Shimla’s Setu Trust Calls for Treating Plants Like Family Members

When you hear the phrase “one plant in the name of family,” you might picture a symbolic gesture, but in Shimla it’s becoming a lived reality. The Setu Social Welfare Trust recently organized a plantation drive around Portmore Senior Secondary School under its catchy banner, Ek Paudha Kutumb Ke Naam – literally, one plant for the family.

Dr. Sadhna Thakur, the trust’s president, stood before a small crowd of volunteers and, with a gentle smile, reminded everyone that planting a sapling is only the first step. “It’s not just about putting a young tree into the ground,” she said, “it’s about caring for it day after day, just as you would for a child or an elderly parent.” Her words, simple yet earnest, struck a chord.

She went on to point out a familiar problem: many community drives end with a brief ceremony, then the saplings are left to fend for themselves. “We’ve all seen that,” she chuckled, “the sapling gets a pat on the back and then…nothing. That’s not enough.” The message was clear – ownership matters. If each person treats a plant like a family member, the collective impact could be huge.

Environmental concerns were woven into her talk. Rising pollution, dwindling green cover and erratic climate patterns are no longer abstract headlines; they affect everyday life. “We owe it to the next generation to protect what we have today,” Dr. Thakur insisted, urging residents to see every leaf as a promise to the future.

To seal the commitment, volunteers took an informal oath, promising to water, prune and guard their new green members. The ceremony felt part‑ritual, part‑promise, and the volunteers left with more than just a shovel – they carried a sense of duty.

What makes this drive different from countless others is the focus on sustained care. Rather than a one‑off event, the trust hopes this becomes a grassroots movement, spilling over from the school grounds into every courtyard and balcony across Shimla. “If each of us looks after just one plant, imagine the forest we could grow together,” she concluded, eyes bright with optimism.

In the weeks to come, the saplings will sprout, and with them, a tangible reminder that a community can indeed nurture nature as tenderly as it does its own kin.