Shivraj plants sapling in Bhopal, calls for Hariyali Amavasya drive
Synopsis
Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan planted a sapling in Bhopal on 7 August as part of his daily #OnePlantADay pledge, and called on citizens to join a large-scale Hariyali Amavasya plantation drive on 12 August by giving a missed call to 8929629475.
Key Takeaways
Shivraj Singh Chouhan planted a tree in Bhopal on 7 August 2026 as part of his ongoing #OnePlantADay personal pledge.
He invited citizens to join a mass plantation drive on Hariyali Amavasya, 12 August 2026 .
Registration for the drive requires a missed call to 8929629475 .
Chouhan scaled up Hariyali Amavasya plantation campaigns during his four terms as Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh , institutionalising the Vriksharopan Abhiyan .
The drive connects to India's broader national climate commitments on forest-cover targets.
A daily vow, one sapling at a time. Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan planted a tree in Bhopal on Friday, 7 August 2026, continuing his personal #OnePlantADay pledge — and used the moment to mobilise citizens for a mass plantation drive on 12 August, Hariyali Amavasya.
The daily pledge and the bigger call
Chouhan shared the sapling-planting moment with his followers, writing: 'प्रतिदिन पौधरोपण के संकल्प के क्रम में आज भोपाल में पौधा रोपा' — 'In continuation of my resolve to plant a sapling every day, I planted one in Bhopal today.' He then invited citizens to join the upcoming large-scale plantation campaign on Hariyali Amavasya by giving a missed call to 8929629475.
Hariyali Amavasya: a ritual turned mass movement
Hariyali Amavasya — the new-moon day in the month of Shravan — carries a deep-rooted tradition of tree planting across central India, particularly in Madhya Pradesh. Chouhan, during his four terms as Chief Minister of the state, systematically scaled up the annual Vriksharopan Abhiyan (tree-plantation campaign) tied to this occasion, turning a folk ritual into a state-backed mobilisation event. The 12 August drive continues in that tradition, now amplified from his national platform as a Union Minister.
Personal symbolism, national climate context
India's forest-cover commitments under its national climate targets have made plantation drives a recurring feature of government communication — but the missed-call mobilisation model signals a grassroots outreach push beyond ceremonial optics. The survival rate and scale of participation from the 12 August drive will be the real measure of impact.
A politician planting one tree a day is a gesture. A million citizens answering a missed-call invite is a movement — and that is exactly what 12 August will test.
Point of View
Suggesting the campaign is designed for reach beyond urban social-media audiences. Whether the drive generates verifiable ecological outcomes — or remains a symbolic annual ritual — will define its long-term political and environmental credibility.
NationPress
7 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Hariyali Amavasya and why is tree planting associated with it?
Hariyali Amavasya is the new-moon day in the Hindu month of Shravan, traditionally observed in central India as an auspicious occasion for planting trees. The 'Hariyali' in its name means 'greenery', and the day has long been linked to folk rituals of sowing and planting. State governments, particularly in Madhya Pradesh, have formalised it into large-scale plantation campaigns.
How can I join the Hariyali Amavasya plantation drive on 12 August 2026?
Union Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan has asked citizens to give a missed call to 8929629475 to register for the mass plantation drive scheduled for 12 August 2026 .
What is the #OnePlantADay campaign by Shivraj Singh Chouhan?
#OnePlantADay is a personal pledge by Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan to plant at least one sapling every day, which he has been sharing publicly on social media to encourage citizens to follow suit.
Did Shivraj Singh Chouhan run tree plantation drives when he was Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh?
Yes. During his four terms as Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh, Chouhan organised annual Vriksharopan Abhiyan (tree-plantation campaigns) tied to Hariyali Amavasya, which were notably scaled up after 2016 and became a signature initiative of his state government.
Where did Shivraj Singh Chouhan plant the sapling on 7 August 2026?
He planted the sapling in Bhopal , the capital of Madhya Pradesh, as part of his daily #OnePlantADay pledge.
