Vriksh Mitra–Gram Mitra Abhiyan

Working in villages, we saw families for whom nutritious food was a dream and children who grew up undernourished, while trees were being cut to make room for a growing population. In 2011 we answered both problems with one campaign: plant fruit trees in the courtyards of rural homes, so that families get fresh fruit at no extra cost and the village gets its green cover back.

What families receive

Each registered farmer receives a packet of five to ten fruit saplings chosen for the local soil and climate — mango, guava, bel, amla, kamrakh, pomegranate, peach, jackfruit, lemon, jamun, mulberry and more. At the distribution camp, guests explain how to care for the trees and every farmer takes an oath to protect them. The whole process costs less than ₹500 per family.

Following every tree

After the camp our full-time staff survey the villages and geo-tag at least half of the plants. A second survey three months later records how many trees survived, and we return for feedback once the trees bear fruit. Across the years about 70% of the trees have survived.

Why the trees survive

• The oath: every farmer promises at the camp to protect the saplings.
• Gram samiti: a committee of four or five volunteers in each village keeps encouraging families to look after their plants.
• Self-interest: the trees feed the family, so families protect them.

A mature tree can absorb up to 48 pounds of carbon a year, so each drive also adds green cover, shade, fodder and better soil and water to the village.

Year by year

• 2018–19: 38,000 saplings to 4,144 families in Bareilly and Kasganj, and 60,000 saplings to 5,650 families in Mathura, with ONGC.
• 2019–20: 98,800 saplings to 10,522 families in Bareilly, Mathura, Sonbhadra, Kasganj and Sikandra Rao with ONGC — our largest single project — plus 40,000 saplings to 4,951 families with individual donors.
• 2020–21: 1,08,945 saplings to 11,917 families in Mathura and Sonbhadra, with individual donors and camps organised by Vanvasi Kalyan Ashram.
• 2022–23: 56,000 saplings to 7,612 families in Mathura, with Swami Vivekanand Health Mission Society, Uttarakhand and individual donors.
• 2024: 25,000 saplings to farmers from 78 villages of Mathura district, supported by K D Medical College, Hospital & Research Center.
• 2025: a drive across the villages of Mathura and Vrindavan is being planned.