Senapati, the 1st July, 2025 (DIO- IPR): The Senapati district kicked off the Van Mahotsav Celebration, 2025 today on 1st July, 2025 under the theme "Ek Paudha Maa Ke Naam 2.0," in the presence of Soreiphy Vashum, IFS, Addl. Principal Chief Conservator of Forests, Government of Manipur, Mamoni Doley, IAS, Deputy Commissioner of Senapati, ML Kaisungbou, MPS, ADSP, Senapati and other district officials who later led the tree plantation in commemoration of the celebration.
Van Mahotsav meaning "Forest Festival," is an annual tree-planting festival in India, celebrated during the first week of July. It was initiated in 1950 by then Union Minister of Agriculture, Dr. K.M. Munshi, to promote afforestation and environmental awareness. The festival encourages the planting of trees to increase green cover, combat deforestation, and highlight the importance of trees for ecological balance and human well-being.
This year’s Theme: "Ek Paudha Maa Ke Naam 2.0," encourages citizens to plant a tree in the name of their mother, symbolizing the nurturing relationship between a mother and her child. The slogan for this year is “Plant a Tree, Secure Our Future” emphasizing the importance of tree planting for a better tomorrow.
The programme of today’s celebration was graced by Soreiphy Vashum, IFS, Addl. PCCF as the Chief Guest emphasized on the importance of conservation and encouraged all the participants to “Plant a tree, nurture it, and contribute to a greener tomorrow. She also appealed all the citizens of the district to join hands to make Van Mahotsav 2025 a success.
The Divisional Forest Officer of Senapati Shanngam S, IFS while delivering welcome address stated that the Divisional Forest Division of Senapati has taken up the initiative of road side plantation of avenue trees from DRDA Hall to Assam Riffle Camp- a stretch of 1 kilometer in commemoration with the 76th Van Mahotsav celebration 2025. He also stated that recycle bottle tree guards are used at the plantation providing benefits to young trees like protection from pests, moisture retention, and even potentially helping with water collection. He mentioned that multiple plantation activities of tree plant will continue on till next week across the district by the Beat Officers and Rangers while mobilizing the theme "Ek Paudha Maa Ke Naam 2.0," meaning Plant a tree, Honour your mother.
He also called upon the people Senapati to beautify their district and make environmental friend through the plantation of tree as the celebration commenced today.
As part of the celebration, a mass-scale tree plantation drives were carried out by Senapati Forest Division all over the district planting over 200 tree saplings for the day. The department will continue to plant 1 Lakh number of seedlings during the first week of July, 2025 while celebrating Van Mahotsav- Forest Festival in the district.
A total of 200 participants from various schools, colleges, DLOs, CSOs, Student bodies, police personnel, security personnel, Church leaders, Women societies, VDVK members, representatives of various banks of Senapati participated in the program.