Lucknow: More than 18,000 people came together across schools and villages in Uttar Pradesh to participate in Educate Girls’ Mega Plantation Drive 2026, marking India’s 80th Independence Day. The campaign saw participants plant over 10,000 saplings across several districts of the state.
The plantation drive was organised in Badaun, Hardoi, Farrukhabad, Shahjahanpur, Sitapur, Barabanki, Banda, Gonda, Balrampur, Prayagraj and Fatehpur, among other districts. Plantation activities were conducted at primary and upper-primary schools as well as within rural communities.
Students, teachers, school staff, gram pradhans, gram panchayat representatives, Anganwadi workers, parents, government officials, Forest Department personnel, Team Balika volunteers and members of Educate Girls participated in the initiative.
Along with planting saplings, participants pledged to ensure their regular care and survival. The campaign aimed to raise awareness about environmental conservation while encouraging children and communities to actively contribute towards creating cleaner, greener and safer surroundings.
Government and Community Representatives Participate
In Sitapur’s Maholi Range, Forest Range Officer Kalpeshwar Nath, along with other Forest Department officials, participated in plantation activities at the primary and upper-primary schools in Gulriha.
“Plantation is an important step towards environmental conservation. The participation of children and communities makes such initiatives more effective. The true success of the campaign will depend on ensuring regular care of the saplings that have been planted,” Nath said.
He also appreciated the opportunity to work with Educate Girls and local communities in the district.
Nitin Kumar Jha, State Operations Head, Educate Girls, said planting trees was an important step in addressing climate change, but awareness and education were equally essential.
“Through this campaign, we want children and communities to participate directly in protecting their environment while also creating greater awareness about girls’ education,” Jha said.
Team Balika volunteer Bharti Sonkar said planting a sapling was not merely about making the immediate surroundings greener, but also represented a responsibility towards the future. She said the campaign was encouraging communities to think about environmental conservation and climate change.
Schools Become Centres of Community Participation
Schools emerged as important centres of community participation across several districts, bringing together students, teachers, Team Balika volunteers and local residents for plantation activities.
In Shahjahanpur, a gram pradhan planted saplings at a primary school alongside students, teachers and Anganwadi workers and encouraged the community to contribute to environmental conservation. Teacher Viresh Kumar also recognised the contribution of Team Balika volunteers towards girls’ education and community participation and presented them with certificates of appreciation.
Speaking about girls’ education and equal opportunities, the gram pradhan said, “We cannot progress by leaving half of our population behind. We have taken only a few steps forward and there is still a long journey ahead.”
Aanchal, a student from Baberu block in Banda district, shared her experience after participating in the campaign. “We planted saplings at our school today and felt very happy. Now we will water them every day and help them grow. Our school will look even more beautiful and green,” she said.
At the conclusion of the plantation drive, students, teachers and community members pledged to care for the saplings and encourage others in their villages to take part in environmental conservation.
The initiative combined environmental action with community participation, while using schools as platforms to promote awareness around sustainability, climate change and girls’ education.
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