Van Mahotsav 2025 celebrated across Chandel Hill Villages

As part of the 76th Van Mahotsav celebrations, a major plantation drive was conducted across four hill villages in Chandel district under the initiative of the Divisional Forest Officer (DFO), Chandel. The event, part of the state-wide “UmanggiKumhei” (Forest Festival), witnessed enthusiastic participation from local communities, with around 1,500 saplings of flowering, fruit-bearing, and decorative plants being planted.
Dr. N. Munal Meitei, DFO Chandel, informed that under this initiative, 14 out of 26 identified degraded areas in the district have already been rejuvenated with the plantation of over 32,000 saplings. He emphasized the alignment of the effort with the national campaign “Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam 2.0”, which encourages individuals to dedicate trees to their mothers and nurture them with the same love and care a mother bestows upon her child.
Highlighting the cultural significance, Dr. Munal explained the Meitei word for tree, “Uoo”, originates from the verb “to see”, symbolizing that trees are life-sustaining—”as long as we see them, we live; when they disappear, so will we.” He noted that the global community is increasingly realizing the critical role of trees in sustaining life and climate balance.
Concluding his remarks, Dr. Munal appealed to the public through the media to actively take part in the Van Mahotsav 2025 by planting and protecting trees, fostering an environment of peace, sustainability, and green consciousness.