A Beacon of Green CSR: Fostering Change Through Tree Plantation
NEW DELHI (India CSR): The 14th India CSR Leadership Summit, organized by India CSR, stood as a major platform for sharing innovative practices and impactful stories from the world of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR). This year’s theme, “Synergizing CSR: Empowering Communities,” highlighted the need for businesses to think beyond financial contributions, engaging in hands-on social, economic, and environmental changes.
A key figure at the event was the renowned environmentalist Peepal Baba (Swami Prem Parivartan), and founder of Give Me Trees Trust, who was invited as the Chief Guest. His powerful speech on community development, tree plantation, and nature conservation left a deep impression on all attendees.
CSR and the Call for Green Initiatives
The India CSR Leadership Summit 2024 held in New Delhi on August 22 at PHD House brought together policymakers, industry leaders, and CSR practitioners from across the country, offering a forum to discuss the intersection of CSR and sustainable development. Various discussions centered around integrating CSR initiatives into core business strategies, using technology for social impact, and aligning efforts with the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The need for a collective effort to address urgent social and environmental challenges was emphasized throughout the event.
Peepal Baba’s leadership speech provided a new dimension to the conversation by focusing on CSR’s role in promoting green initiatives and environmental conservation. He shed light on his unique journey of planting trees, advocating that CSR should focus more on rural areas rather than just urban locations like Delhi NCR. His words resonated deeply, emphasizing that companies should expand their green CSR initiatives across India, particularly in regions where environmental conservation efforts are most needed.
A Lifelong Commitment to Greening India
Peepal Baba’s journey, from a young boy inspired by his teacher and grandmother to the founder of a large-scale tree plantation movement, is nothing short of remarkable. Born as Azad Jain, his passion for trees began at the age of 11, when he planted his first nine trees on Republic Day, 1977, in Pune. This small act of dedication eventually blossomed into a nationwide movement, fueled by his belief in the transformative power of trees. His dedication to nature earned him the name Swami Prem Parivartan, given to him by his Guru while studying in a Gurukul Ashram.
What started as a passion for planting Peepal trees evolved into a movement that now spans across the country. Communities, deeply moved by his work, began to call him ‘Peepal Baba’ after he planted 1.27 crore Peepal trees. Despite pursuing higher education and teaching in universities in India and Germany, Peepal Baba never lost his true calling—nurturing nature. Upon his return to India, he restarted his environmental work, and in 2011, registered his NGO, Give Me Trees Trust, on the advice of a renowned actor. Today, this trust is one of the largest tree-planting organizations in India.
Challenges of Green CSR Implementation
In his speech, Peepal Baba highlighted the challenges involved in implementing green CSR projects, especially under the green movement and tree plantation. He pointed out that many companies prefer to focus their CSR activities near urban centers like Delhi NCR, which is already relatively developed. According to him, rural and less privileged areas require more attention when it comes to CSR-driven environmental projects.
Peepal Baba further elaborated on how companies could contribute to the green movement by working in remote areas where forest cover is depleting and the need for environmental conservation is critical. He urged corporations to go beyond their comfort zones and take responsibility for rural community development through tree plantation initiatives, fostering sustainability, and promoting biodiversity.
A Vision for the Future: The Impact of Give Me Trees Trust
Today, Give Me Trees Trust has an unparalleled legacy of planting over 2.5 crore trees across India. The trust has created 274 forests, covering an astounding 2.7 lakh hectares of land, all nurtured under the shade of the trust’s efforts. The organization has also visited thousands of schools, educating young minds about the importance of trees and nature conservation.
The team of Give Me Trees Trust comprises dedicated volunteers who have made significant contributions to Peepal Baba’s vision of a greener India. The trust is widely regarded as one of the most genuine tree-planting and nature education groups in India. Through their dedication, they have established a robust framework for environmental conservation through community-driven initiatives.
A Movement that Inspires
Peepal Baba’s address at the India CSR Leadership Summit served as a clarion call for companies and individuals alike to take responsibility for the environment. His journey from an 11-year-old tree planter to a national environmental leader is a testament to the power of individual initiative and collective action. His emphasis on expanding CSR efforts beyond urban landscapes and into rural communities is a crucial lesson for businesses seeking to make a meaningful impact through their CSR initiatives.
(India CSR)
