Raipur/ Bhopal July 16, 2026

Chhattisgarh has introduced an innovative 'Tree ATM' to encourage plantation and public participation in environmental conservation. The mobile initiative, launched by the Jashpur Forest Department, will distribute free saplings across different parts of the district while also educating people about scientific plantation and plant care.

Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai flagged off the mobile Tree ATM at the Bagia Helipad in Jashpur on Thursday. He also received an amla sapling from the Tree ATM and distributed plants among local residents. Calling it a unique initiative, the Chief Minister said the mobile Tree ATM would make saplings easily available to people in villages and towns. He said wider access to quality plants would encourage more families to participate in plantation drives and strengthen public involvement in protecting the environment.

"The sapling planted today will become the foundation of a safer future for coming generations," the Chief Minister said. He urged people not only to plant trees but also to care for them until they grow into mature trees.

The Tree ATM has been launched under Prime Minister Narendra Modi's nationwide 'Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam' campaign. Chief Minister Sai said the initiative has inspired large-scale plantation drives across Chhattisgarh. He described environmental conservation as the collective responsibility of every citizen and appealed to people to plant at least one tree in their mother's name.

Unlike a conventional ATM that dispenses cash, the Tree ATM will provide free saplings of different species to citizens. More importantly, every beneficiary will also receive guidance on the correct method of planting, watering, protecting and nurturing the sapling. The objective is not merely to increase plantation numbers but to improve the survival rate of trees.

The initiative carries the message "Today's Sapling, Tomorrow's Shade." Forest officials said the campaign focuses on creating long-term awareness rather than one-day plantation events. By taking saplings directly to communities, the department hopes to make tree plantation simple, accessible and participatory.

The launch comes at the onset of the monsoon, considered the most favourable season for plantation. With the mobile Tree ATM set to travel across Jashpur district, the Forest Department expects the initiative to reach a larger number of households and inspire greater public participation in building a greener Chhattisgarh.