If one spots saplings of jack fruit, mangoes or guavas in the party offices of the CPI(M) and the BJP in Kerala, she should not be surprised. The two parties—bitter foes who are always at each other’s throats—are getting ready to celebrate the World Environment Day on June 5.
Environmentalism sells, especially in a green state like Kerala. And the political parties are also well aware of this fact. Interestingly, all the mainstream parties in the state are gearing up for the day to prove their commitment to the subject.
And who else, but the ruling CPI(M) is taking the lead.
The Pinarayi Vijayan-led government has decided to plant one crore saplings—mostly of medicinal plants and fruit trees—across the state on June 5. It plans to involve students and women self help groups (SHGs) alongside the party machinery to achieve this ambitious target.
The CPI(M) secretariat has asked all party members and units to plant trees and take part in environment protection activities. It has even given directives to its sympathisers and feeding organisations to take part in related activities.
"The party has been seriously involved in green activities for more than a decade. We have been in the forefront of many green activities, whether it is organic cultivation or cleaning up water bodies,’’ party state secretary Kodiyeri Balakrishnan told THE WEEK.
The state secretariat of the CPI(M) has asked all party members, units, sympathisers and the public at large to participate in the World Environment Day celebrations on June 5. The ruling party is also looking to clean water bodies and step up rain water harvesting. In addition, it plans to dig 10 lakh rain pits across the state the same day.
The BJP, which is looking to make inroads in the state politics, is leaving no stone unturned and are equally aggressive.
"We will be planting 10 lakh trees across the state. Our party offices have been getting ready for this since the last few months,’’ BJP president Kummanam Rajasekharan told THE WEEK.
According to him, the BJP would be concentrating on those areas where the party is strong enough to carry out the mission. Expecting competition from other parties for public spots, the state BJP president said the party will be planting trees in private spaces too.
"Public or private, we will be planting 10 lakh trees in Kerala,’’ Kummanam said.
The party has also decided that all the 10 lakh saplings should be that of fruit trees. "It is a conscious decision. A fruit tree creates an ecosystem of its own. It will be useful to every being,’’ said P. Ragunath, noted environmentalist who has been assigned with the task.
He cited the example of Tamil Nadu as a good role model in this regard. "If you notice, the national highways in Tamil Nadu are mostly dotted by fruit trees or flower-bearing trees unlike here. So we decided to go for fruit trees,’’ said Ragunath.
Not to be left behind, the Congress party has also joined the green bandwagon.
"The KPCC has given direction to all local units to plant trees on that day. It has also given direction that every local unit should clean up at least one water body in their area,’’ said Thiruvannathapuram DCC president Neyyatinkara Sunil.
According to him, the event will be kick-started by KPCC president M.M. Hassan on June 5.
Though politically motivated, these green initiatives augur well for the state at a time when the world battles climate change.
