Shivraj plants sapling daily, invites all to Aug 12 Hariyali Amavasya drive
Synopsis
Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan continued his daily tree-planting vow at Bhopal's Smart City Park on 2 August 2026, joined by BJYM Madhya Pradesh's former state vice-president on his birthday. Chouhan has also invited citizens to a mass plantation drive on 12 August, Hariyali Amavasya, via a missed-call registration.
Key Takeaways
Shivraj Singh Chouhan planted a sapling at Smart City Park, Bhopal on 2 August 2026 as part of his daily #OnePlantADay commitment.
Ranjit Singh Chouhan , former state vice-president of BJYM Madhya Pradesh , joined the event on his birthday.
A mass plantation drive is planned for 12 August 2026 to coincide with Hariyali Amavasya .
Citizens can register participation with a missed call to 8929629475 .
India's tree-planting season is anchored by the monsoon window and the Van Mahotsav tradition dating to 1950 .
Every single day, rain or shine, Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan plants a tree. On Sunday, 2 August 2026, he carried that pledge to Smart City Park in Bhopal, joining nature enthusiasts for his latest sapling under the #OnePlantADay campaign — and turned the occasion into a birthday celebration too.
Chouhan was joined by Ranjit Singh Chouhan, former state vice-president of the Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha (BJYM), Madhya Pradesh, who chose to mark his birthday by planting a sapling alongside the minister. 'प्रिय रंजीत को जन्मदिन की ढेर सारी शुभकामनाएं' ('Many birthday wishes to dear Ranjit'), Chouhan wrote, weaving a personal moment into what has become a daily public ritual.
A daily vow, and a bigger drive on the horizon
The minister used the post to amplify a larger call to action: a mass plantation campaign on 12 August 2026, timed to coincide with Hariyali Amavasya — the monsoon-season observance across northern and central India traditionally linked to greenery and tree planting. Citizens can register participation with a missed call to 8929629475.
Hariyali Amavasya has long served as a cultural anchor for afforestation pushes in the region. The monsoon window — when soil moisture gives saplings the best chance of survival — is also the season when India's political calendar fills with tree-planting events. The tradition has institutional roots stretching back to Van Mahotsav, the national afforestation festival launched in 1950.
Madhya Pradesh's plantation politics — and Chouhan's personal stamp
For Chouhan, now stewarding agriculture and rural development at the Centre after four terms as Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh, tree-planting is a signature act. BJP administrations in the state have repeatedly used mass plantation drives as visible proof of environmental commitment. The #OnePlantADay frame takes that tradition and makes it personal — a daily, documented discipline rather than a one-off monsoon spectacle.
Whether the 12 August campaign translates into verified numbers on the ground remains to be watched. But the missed-call mechanism — low-friction, accessible even on basic phones — signals an intent to pull in participation well beyond the party faithful.
Point of View
Photo-op plantation event into a daily, documented discipline that travels on social media year-round. For a senior BJP leader now operating at the Centre rather than as a state chief minister, it serves as a visible continuity thread with his Madhya Pradesh identity. The 12 August Hariyali Amavasya drive, with its missed-call registration, is a test of whether that digital-to-ground conversion holds beyond the party base.
NationPress
2 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Shivraj Singh Chouhan's #OnePlantADay campaign?
It is a personal pledge by Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan to plant at least one sapling every day, which he documents publicly on social media to encourage citizens to follow suit.
What is Hariyali Amavasya and why is it linked to tree planting?
Hariyali Amavasya is a traditional observance in northern and central India that falls during the monsoon season and is culturally associated with greenery and afforestation. In 2026 it falls on 12 August .
How can I join the 12 August 2026 plantation drive announced by Shivraj Chouhan?
Give a missed call to 8929629475 to register your participation in the mass plantation campaign planned for Hariyali Amavasya, 12 August 2026 .
Who is Ranjit Singh Chouhan of BJYM Madhya Pradesh?
Ranjit Singh Chouhan is the former state vice-president of the Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha (BJYM), Madhya Pradesh , the youth wing of the BJP. He joined Minister Chouhan at the Bhopal sapling event on his birthday.
Where did Shivraj Singh Chouhan plant a sapling on 2 August 2026?
He planted a sapling at Smart City Park in Bhopal , joined by nature enthusiasts and BJYM leader Ranjit Singh Chouhan.
