changeadminIn the 123rd episode of ‘Mann Ki Baat’, Prime Minister Narendra Modi appreciated the unique environmental initiative in Ahmedabad, Gujarat.
Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation has started the ‘Mission for Million Trees’ campaign with a target to plant lakhs of trees. A special aspect of this campaign is ‘Sindoor Van’.
On World Environment Day 2025, Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel launched the development of ‘Sindoor Van’ nature park in Chandlodia, Ahmedabad, by planting a Sindoor (Bixa orellana) sapling at the site.
The ‘Sindoor Van’ comprising 551 Sindoor trees is being developed in Chandlodia, in the western part of the city, in memory of the civilians who lost their lives in the terrorist attack in Pahalgam, as well as to honour the Indian armed forces during Operation Sindoor.
Indian Prime Minister commended the special gesture of planting Sindoor saplings to recognise the valour of the Indian armed forces and also promote greenery.
Sindoor Tree (Bixa orellana), also known as the Annatto tree, is a medium-sized tropical tree widely cultivated in parts of India. It’s known for its bright red seeds, which produce a natural dye called annatto.
The bright red dye from the seeds is traditionally used in India to make sindoor (vermilion), the red powder applied by married Hindu women along the parting of their hair (maang). Sindoor symbolises marital status, prosperity, and well-being of the husband in Hindu culture.
In Ayurveda and traditional medicine, seeds, leaves, and roots of the Sindoor tree are used to treat fever, infections, dysentery, and skin ailments.
Gujarat’s initiative is the first such effort in India to create a nature park with Sindoor trees, a low-maintenance tree that thrives in tropical climates, making it suitable for cultivation in the state.
In addition, the Prime Minister in his Mann Ki Baat address also applauded the contribution of Mr. Ramesh Kharmale of Pune, who has dug many small ponds and planted hundreds of trees.
An army veteran, Ramesh and his family are reviving the barren lands of Junnar hills, close to Pune, by clearing bushes, digging trenches to retain water and then sowing seeds. In addition, the family is also building an Oxygen Park, which attracts birds and wildlife.
Prime Minister also recounted a carbon-neutral village in Maharashtra, ‘Patoda’ in Chhatrapati Sambhaji Nagar district. In this village, people do not throw garbage outside their houses; instead, there is a complete system of waste collection from every household.
Further, dirty water is treated, and then clean water flows into the river. The last rites in the village are performed with cow dung cakes, and a tree is planted in the name of the deceased with that ash.
Prime Minister added, “When small habits become a collective resolve, a big change is certain.“
In the monthly address of ‘Mann Ki Baat’, Prime Minister Narendra Modi shares new thoughts, inspirations and achievements related to the country. At Change Started, we highlight environmental-related topics spoken in his radio broadcast.
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Mann Ki Baat, Episode 122. Read here
Mann Ki Baat, Episode 121. Read here
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