Plant-a-Tree Drive Launch in Rajasthan Schools

Starting July 10, 2025, Rajasthan’s government launched the “Hariyalo Rajasthan – Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam Mission,” aiming to plant 25 crore saplings by August 10. School teachers and students were handed daily quotas: primary students 10, upper-primary students 15, and teachers 15 saplings per day. The target sparked widespread criticism as impractical and burdensome 0.

Daily Targets Spark Classroom Concerns

A school principal in suburban Jodhpur questioned the feasibility of assigning plantation duties alongside academic responsibilities, pointing out many schools lack space for tree-planting 1.

Digital Reporting Adds Complexity

The drive requires teachers to log every stage—from pit digging to sapling survival—via a government app. Educators warn this will disrupt routine teaching, discourage admissions, and place undue pressure on staff 2.

Resource & Funding Shortfalls

Concerns have been raised over insufficient sapling supply in government nurseries, lack of digging tools, planting space in urban areas, and the absence of dedicated financing to support the initiative 3.

Unions and Environmentalists Speak Out

Kalu Ram of the Rajasthan Shikshak Sangh criticized the mandate, stating, “Teachers should teach, not dig pits,” and warning that the drive could fail due to poor planning 4. Environmentalist Ram Niwas Budhnagar described the campaign as a “mockery of environmental concern” and an example of “exploitation” of teachers merely for political optics 5.

Symbolism vs. Execution

The campaign ties into the central government’s “Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam” initiative, which blends environmental protection with a symbolic tribute to motherhood. Critics argue that symbolic gestures should have been left to experienced environmentalists rather than overburdened educators 6.

Timeline Overview

• July 10, 2025: Plantation targets announced (25 crore saplings by Aug 10).
• July 2025: Schools receive daily quotas for teachers and students.
• Immediately: Teachers raise alarm over planning, resources, and academic disruption.

Trivia & Quiz Nuggets

• “Hariyalo Rajasthan – Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam” aims for 25 crore trees in 30 days.
• Teachers required to plant 15 saplings/day; older students 15, younger ones 10.
• Mandatory digital logging includes digging sites and uploading plantation photos.
• Rajasthan Shikshak Sangh highlights the irony of teachers digging pits instead of teaching.
• An environmentalist labeled the drive “arbitrary” and primarily political.

Conclusion

While afforestation is a critical need, Rajasthan’s ambitious school-based drive raises serious questions about execution, accountability, and educational impact. Without practical support—space, funding, sapling supply, and realistic timelines—the initiative risks disappointing both environmental goals and educators’ trust.

Source: Theprint