SIKKIM — In the misty embrace of the eastern Himalayas, a quiet green revolution is taking firm root. Sikkim’s flagship environmental campaign, Mero Rukh Mero Santati (My Tree, My Child), has blossomed into a powerful community-driven movement, with 5,552 families now registered to plant 108 trees for every newborn child—a deeply symbolic act rooted in Indian tradition and ecological hope.
Launched by Chief Minister Prem Singh Tamang on February 2, 2023, at Gangtok’s Manan Kendra, the initiative is more than an afforestation scheme—it’s a living testament to the state’s cultural, spiritual, and environmental ethos. The number 108, considered sacred across various Indian religions, anchors the programme in spiritual reverence, transforming tree-planting into a rite of passage that celebrates life and nurtures the planet.
As the monsoon rains signal the start of the planting season, the campaign is poised to yield more than five lakh saplings across the state, laying the foundation for long-term ecological resilience. The Forest and Environment Department reports Namchi leading the initiative with 1,200 registrations, followed closely by Gangtok (1,050), Pakyong (900), Soreng (650), Mangan (400), and Gyalshing (352). The momentum extends deep into Sikkim’s rural heartlands, where villages and small towns are embracing the programme as a shared mission of generational impact.
“This is not just an environmental policy, it’s a social transformation,” said Pradeep Kumar, Secretary of the Forest and Environment Department. “From ASHA workers to gram panchayats, the whole ecosystem is engaged—from registering the birth to nurturing the saplings.”
The initiative’s holistic appeal has not gone unnoticed on the global stage. At COP28 in Dubai, a Sikkim delegation presented the campaign at the India Pavilion, earning praise from UN Secretary-General António Guterres and Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The campaign was hailed as a global model for community-led climate action and cultural sustainability.
Further anchoring its place in public consciousness, the first week of July will witness Santati Saptah, a statewide celebration of new life and green beginnings. Communities will gather to plant trees, tell stories, and pass down environmental values—making every sapling a symbol of both birth and rebirth.
As thousands of trees take root in backyards, hillsides, and fields, Mero Rukh Mero Santati is quietly proving that when tradition and environmental action intertwine, even a small state can inspire a global forest of change.