Gangtok: For clean and green environment, Sikkim government has taken a inititaive to plant over 1,15,000 trees, which was sucessfully implemented after the mass drive taken by the government and other social organisations.
Sikkim has planted over 1,15,000 trees since World Environment Day, which was celebrated on June 5.
The initiative was under ‘Mero Rukh, Mero Santati’ entails that for every new born in Sikkim, 108 trees will be planted in their name. This initiative is also to increase the declining fertility rate in Sikkim.
Addressing the gathering of Heavenly Nirvana path devotees and residents of Temi Namphing constituency, Sikkim Chief Minister Prem Singh Golay shared, “The previous government had banned the spritual leader blaming the central government for curtailing him from coming to Sikkim. But when we came to form the government, we learned it was a lie that he was restricted from coming to Sikkim by the Centre Government. Sikkim has been blessed by spiritual leader Om Nanda. He was born in Nepal but is preaching here in Sikkim. He didn’t come preaching to people to not follow another religion. There are Buddhist, Hindu and every other religion here under Heavenly Nirvana Path Organization. This is not a religion but an ideology. Now Loveism has spread across the State. The devotees are able to meet spiritual leader”.
On the Mero Rukh Mero Santati initiative, CM Golay said, “How does one encourage in tree plantation and environment protection, people are least bothered about our trees, rivers and environment in general. Hence once a kid is born, we will plant 108 trees, it will be carried out by Forest department. When there are 108 trees, a person will keep respecting the plant and its growth. When we plant it, it becomes our priority”.
“It was a great initiative taken by the state government. Everybody should plant at least five trees to keep the environment clean and green. Deforestation is the root cause of climate change and to fight with this global challenge, we should plant more trees,” said an enviornmentalist.