Gujarat CM launches 'Harit Ghar' campaign with 76,000 saplings on Modi's birthday eve
Synopsis
On the eve of PM Modi's 76th birthday, Gujarat CM Bhupendra Patel launched a kitchen garden campaign distributing 76,000 saplings across Ahmedabad — earning a Golden Book of Records certificate in the process. The event doubled as a platform to celebrate Modi's environmental legacy and Gujarat's economic transformation, with a month-long 'Seva Sankalp' drive set to begin on the Prime Minister's birthday.
Key Takeaways
Gujarat CM Bhupendra Patel launched the 'Harit Ghar – Swasth Samaj' campaign in Ahmedabad on 16 September 2026 , the eve of PM Modi's 76th birthday .
The campaign, organised by Vishwa Gujarati Samaj , distributed and planted 76,000 kitchen garden saplings.
The initiative received a World Record certificate from the Golden Book of Records .
A month-long 'Seva Sankalp' campaign will begin on PM Modi's birthday, 17 September .
Patel cited Gujarat's MSME growth from 1,85,000 small-scale units in 2001 to over 27 lakh MSMEs today, and noted 100 of the world's top 500 companies now operate in the state.
Three Gujaratis — Rangdatt Joshi , Vijay Dobariya , and Sohil Patel — were felicitated at the event.
Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel on Wednesday, 16 September launched the 'Harit Ghar – Swasth Samaj' (Green Home – Healthy Society) kitchen garden campaign in Ahmedabad, distributing and planting 76,000 saplings on the eve of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's 76th birthday. The initiative, organised by Vishwa Gujarati Samaj, received a World Record certificate from the Golden Book of Records for the scale of sapling distribution.
What the Campaign Involves
The campaign encourages residents to grow vegetables at home, with the stated aim of deepening public understanding of environmental conservation and sustainable living. Chief Minister Patel urged citizens to connect everyday habits — particularly food cultivation — with broader environmental responsibility.
'Prime Minister Narendra Modi has always been concerned about environmental protection along with development. The Harit Ghar – Swasth Samaj campaign of Vishwa Gujarati Samaj is a commendable effort in the same direction,' Patel said at the event.
Modi's Environmental Initiatives Cited
Patel highlighted a string of environmental programmes promoted by the Prime Minister, including Mission LiFE, the 'Catch the Rain' initiative, 'Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam' (One Tree in Mother's Name), and the push for natural farming — each of which, he said, had grown into people's movements rather than remaining government-led programmes.
Modi's Gujarat Legacy Highlighted
The Chief Minister also used the occasion to reflect on Prime Minister Modi's tenure as Gujarat's Chief Minister, noting that the state — which had faced scepticism about its development potential after separating from Maharashtra in 1960 — had since transformed its infrastructure across electricity, water supply, roads, and industry. Patel credited Modi's foresight for the rise of GIFT City as a global financial hub and the launch of the Vibrant Gujarat Global Summit, both of which originated during Modi's tenure as the state's chief minister.
According to Patel, the state today hosts 100 of the world's top 500 companies and has expanded its small business base from 1,85,000 small-scale industries in 2001 to more than 27 lakh micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) at present, providing employment to lakhs of people.
Seva Sankalp Campaign and Felicitations
Patel also announced that a month-long 'Seva Sankalp' (Service Pledge) campaign would commence on PM Modi's 76th birthday as part of the wider celebrations. Three Gujaratis — Rangdatt Joshi, Vijay Dobariya, and Sohil Patel — were felicitated by the Chief Minister for their contributions in different fields.
The event featured stalls from around 35 startups working in environmental protection, which Patel visited and encouraged. The initiative reflects a broader state-level push to align grassroots environmental action with the Centre's sustainability messaging ahead of the Prime Minister's birthday.
Point of View
And Gujarat has been its most consistent practitioner. The Golden Book of Records citation adds a performative dimension that underscores the event's dual purpose. What is less visible is whether a one-day sapling distribution translates into sustained urban greening — past such drives in India have shown patchy follow-through without a maintenance and monitoring framework.
NationPress
17 Sept 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the 'Harit Ghar – Swasth Samaj' campaign launched in Gujarat?
'Harit Ghar – Swasth Samaj', meaning Green Home – Healthy Society, is a kitchen garden initiative organised by Vishwa Gujarati Samaj that distributed and planted 76,000 saplings in Ahmedabad on 16 September 2026. The campaign encourages residents to grow vegetables at home as a step toward environmental awareness and healthier living.
Why was the campaign launched on 16 September 2026?
The campaign was timed to coincide with the eve of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's 76th birthday on 17 September, as part of broader birthday-week celebrations in Gujarat. The event also marks the launch of a month-long 'Seva Sankalp' campaign beginning on the Prime Minister's birthday.
What record did the kitchen garden drive set?
The distribution of 76,000 kitchen garden saplings earned the initiative a World Record certificate from the Golden Book of Records. The record recognises the scale of the single-day sapling distribution drive.
What is the 'Seva Sankalp' campaign mentioned at the event?
'Seva Sankalp', or Service Pledge, is a month-long campaign set to begin on PM Modi's 76th birthday on 17 September. Gujarat CM Bhupendra Patel announced it at the Harit Ghar event and called on citizens to pledge their efforts toward building a developed Gujarat and, by extension, a developed India.
How has Gujarat's business landscape changed since PM Modi's tenure as Chief Minister?
According to CM Patel, Gujarat had 1,85,000 small-scale industries in 2001 and now hosts more than 27 lakh MSMEs, employing lakhs of people. Patel also said 100 of the world's top 500 companies currently operate in Gujarat, citing PM Modi's tenure as Chief Minister as foundational to this growth.
