Assam marked Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s 76th birthday on September 17 with tree plantation and service-oriented activities across the state.
The state’s Environment, Forest and Climate Change Minister Jayanta Mallabaruah attended the foundation-laying ceremony of the Janmadin Seuj Shapat Udyan, or Birthday Green Pledge Garden, at Lokhra Kona in the Garbhanga Reserve Forest.
The initiative encourages people to plant saplings on their birthdays and take responsibility for nurturing them. The state plans to establish one such garden in every Assembly constituency.
The programme links personal celebrations with environmental activities. It aims to encourage citizens to mark important occasions by contributing to tree plantation and conservation.
Green Pledge Garden Planned in Every Constituency
The Assam Forest Department introduced the Janmadin Seuj Shapat Udyan initiative in July 2026.
The programme plans to establish a Birthday Green Pledge Garden in each of Assam’s 126 Assembly constituencies. These gardens will provide dedicated spaces where people can plant trees on their birthdays.
The initiative began at Topatoli in Sonapur under the Dimoria Assembly constituency. Two-year-old Bhaswika Talukdar became one of the first participants when she planted a sapling on her birthday during the launch programme.
The Forest Department will maintain the gardens and support the survival of the planted trees. Officials also want the programme to create a stronger connection between people and the trees they plant.
Jalukbari Garden Launched at Garbhanga
The September 17 programme focused on the Birthday Green Pledge Garden planned for the Jalukbari Legislative Assembly Constituency.
Mallabaruah attended the foundation-laying ceremony at Lokhra Kona, located within the Garbhanga Reserve Forest. He called for collective efforts to protect Assam’s environment and biodiversity.
The event formed part of the activities organised in Assam to mark the Prime Minister’s birthday. The programme also included tree plantation activities and other service-oriented initiatives.
The choice of Garbhanga Reserve Forest also highlighted the importance of protecting the state’s forest ecosystems. Garbhanga forms part of the green landscape around Guwahati and supports a range of plant and animal species.
Turning Birthdays Into Tree Plantation Events
The central idea behind the initiative is simple. Instead of limiting birthdays to personal celebrations, residents can use the occasion to plant a tree.
Participants can then take a pledge to protect and nurture the sapling. This approach aims to create a long-term connection between individuals and the trees they plant.
The initiative seeks to promote environmental responsibility through a simple and repeatable activity. A birthday tree can also become a lasting reminder of a particular year or milestone in a person’s life.
The government hopes that wider participation will gradually increase the number of trees planted and cared for across the state.
First Launch Took Place in Sonapur
The state-level initiative formally began in July at Topatoli in Sonapur. Environment, Forest and Climate Change Minister Jayanta Mallabaruah inaugurated the programme.
The launch took place in the Dimoria Legislative Assembly Constituency in Kamrup Metropolitan district. Bhaswika Talukdar, who turned two, planted the first sapling during the ceremony.
Officials described the initiative as a statewide environmental programme. It seeks to establish one Birthday Green Pledge Garden in each of the state’s 126 Assembly constituencies.
The government expects these gardens to become community spaces for birthday-related tree plantation. They can also support greater public participation in environmental conservation.
Forest Department to Maintain the Gardens
A key feature of the programme involves the long-term care of planted saplings.
The Forest Department has said it will maintain the gardens and work to ensure that the trees survive. This addresses an important part of plantation drives because planting alone does not guarantee the growth of trees.
Regular care, protection from damage and appropriate maintenance can help young saplings survive and develop.
The department’s involvement also provides an institutional structure for the initiative. Individual participants can plant trees while the designated gardens receive continued attention from forest authorities.
Focus on Assam’s Environment and Biodiversity
Assam has extensive forest areas and diverse ecosystems. The state is also home to several important wildlife habitats.
The Birthday Green Pledge Garden initiative adds another community-based approach to environmental awareness. It encourages residents to take part directly rather than limiting conservation activities to government agencies.
Mallabaruah has called for collective action to protect Assam’s environment and the biodiversity of areas such as Garbhanga.
The programme also gives children and young people an opportunity to participate in environmental activities from an early age.
Linking Personal Milestones With Conservation
The initiative attempts to make environmental action part of everyday social activities.
Birthdays occur throughout the year, which means tree plantation can continue across different seasons and locations. Each participant can contribute to the programme through a personal commitment to plant and nurture a sapling.
The idea also creates an opportunity for families to participate together. Parents can involve children in planting activities and help them understand the importance of caring for trees.
Schools, community groups and local organisations could also use the gardens for environmental awareness activities.
Programme Expands Across 126 Assembly Constituencies
The planned expansion across all 126 Assembly constituencies gives the initiative a statewide reach.
The government first launched the programme in Dimoria before extending the concept to other constituencies. The Jalukbari event at Garbhanga Reserve Forest represents another step in that expansion.
Each garden can provide a designated location for people to plant trees during birthdays. Over time, these gardens could develop into community green spaces.
The success of the initiative will depend on participation and the survival of the planted trees. Continued maintenance will remain important as more gardens become operational.
A Birthday Pledge for a Greener Assam
Assam’s Birthday Green Pledge Garden initiative combines personal celebrations with environmental responsibility.
The programme encourages citizens to plant a sapling on their birthdays and make a commitment to care for it. The government plans to create one such garden in every Assembly constituency.
The foundation-laying ceremony at Garbhanga Reserve Forest on September 17 brought the initiative into focus during the Prime Minister’s birthday celebrations in Assam.
With 126 gardens planned across the state, the programme aims to encourage more people to participate in tree plantation and develop a lasting habit of caring for the environment.