Jharkhand’s ‘Rakhi model’ for tree conservation goes global

Jharkhand’s model of saving trees by tying sacred thread (Rakhi) has now become a global campaign. The unique model of the Jharkhand forest department was not only celebrated in Bihar, Haryana, Andhra Pradesh and other states in the country but forest lovers of England and South Africa also followed the drive and highly appreciated it.

Jharkhand forest department on the occasion of Rakshabandhan (August 11) tied Rakhis on trees in 1000 villages across the state in collaboration with local villagers for protection of trees. The programme was celebrated in Hazaribagh, Chatra, Ramgarh, Jamshedpur (East Singhbhum), West Singhbhum, Dhanbad and Bokaro.

Inspired by this concept of the Jharkhand forest department, Richard Steven, a resident of rural Norfolk, England followed the model by tying the sacred thread on trees and sharing its picture on social media.

In his comment,  which he sent to the officials of the Jharkhand forest department, Richard Steven wrote, “Inspired by your villages’ initiative to protect the forest, I decided to honour one nearest my home in rural Norfolk, England.”

A West African resident Henry David Bayoh, while highly appreciating the Jharkhand model of saving the tree, commented that “Certainly true. It also endures sustainability of tree through ownership by the local villagers.”

Sonika Kushwaha, a resident of Haryana also tied the sacred thread on a tree in her village and shared the picture with officials of the Jharkhand forest department. Several girl students in the group also followed the campaign in their respective states and uploaded the pictures on social media.

Additional Principal Chief Conservator of Forest (APCCF) Jharkhand Sanjiv Kumar admitted that he has received messages and pictures from forest lovers of different states and various countries over the adoption of the Jharkhand model of saving trees by tying threads. He said they appreciated the model and are pleased to follow it.

Sanjiv Kumar launched this unique model 17 years ago in Dhanbad with selective villagers in the village of Naxals-affected Tundi block on the occasion of Rakshabandhan in 2005. Attracted by the initiative and benefits of tree products, the villagers of other villages also began celebrating in the same way.

Later, the campaign became a mass movement in the forest villages of East Singhbhum, Bokaro, Hazaribagh, Chatra and others. On August 11, 2022, the forest department carried out the programme in 1000 villages.

“Appreciation of the Jharkhand model by forest lovers of the country and abroad encourages us to carry on the campaign in the interest of the environment,” said Sanjiv Kumar.