Union Minister of Agriculture and Farmers' Welfare and Rural Development, Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan, launched the 'Vriksh Mitra Abhiyan' (Tree Friend Campaign) as a mass environmental movement during the 'Environment Protection Resolve Programme and Vriksh Mitra Samvad' held at Pusa Complex in New Delhi. The event connected approximately 17,000 'Vriksh Mitra' participants from across the country, with physical attendance from Padma Bhushan environmentalist Shri Anil Joshi, renowned doctor and social worker Dr. Anoop Hazela, Director General of Indian Council of Agricultural Research Dr. M.L. Jat, and hundreds of participants from various states, while thousands joined virtually.
The campaign establishes a concrete framework where every family is encouraged to plant trees on auspicious occasions such as birthdays, wedding anniversaries, children's births, and pious memories of parents, transforming these into 'Tree Festivals'. Each Vriksh Mitra must plant at least one tree annually and commit to connecting five new people to the campaign, with public announcements through social media posts to build a strong network by Hariyali Amavasya on August 12, 2026.
A structured organizational framework will be created through 'Vriksh Mitra Pariwar' committees at national, state, district, block, and village levels, with plans for formal registration. Designated plantation sites will be identified in panchayats and urban local bodies where all auspicious works and government schemes including Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana, Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana, Lakhpati Didi Yojana, and programs of Agriculture and Rural Development Departments will commence with tree planting ceremonies.
The campaign includes collective plantation and nature worship on Govardhan Puja, World Environment Day, and Hariyali Amavasya, with appeals for tree planting in wedding invitation cards and religious-social events. Public awareness will be driven through saints, social leaders, and social media influencers, supported by a separate logo and digital portal for the Vriksh Mitra Family to create a social environment where tree planting becomes a symbol of progress and prestige.
A massive nationwide plantation drive is scheduled for Hariyali Amavasya on August 12, 2026, which will be established as an annual 'Tree Festival' across the country. The Minister emphasized tree protection over mere planting, recommending that every panchayat identify 2-3 acres of land as 'Vriksh Mitra Sites' for regular plantation with collective responsibility for care, similarly implemented in urban local bodies.
The initiative connects environmental protection directly to agriculture and farmers' futures, addressing concerns about water availability, soil quality, and long-term field health through balanced use of resources, respect for soil bearing capacity, and expansion of sustainable farming practices. The campaign aligns with Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi's 'Mission LiFE (Lifestyle for Environment)', promoting energy conservation through LED lights, BLDC fans, energy efficient appliances, electric vehicles, and plastic-free living.
Environmentalist Shri Anil Joshi described the campaign as an inspiring long-term thought, noting that IIT scientists have begun scientific study of Shri Chouhan's environmental works using remote sensing and technical means to assess ground-level changes. Dr. Anoop Hazela emphasized the 'plant one tree, adopt one tree' approach, encouraging those in flats to adopt plants and care for them daily, while promoting 'Green Certification' for institutions to improve energy, water, waste, and plastic usage.