03-07-2025
Panchayat urges beneficiaries of govt schemes to plant trees
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erhampur: Kaithakhandi gram panchayat in Ganjam district's Digapahandi block has urged all govt scheme beneficiaries to plant at least one tree in their localities this year.
The panchayat will provide free saplings to all beneficiaries, including ration card holders, subhadra beneficiaries, social security pension holders, Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY) and Kisan Samman Nidhi beneficiaries. The free sapling distribution is scheduled for July 15, coinciding with pension disbursement.
"While it is not mandatory, we consider it a civic obligation for beneficiaries to contribute to the panchayat's greenery.
We have passed a resolution and issued a public notice on Wednesday," said Manoranjan Gouda, sarpanch.
The panchayat, comprising 13 villages with a population of 13,000, has over 8,000 beneficiaries under various govt schemes. Building on previous years' success, whenaround 12,000 saplings were planted with a 40% survival rate, the panchayat aims to expand its green coverage. A notable project includes the development of a 12-hectare oxygen garden at Ghanasingh, where 10,000 saplings were planted last year.
"We plan to add another 5,000 trees this year, aiming to create the state's largest oxygen garden," Gouda said. The initiative's scope has widened with the addition of around 5,000 new beneficiaries under the Subhadra Yojana. The panchayat has also extended the plantation drive to school students, encouraging them to plant trees in their backyards. Beneficiaries are expected to care for their planted trees for three to four years to ensure proper growth and survival.
