When it comes to environment protection, women empowerment and employment generation, Rajasthan's Piplantri village has been leading the way in a unique manner.
At a time when stringent legal provisions have failed to check female foeticide and infanticide in the country, a man’s single-handed mission in Rajsamand district's Piplantri village has set an example of incredible change.
The village never welcomed the birth of a girl child. Female foeticide and infanticide were not unusual due to the vicious dowry system rampant in the village.
Then in 2007, the then Sarpanch of Piplantri Shyam Sundar Paliwal lost his 18-year-old daughter Kiran to dehydration and heat stroke.
Paliwal's personal tragedy led him to reflect on how to save the girl child and, consequently, the environment. He then planted a tree in Kiran's memory.
Seeing the support and emotions of other villagers at that time, Paliwal asked each family to plant 111 trees on the birth of a girl child. The birth of a daughter which was once considered misfortune became an occasion for celebration.
Significantly, as many as 350,000 trees have so far been planted.
The village 'panchayat' (local administration) looks after these plants so that no effort of the local people goes waste. Several women and self-help groups look after the maintenance on regular basis.
“The women are making products from Aloe Vera which are then sold in the market. The women are becoming independent. When they become independent, they provide better education to their children. Thousands of girls and women are benefitting from this”, Paliwal emphasised.
Many village panchayats are now following Paliwal's footsteps and replicating the idea in their area.
Every year on the festival of 'Raksha Bandhan', a 'rakhi' (wrist band) is tied to the trees as a symbol of "brotherhood" with nature.
“I treat trees as my brothers because they were planted by my parents when I was born. They help keep the environment pollution free. They give us wood and fruits”, class 10 student Komal Paliwal said.
Besides tree plantation, a fixed bank deposit of Rs 31,000 is created with a contribution of Rs 20,000 by a Trust owned by Shyam Sundar Paliwal. The money, meant for girl’s education and marriage, is withdrawable only when she turns 18.
“I have two daughters. I was happy when my daughter gave birth to a girl child. For me, goddess Laxmi had arrived in my house. A fixed deposit was made at the time of her birth. Our daughters are our pride, not burden”, villager Sosar Devi said.
There is no stopping to Paliwal's unique work and now he wants the whole earth to turn green.
"Today there are 3,50,000 trees in Piplantri giving employment to people. When so many trees can be planted in Piplantri, I am sure it can be done in other parts of the country as well," Paliwal averred.
Even after she is gone, Shyam Sundar Paliwal's daughter Kiran standing tall with 3,50,000 trees in Piplantri
Beautiful
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