Baramulla, Oct 31: With an aim to recognize women’s rights by honouring their birth and financially empowering the girl child, the Jammu and Kashmir forest department has started planting a tree for every new born girl child in the entire district of Baramulla.
The department under Jan Abhiyan, Back to Village, Plantation drives, Plant a tree for girl child programmes has planted several thousand trees and the initiative is gaining momentum across the district.
The programmes are being organized in Boniyar, Doabgah & Baramulla ranges of JV Forest Division, Baramulla.
The forest department officials said that under the plant a tree for girl child programme more than one thousand trees were planted in the name of newly born girl child and a huge number of people are coming forward for this initiative.
Locals said that this is one of the biggest green initiatives taken by any government in Jammu and Kashmir.
“The green drive will go a long way in not only mitigating the impact of climate change but will also provide huge livelihood avenues for individuals as well as corporations,” said Rayees Ahmad, a resident of Binner Baramulla who planted a tree in the name of her newly born girl child.
Earlier in 2022, the UT administration in order to prevent environmental degradation and increase forest cover in Jammu and Kashmir which had been neglected for decades, encouraged people to plant a tree whenever a girl child is born.
The Divisional Forest Officer Jehlum Valley Division Baramulla Parvez Ahmad told Rising Kashmir that by involving people to plant a sapling, in the name of a newborn girl child, the plan is to create awareness among the present and future generations about the rights of daughters.
“Planting of trees by families on birth of a girl child is doing wonders in Baramulla district by improving the environment and providing financial security to girls. It is not only beneficial for the girl child but for the society in general,” Parvez added.
According to the practice, a family plants a tree on the birth of a girl child. The produce/fruits/timber provide financial insurance for the girl as the family deposits the money by selling that in her name. The money, which multiplies in the course of time, is spent during the marriage of the girl.
Parvez said that the green initiative has proved a boon for the girl child.
“Besides financially empowering the girl, the initiative has a positive impact on the environment of the area,” he said.
Divisional Forest Officer Jehlum Valley Division Baramulla said due to this initiative, everyone now feels happy about the birth of a girl child in their family.
“This initiative taken by the forest department has certainly put smiles back on the face of parents who otherwise are worried about the girl child since her birth. This initiative now allows a family to celebrate the birth of a girl-child,” he added.
Conservator of Forests, Kashmir, north Circle, Irfan Ali Shah told Rising Kashmir that the planting of a tree for a girl child aims to recognize women’s rights by honoring their birth.
“We have planted around 1000 plants in the entire district. Through this initiative, we hope to celebrate their birth by linking it with environmental conservation at the same time,” he said.
