place to live.
