Rajasthan CM launches drone seeding, targets 50 crore saplings under Mission Hariyalo
Synopsis
Rajasthan is betting on drone seeding, sandalwood corridors, and a 50-crore-sapling target to make Mission Hariyalo a national model — but with 20 crore already planted in two years, the real test is survival rates, not planting numbers.
Key Takeaways
Rajasthan CM Bhajan Lal Sharma launched the drone seeding process at the Van Mahotsav state-level event in Udaipur on 2 August .
Mission Hariyalo Rajasthan targets 50 crore saplings over five years ; nearly 20 crore planted in the first two years.
A ₹33 crore sandalwood forest project was inaugurated at Dudh Talai forest range , covering Udaipur, Sirohi, Banswara , and Pratapgarh in its first phase. ₹6 crore in livelihood incentive assistance disbursed to 600 self-help groups from 13 districts under the Rajasthan Forestry and Biodiversity Project.
Geo-tagging of saplings and community stewardship via Van Mitras and Vriksh Mitras are being used to improve sapling survival rates.
Namo Nurseries and Namo Vans are being set up at district and Panchayat Samiti levels to widen green cover.
Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma on Saturday, 2 August launched the drone seeding process and inaugurated a ₹33 crore sandalwood forest project at the Dudh Talai forest range in Udaipur, calling for a mass people's movement on tree plantation to counter accelerating climate change. The events were part of the state-level inauguration of Van Mahotsav, one of India's longest-running afforestation observances.
Mission Hariyalo Rajasthan: Targets and Progress
Chief Minister Sharma said the state government's Mission Hariyalo Rajasthan has set a target of planting 50 crore saplings over five years, of which nearly 20 crore have already been planted in the last two years. A further target of 10 crore saplings has been fixed for the current monsoon season alone.
To improve survival rates, the government is undertaking geo-tagging of saplings and their maintenance through Van Mitras and Vriksh Mitras. The state is also developing Namo Nurseries at every district headquarters and Namo Vans at the Panchayat Samiti level to deepen community participation.
The Sandalwood Project and Livelihood Push
The Chief Minister inaugurated the ₹33 crore sandalwood forest project at Dudh Talai by planting a sandalwood sapling. In its first phase, sandalwood forests will be developed across Udaipur, Sirohi, Banswara, and Pratapgarh — districts with ecological conditions suited to the species.
Sharma said the project is designed to simultaneously advance environmental conservation, rural livelihoods, biodiversity, and the green economy, and could serve as a replicable model for other states. He also handed over a symbolic cheque of ₹6 crore as livelihood incentive assistance to 600 self-help groups from 13 districts under the Rajasthan Forestry and Biodiversity Project.
National Campaigns and Federal Schemes
The Chief Minister highlighted the 'Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam' campaign, launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on World Environment Day, as having strengthened public awareness about environmental conservation. He also cited the Nagar Van Yojana, CAMPA Fund, Green India Mission, and the National Afforestation Programme as having given fresh momentum to conservation efforts nationally.
Sharma noted that Prime Minister Modi has been honoured with the UN Champions of the Earth Award for his contributions to environmental protection.
Cultural Roots and the Call to Action
Addressing the gathering, Chief Minister Sharma invoked the sacrifice of Amrita Devi Bishnoi, her three daughters, and 362 others who gave their lives to protect trees, calling it an 'unparalleled example of environmental conservation.' He also referenced the Skanda Purana, noting that Indian culture has long regarded nature as sacred — revering the Earth as a mother, rivers as goddesses, and trees as divine.
Sharma expressed encouragement at the growing trend of citizens planting trees to mark birthdays, anniversaries, and memorials, saying it signals that tree plantation is evolving into a social value beyond government programming. He urged all citizens to actively participate in Mission Hariyalo Rajasthan and plant trees during the ongoing monsoon season.
With drone seeding now operational and the sandalwood corridor taking shape, the state's green ambitions will be tested by how well saplings survive beyond the monsoon — a challenge that geo-tagging and community stewardship are intended to address.
Point of View
But sapling survival — not planting numbers — is where afforestation programmes most often fail. Geo-tagging and Van Mitra networks are steps in the right direction, yet their effectiveness depends on consistent monitoring funding that state forestry budgets historically struggle to sustain past the monsoon season. The sandalwood project is the more commercially interesting signal: linking forest conservation to rural income creates a constituency for protection that top-down campaigns rarely generate. Whether the Dudh Talai model scales beyond four districts will be the real measure of this initiative's depth.
NationPress
2 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Mission Hariyalo Rajasthan?
Mission Hariyalo Rajasthan is the Rajasthan government's flagship afforestation programme targeting the plantation of 50 crore saplings over five years. Nearly 20 crore saplings have already been planted in the first two years, with a further 10 crore targeted for the current monsoon season.
What is the ₹33 crore sandalwood forest project launched in Udaipur?
The ₹33 crore sandalwood forest project, inaugurated at the Dudh Talai forest range in Udaipur, aims to develop sandalwood forests across Udaipur, Sirohi, Banswara, and Pratapgarh in its first phase. Chief Minister Sharma said it is designed to advance environmental conservation while creating rural livelihood opportunities and promoting the green economy.
How is drone seeding being used in Rajasthan's tree plantation drive?
Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma formally launched the drone seeding process at the Van Mahotsav event on 2 August in Udaipur. Drone seeding allows seeds to be dispersed across difficult or large terrain faster than manual methods, complementing the state's broader afforestation targets under Mission Hariyalo Rajasthan.
Who are Van Mitras and Vriksh Mitras?
Van Mitras and Vriksh Mitras are community volunteers engaged by the Rajasthan government to maintain and monitor planted saplings. Their role is central to improving sapling survival rates, alongside geo-tagging technology that tracks the status of individual plants.
What financial support was provided to self-help groups at the Van Mahotsav event?
Chief Minister Sharma handed over a symbolic cheque of ₹6 crore as livelihood incentive assistance to 600 self-help groups from 13 districts under the Rajasthan Forestry and Biodiversity Project. The assistance is aimed at linking forest conservation with rural income generation.
