Trees are extremely important for preserving the fabric of the environment, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said at a programme on Vanmahotsav at the State Assembly premises today. She stressed on the usefulness of trees, for the fabric of the environment was coterminous with the fabric of our society, both existing in their multitude of variety yet essentially in a state of harmony.
Salient points of her speech:
- 50 lakh saplings will be distributed by the State Forest Department for planting across Bengal.
- The State Government is distributing saplings through the Sabujshree Scheme too, wherein a sapling is given to the mother of a child born in a Government facility. These are valuable trees, whose wood can be sold after the child attains 18 years of age to fund educational and other needs of the child.
- Without greenery there will be no life, no joy and laughter, and consequently, no peace and prosperity. Trees and plants are a salve for the eyes, and by extension, the mind.
- We never try to divide people, be it on the basis of religion or anything else. We believe humanity is one, people are one and the same everywhere.
- We abhor any form of artificially-created division. Thought, religion, language, colour of skin – these are points of difference for sure, but we are ultimately tied by the blood which flows in us, which has the same colour for every person.
- We, the people of our great country, have been taught about the essential unity of humanity through the words and works of people like Rabindranath Tagore, Mahatma Gandhi, Kazi Nazrul Islam, Netaji, BR Ambedkar, Matangini Hazra and Pritilata Waddedar, Birsa Munda, Raghunath Murmu, Maulana Abul Kalam Azad, APJ Abdul Kalam and many others.
- Rabindra Tagore had expressed in our national anthem, ‘Punjab Sindhu, Gujarat, Maratha, Dravida, Utkala, Banga’. We hail from different places and regions, we hail from different castes and creeds, but we are essentially the same.
- Unity in diversity is the fundamental thought behind our society.
- In a similar way, there are so many types of trees. But one is as much essential as the other, they live in harmony with each other. Respect trees as much we respect each other.
