Palanpur : Vruksh Mitra felicitated with the awards for their dedicated work towards tree plantation and its proper maintenance. Ahmedabad based non profit organisation Vicharta Samuday Samarthan Manch (VSSM) had planted trees at 21 different places in 2019-20 in the Banaskantha district. Such organization had appointed some villagers to take care of those trees and now when those trees have grown up, organization decided to felicitate such villagers and now they are called ‘Vrukh Mitra’ (A Friend of a tree). Out of these 21 places, the Vrukh Mitra of the place, who took good care of the trees and nurtured the trees properly were given first, second and third rank and they also felicitated with the certificate and cash prize of Rs. 51,000, Rs. 21,000 and Rs. 11,000 each. To felicitate the Vruksh Mitra, Collector of Banaskantha district Anand Patel were present and he handed over the certificates and cash prizes to the winners, who have done excellent work and Vrukh Mandli (Group of villagers) who have cooperated with them, were also felicitated.
Awards were given in the chronology of First, Second and Third. First prize was given to Vrukh Mitra of Gela village in Lakhani taluka, Karashanbhai Rajput (Bhagat), Second prize was given to Mohanbhai Wajir, a Vruksh Mitra of Makhanu village and third prize was given to two Vruksh Mitra Dharmabhai Tarak of Juna golvi village as well as Amarabhai Patel and Aratji Thakor of Soneth village.
It was very difficult for us to choose between the two, so, we finally decided to felicitate the Vruksh Mitra from two Villages. The purpose behind this felicitation is to make people aware of this work and to take care of all the trees. After the program, we felt that this intention came true. Those who haven’t received award this time has assured me that they will sure receive award next year on this stage.”
Mittal Patel, Founder Trustee, VSSM
The guest of honor Anand Patel, collector Banaskantha greeted all these Vrukh Mitras, who are the real protectors of nature and gave assurance to the people of the four villages to give two lakhs each from his official grant. “Trees balance the environment, but at the same time they are home to thousands of creatures, so the task of preserving them is huge,” he said.
Founder Trustee of VSSM Mittal Patel believes that every organization is incomplete without its helping hands and that is why, the helping hands of VSSM Naranbhai Rawal, Ishwarbhai Rawal and Bhagwanbhai Rawal, who rendered excellent service in the tree planting work of the organization’s Banaskantha team, were also honored with a certificate and a cash prize of Rs 11,000. All the villagers who were present their at the event were very enthusiastic and gave assurance to grow more and more trees and they are ready to make Banaskantha, a green district.
