Piplantri village of Rajasthan, a village that plants 111 trees for every girl born

Piplantri Village of southern Rajasthan's Rajsamand district was in news in second week of March 2015. This village not only embraces daughters but also created a tradition of planting 111 trees every time on the birth of a girl child. The plants are planted in her honour.

The village came into news, at the time when documentary India’s Daughters created national debate. The documentary portrayed violence against women like rape and abuse in India.

What is the tradition?
The tradition was started by village’s former sarpanch Shyam Sundar Paliwal in 2006. He started the initiative in the memory of his daughter Kiran, who died a few years ago.

The tradition at Piplantri village sets a different example of respect and honour for women by planting 111 trees whenever a girl child is born. To protect the trees from termites, the residents plant aloe vera plants around them.

Also as part of this, village residents collect 21000 rupees between themselves and 10000 rupees from the girl’s parents. This sum of 31000 rupees is made into a 20-year fixed deposit for the girl.

Further, an affidavit is signed by the parents stating that their daughter will receive proper education, the girl will be married only after she reaches legal age and the trees planted after her birth have been correctly looked after.

This tradition serves two purposes, first of saving a girl children, and second of protecting the planet by increasing the green cover. In last 6 years over a quarter of a million trees have been planted.

Comment
This tradition initiated by Paliwal is a brilliant exercise in eco-feminism and sets a great example of women empowerment as historically it was considered that in India birth of a daughter is considered as a burden for the family. This tradition honours a girl and overall, also helps in creating a good environment too.