Sindewahi launches swastik pattern tree planting scheme, plan for 825 gram panchayats

A demonstration programme for swastik pattern tree planting was launched on September 25 at the Gramsevak Training Centre in Sindewahi, Chandrapur district. It combines the Vikasit Bharat Rozgar Aur Ajeevika Hami Abhiyan, or VBG Ram-Ji, the Gramsevak Training Centre and various other schemes. District Collector Vasumana Pant and Zilla Parishad Chief Executive Officer Pulkit Singh inaugurated the programme by planting a tree.

District Collector Vasumana Pant said this pattern allows more trees to be planted in less space, saves water and expands green cover. She said Kesar mango orchards would also give gram panchayats their own source of income going forward. In the first phase, the model will be implemented in 100 gram panchayats.

The site was chosen because the training centre at Sindewahi regularly trains gram panchayat officers, extension officers and sarpanches from Chandrapur, Gadchiroli, Bhandara and Gondia districts, allowing trainees from all four districts to learn about the swastik pattern planting method directly and helping the approach reach more people.

According to Collector Pant, following this district-level demonstration, the plan for next month is to plant trees in the swastik pattern in 50 gram panchayats affected by mining areas, and to take up Kesar mango cultivation on a trial basis in another 50 gram panchayats. The aim is to create employment opportunities in villages while protecting the environment, expanding green cover and promoting sustainable development.

Chief Executive Officer Pulkit Singh said that after this pilot project, there are plans to extend tree planting to 825 gram panchayats across the district. Kesar variety mangoes are being planted to make gram panchayats financially stronger. Once the fruit is ready, income from its sale will let gram panchayats fund village roads, street lighting, water supply, schools and other development work, making them self-reliant.

A.S. Nathan, known as the Oxygen Man, offered guidance at the event. He said swastik pattern tree planting is not just a planting programme but a combination of linking various schemes, creating employment, protecting the environment and promoting sustainable development. He called it not tree planting but a "tree revolution".

After the programme, District Collector Vasumana Pant and Chief Executive Officer Pulkit Singh visited the Gramsevak Training Centre. They also visited Zilla Parishad primary schools at Antargaon and Gadmoushi to review the arrangements there.

The programme was inaugurated by Girish Dhaygude, principal of the Gramsevak Training Centre and Deputy District Programme Coordinator. Also present were Deputy Collector (Rohyo) Shubham Dandekar, Divisional Forest Officer Bapu Yede, Dr. Sonali Dupte, senior scientist at Krishi Vigyan Kendra Sindewahi, in-charge Group Development Officer Vibhavari Titre, Laxmi Kumre, Agriculture Officer Mahesh Watti, Chandrakant Dalal, Bandu Guntiwar, Thamdeo Agde, Pyarelal Devgade, Om Chanfane and several staff members of the training centre. Laxminarayan Dodke proposed the vote of thanks.