Nilesh Rajgor: The Tree-Planting Hero of Patan, Gujarat
Patan (Gujarat) [India], July 20: Nilesh Rajgor, a 48-year-old from Kungher village in Gujarat’s Patan district, is a dedicated environmental warrior. Since 2015, he has planted around eight lakh trees in the area. As a part-time insurance agent, Nilesh has launched a massive tree plantation campaign, inspiring community participation and planting millions of trees.
Beyond tree planting, Nilesh has established oxygen parks, enhancing his community’s green footprint and promoting sustainability. His unwavering commitment makes him a true champion of the environment. Nilesh says, “The biggest award is indeed from the Supreme Being, as millions of trees have grown larger today, supporting the creation and sustenance of birds and wildlife. Nature is truly being conserved and nurtured. We are taking steps to protect and enhance what is disappearing — plant species, bird species, and wildlife. This effort brings solace. Today, millions of people are involved, drawing inspiration and starting this work in their own villages.”
A key aspect of Nilesh’s campaign is encouraging people to pledge to plant trees and become ‘Green Commandos.’ Over 3,00,000 people have taken this pledge so far. For his outstanding contributions to environmental conservation, Nilesh has received numerous prestigious awards, including the ‘Climate Change Award’ for 2021-22. Nilesh emphasizes, “This award inspires anyone working in any field, making the whole state and country aware. Many people are influenced by it, and many youths like me join. The Van Pandit Award is Gujarat’s highest award. The Climate Change Award is from the Indian government, with a cash prize of 1 lakh. All of this gives peace of mind that someone is watching our work.”
Nilesh’s mission extends to educating future generations about environmental responsibility through workshops and seminars in schools and colleges. He actively collaborates with students and government officials to promote environmental stewardship.
Reflecting on his partnership with Nilesh, his associate Vivek Dave remarks, “I have been associated with Nilesh Bhai Rajgor for almost seven years now, working alongside him. We have heard that in ancient times, we had our sages and monks who did significant awareness work in society. While we haven’t seen those sages and monks, for the past seven years, we have been witnessing a sage who is working for the environment, dedicating everything he has. Nilesh Bhai’s work has spread across Gujarat, including Patan.”
Through Nilesh’s initiatives, Patan district has become greener, setting an example globally in combating climate change.
Doubts Revealed
Nilesh Rajgor -: Nilesh Rajgor is a person from Gujarat, India, who has planted many trees to help the environment.
Patan -: Patan is a district in the state of Gujarat, which is in the western part of India.
Gujarat -: Gujarat is a state in India, known for its rich culture and history.
eight lakh -: Eight lakh means 800,000. In India, people often use the term ‘lakh’ to mean 100,000.
insurance agent -: An insurance agent is someone who helps people buy insurance to protect their health, property, or life.
oxygen parks -: Oxygen parks are special areas with lots of trees and plants that help produce clean air for people to breathe.
Climate Change Award -: The Climate Change Award is a prize given to people who do important work to help the environment and fight climate change.
workshops and seminars -: Workshops and seminars are meetings where people learn new things, often through talks and activities.
