back to blogA small village of 8,000 residents in India is taking a big initiative, leading by example for the rest of the world to see. In Piplantri village in the Rajsamand district of Rajasthan, India, the villagers plant 111 trees every time a girl is born, an initiative that began around a decade ago.
Together, the community maintains and nurtures these trees just like the girls that are born into them. In Indian culture, the number 111 is considered a guarantee of success, and that is what the village is planning for these girls. Every year, around 60 girls are born in Piplantri, according to Shyam Sundar Paliwal, the village's former sarpanch (decision maker). He led this initiative in the memory of his daughter Kiran, who had passed away.
In Indian culture, parents are reluctant to welcome daughters into the family. They are considered of less value than sons and are considered to be more of an expense, rather than an asset. Parents make an important pledge to their daughters. “Parents sign [a written statement] promising that they would not marry her off before the legal age [18], send her to school regularly, and take care of the trees planted in her name,” Paliwal told The Hindu.
The families and communities also start a fund for the baby girl that will mature in 20 years; just like her. Together, residents of the village and the girl’s parents contribute Rs. 31,000 (approx. $400 USD) for her adulthood.
The village has planted over 350,000 trees including mango, neem, sheesham, and amla. In addition, the village has planted over 500,000 aloe vera plants that act as a pesticide for the trees. These trees have become a source of livelihood for the village.
“Gradually, we realized that aloe vera could be processed and marketed in a variety of ways. So, we invited some experts and asked them to train our women. Now residents make and market aloe vera products like juice, gel, pickle, etc.,” explains Paliwal.
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