Planter of hope, prosperity

Ashima Sehajpal Batish 

Why do people take up social work? It is impressive in lengthy CVs and sounds good at social gatherings. Social responsibility when suffixed to ‘corporate’ often makes for a fine PR strategy. A penny donated is marketed as an empire bequeathed to charity. Also, what an elected mass leader ought to do as his duty is promoted as a ‘gift’ to public.

Amidst all this, how do you contain the cynic in you? Hope comes from unexpected quarters. The story of 17-year-old Jai Chand, a resident of Bhangadi village of Sirmaur district, imparts a lesson or two in selfless work for environment and, in turn, for society. Three years back, Jai Chand began planting trees, without any lure, without any expectations of any appreciation. “I wanted to celebrate Environment Day in practice and not in theory.”  And we aren’t talking of one or two. From a couple of trees to 10 to a hundred and now 250, Jai Chand led by example, with his schoolmates in tow. 

This year in July, he was awarded the Environment Leadership Award by the Himachal Pradesh Government for his contribution to environment. This makes him the state’s youngest awardee. “My nomination for the award was a fluke. I was tuned into radio, Akashwani centre, Shimla, when the announcement for application for award was made.” Next, he wrote a letter to the department concerned, without telling anybody. “It was a casually drafted application, in which I mentioned whatever little I had done for the environment.” 

His “little” contribution is exactly what needs to be replicated. The state has seen a massive deforestation. Forest fires have become an annual occurrence. Landslides, flash floods, rise in temperatures are threats for real. “The simplest solution to all environmental issues is planting trees or at least, that is alI I could do.” Deodar, apple and walnut trees now dot the area where he began his initiative. “While I bought apple and walnut saplings from the nursery, and deodar saplings were arranged from the grooves wherever I found them in the nearby areas.” 

Jai Chand is an inspiration for many in the nearby villages. He has visited three schools and delivered lectures on forestation and the importance of planting trees. His teacher, Surinder Pundir, who encouraged him to continue with the plantation drive, says that Jai Chand winning the award has started a chain reaction. “Students and grown-ups are motivated to give back to nature like never before.” 

What Jai Chand has single-handedly achieved is usually accomplished by concerted efforts of an NGO and its many volunteers. Or, at least, a demand for grants is floated before taking up a similar project. And that makes his achievement even more special. It makes him special too. His aim — to plant as many trees as possible, and to become a clerk. An appropriate answer from him would have been — an environmentalist, but then marketing doesn’t feature here. His simplicity and modesty give cynicism a good break.