By SAY2U 
STEP 1: THE BEGINNING
On the morning of June 10, 2019, a national news channel reported that the temperature at Delhi’s Palam Airport was expected to soar around 50°C. This news took me down memory lane, reminding me of the days spent in my village. Scenes of summer afternoons flashed through my mind like a movie—scorching heat often imposed an unofficial curfew from noon to 4 PM in the fields. Farmers and laborers would retreat to their homes, abiding by what seemed like a natural “Section 144” imposed by the sun without the need for any police intervention. Mothers shielded their children from the sweltering heat, and although temperatures may not have reached 50°C back then, the thought of rising heat disturbed me deeply.
I began to worry about how much productivity this “temperature curfew” would claim and the increasing expenses for combating heat.
As these thoughts occupied my mind, I reached my office in the tehsil of Naugawan Sadat in Amroha district around 2 PM. Two individuals brought in under Section 151 of the CrPC for breaching the peace were presented before me. Watching their heated arguments sparked an idea in my mind: just as the Earth’s rising temperature needed to be reduced, so did the rising tempers of people. I realized that while people’s tempers could be calmed through constructive work, the Earth’s temperature could be addressed by planting trees.
With the support and encouragement of the respected District Magistrate of Amroha, Shri Umesh Kumar Mishra, I initiated a unique program. I instructed the accused individuals to plant five trees each at their own expense, while their guarantors would plant one tree each. They took an oath, signed a register kept in the office, and committed to submitting photographs of the planted trees on the next date. The accused and guarantors were given the freedom to plant fruit-bearing or shade-providing trees at their homes, cattle sheds, or fields. If space was unavailable, they were to plant trees on public land, roadsides, or locations identified by the revenue officer. Their mobile numbers were also recorded in a register to monitor the planted trees over time.
This initiative, termed Green Bail Bond, started during my tenure in Naugawan Sadat tehsil and continued even after my transfer to Dhanaura tehsil. Inspired by this effort, visitors to the tehsil office also began planting trees at their own expense. To date, more than 20,000 trees have been planted under this initiative without incurring any government expenditure, solely through public cooperation.
STEP 2: PUBLICITY AND INSPIRATION
When media coverage—both print and electronic—highlighted the Green Bail Bond initiative where accused individuals were made responsible for planting five trees, and their guarantors one tree each, others in the area became interested in tree plantation.
To garner contributions from tehsil residents, the walls of tehsil offices and meeting halls were adorned with slogans and paintings on tree plantation and water conservation. The wall paintings attracted visitors, who began taking selfies with the artwork and sharing them on social media. Inspired by these posts, many people discussed tree plantation and water conservation in their villages, motivating others to participate.
For instance, on June 23, 2019, residents of Basta Pur village planted 100 trees and resolved to make this an annual event. Encouraged by this public-spirited initiative, people began voluntarily visiting the tehsil office, expressing their desire to participate in tree plantation and water conservation efforts. A register was maintained to document their names, addresses, mobile numbers, and the number of trees they planted. Those who pledged to plant more than five trees received personal visits from me to assist with plantation efforts.
STEP 3: EXPANDING THE INITIATIVE
The Green Bail Bond initiative not only inspired the accused and their guarantors to plant trees but also encouraged the general public to join in. The tehsil office became a hub for promoting tree plantation and water conservation. Realizing the potential for greater impact, I decided to propagate this effort at the village level by involving community leaders who were willing to contribute to society.
A database of socially active individuals was created, identifying 1,000 people in Naugawan Sadat tehsil who were then named Environmental Guards. These individuals were first assigned the responsibility of planting trees at their own expense. Subsequently, they were involved in awareness campaigns on tree plantation and environmental conservation, awakening public consciousness and encouraging even the common man to take tree plantation and water conservation seriously.
STEP 4: RALLIES AND PUBLIC MEETINGS
As the campaign gained momentum, demand for rallies and public meetings on tree plantation and water conservation grew at the village level. The first such rally and meeting were organized in khand Sal Kalan village in Naugawan Sadat tehsil.
The event began with a discussion at the village Gurudwara, where residents expressed concerns about the misuse of water due to the increasing use of submersible pumps. Unlike hand pumps, which dispensed limited quantities of water for specific uses, submersible pumps led to excessive water wastage, whether for bathing, washing clothes, or watering animals. This over-extraction was depleting groundwater levels.
The villagers resolved to confront individuals wasting water and to persistently counsel them until they stopped. Following the meeting, a public awareness rally was organized with school children and villagers, spreading the message through loudspeakers on tractors. The rally had an immediate impact, with feedback the very next day indicating that people had started curbing water wastage. Inspired by media coverage, other villages also organized similar rallies. Schools and colleges joined the movement, with principals and managers requesting programs to educate students about tree plantation and water conservation.
In one instance, the management of Mateshwari Kanya Vidyapeeth in Chakarasi village organized a meeting for students from 35 nearby villages. After the discussion, it was decided that each student would carry a diary to their village, documenting details of those who planted trees, including their names and phone numbers.
STEP 5: LEVERAGING PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM DEALERS
Under the government’s ration distribution system, dealers directly interact with 80% of a village’s population. Recognizing their potential as community influencers, I engaged them in the campaign. A meeting was held with ration dealers, where it was decided that each dealer would maintain a Tree Plantation and Water Conservation Register. They would educate their customers about the importance of these efforts, have them take an oath, and record their signatures or thumb impressions.
This initiative, implemented in Naugawan Sadat and Dhanaura tehsils, not only improved the environment but also strengthened relationships between dealers and consumers, leading to more ethical business practices and a significant reduction in complaints.
STEP 6: TREE PROTECTION BOND (RAKSHA BANDHAN FOR TREES)
The Uttar Pradesh government had set a target of planting 22 crore trees on August 9, with over three lakh trees assigned to Naugawan Sadat tehsil. Realizing the challenge of maintaining such a large number of trees, I devised the idea of Tree Protection Bonds. Villagers and Environmental Guards were asked to tie protective threads (rakhi) on five trees near their homes or fields, symbolizing their commitment to nurture and protect them.
In Kuda Mafi village, a large-scale awareness campaign led to villagers adopting five trees each. Laborers like Shripal and Ramkumar pledged to protect 700 trees, inspiring many others to join the movement.
STEP 7: INSTITUTIONALIZING ENVIRONMENTAL AWARENESS
After my transfer to Dhanaura tehsil, the environmental campaign continued. A new step was introduced at the SDM office: visitors were required to take an oath to plant trees and conserve water before entering. This initiative gained widespread attention when the local MLA, Shri Rajeev Tarara, publicly took the oath.
STEP 7+1: PAPERLESS COMPLAINT RESOLUTION
Frequent complaints about ration card units and supply chain inefficiencies highlighted the need for a streamlined system. A register was introduced to log complaints without paperwork, and complaints were sent via WhatsApp to the relevant operators, ensuring prompt resolution. This paperless system resolved over 13,000 complaints, saving approximately 26,000 sheets of paper and contributing to environmental conservation.
2: GRAM PANCHAYAT GRIEVANCE REGISTER
To address complaints at the village level, Gram Panchayat Grievance Registers were introduced. Villagers could log complaints without needing formal applications, saving both time and money. This initiative streamlined problem resolution, involved local officials, and minimized paper usage, reducing tree felling and contributing to environmental improvement.