Rajsamand, Rajasthan: A personal loss led to a village policy with social and environmental outcomes in Piplantri, a small settlement in Rajasthan’s Rajsamand district. Former village head Shyam Sundar Paliwal took action after the death of his daughter Kiran at a young age. He chose to mark the birth of every girl with community action rather than silence.
Under the tradition, villagers plant 111 trees for every girl child. The community selects fruit trees and native species such as neem, mango, sheesham, and amla. Residents plant these saplings on shared land. The practice uses the number 111 due to local beliefs around auspicious odd numbers. The scale of planting suits the village’s semi arid landscape.
The initiative includes financial planning. Villagers contribute Rs 21,000. Parents add Rs 10,000. The combined amount forms a fixed deposit in the girl’s name. The deposit matures when she reaches adulthood. Parents also sign an affidavit. The document commits them to education for their daughter and marriage only after the legal age.
Villagers care for the saplings over the years. To protect trees from termites, residents planted aloe vera around orchards. Aloe cultivation later created income through products such as gel, juice, and cosmetics.
The village reports environmental gains. Tree cover increased biodiversity, reduced soil erosion, and improved groundwater levels. Local accounts describe a cooler micro climate. Social attitudes shifted as families began celebrating the birth of girls.
By the mid 2020s, the effort supported over 3,000 girls and added more than 300,000 trees. The Supreme Court of India referenced the model in commentary on gender balance and education outcomes. Piplantri received national recognition for social and environmental work.
