“SMRITIVAN” – PEOPLES PROGRAMME OF AFFORESTATION

            [  SMRITI VAN Programme  Click here for details ]

The Hon’ble Chief Minister Shri Pawan Chamling evolved the concept of Smritivan with a noble idea of “planting trees in memory of near and dear ones”. Smritivan is a mass voluntary effort to generate active involvement of the people in planting trees  in the drive for GREEN SIKKIM. The programme was launched by the Hon’ble Chief Minister Shri Pawan Chamling on the occasion of World Environment Day i.e. 5^th June 1999 at Bulbuley Smritivan  in East District which was followed in other districts. So far, 40 Smritivans have been created all over the state of which 35 are at Bulbuley in East Districts, Tagore Smritivan at Rinchenpong and Sakyong Smritivan in West District, Guru Padmasambhawa Srritivan at Tendong, Namchi, and Rabongla Smritivan in South Sikkim, and Yumthang Valley Smritivan in North Sikkim are some of them.

Over 60,000 seedlings have been planted under this programme till September 2002 in the state. This programme will be taken to the doorstep of the people and every panchayat unit in the state will be motivated to create Smritivan in every village/ revenue block.

Till   September   2002,   17 voluntary   organizations,  7   government   organizations,  3

Literary  organizations,  3  religious   associations,   3 schools,  2 trusts,  VIPs,    many  tourist

and a large   number  of  individuals  have  planted  51,800   seedlings   at Bulbuley  Smritiva in

East Sikkim. 2550 seedlings have been planted by NGOs, Panchayats and local people in Tagore Smritivan, Rinchenpong and 1550 seedlings at Sakyong Smritivan in West Sikkim. Local people, Border Roads Organisation and Army personnel have planted 550 seedlings at Yumthang Smritivan in North Sikkim. In South Sikkim, local people, NGOs and Panchayats, have planted 1000 seedlings at Guru Padmasambhawa Smritivan at Tendong, Namchi and 2500 seedlings at Rabongla Smritivan.