Yogi govt awards Green Gold Certificates to 18,348 newborns in a week as parents back eco-friendly initiative

Lucknow : In a unique initiative, the Yogi Adityanath-led Uttar Pradesh government distributed Green Gold Certificates to as many as 18,348 newborns in government hospitals across the state between July 1 and 7. Along with the certificate, parents were also gifted saplings of various plant species, symbolizing a shared responsibility to nurture both the child and the environment.

The initiative has received widespread support from parents, many of whom pledged to care for the saplings with the same dedication as their newborns. Saplings distributed included a diverse range of species such as teak, guava, jamun, drumstick, neem, amla, mango, sheesham, peepal, banyan, and tulsi.

The Lucknow division topped the list with 2,555 saplings, while Devipatan and Agra followed with 1854 and 1406 saplings respectively. In total, 18,348 newborns received Green Gold Certificates during the seven-day campaign.

The Forest and the Health departments jointly implemented this initiative. Deepak Kumar, Mission Director of the Mega Plantation drive, stated that divisional forest officers were instructed to coordinate with district hospitals, CHCs, PHCs, and other government facilities to ensure the success of the program. Parents were also encouraged to plant the saplings in open spaces around their homes or communities.

The Green Gold Certificate, issued by divisional forest officers, serves as both a memento and a reminder to nurture the new life and the sapling together, fostering a greener and healthier future.
The maximum number of 2555 Green Gold Certificates were given in the Lucknow Division

Sl. Division Green Gold Certificate/Plant
1- Lucknow 2555
2- Devipatan 1854
3- Agra 1406
4- Bareilly 1379
5- Prayagraj 1332
6- Meerut 1141
7- Saharanpur 1055
8- Kanpur 1052
9- Aligarh 1019
10- Gorakhpur 1018
11- Ayodhya 1015
12- Moradabad 709
13- Jhansi 602
14- Basti 540
15- Chitrakoot 515
16- Varanasi 491
17- Azamgarh 414
18- Mirzapur 251
Total- 18348

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The maximum number of certificates given in these 15 districts
Sl. District Green Gold Certificate
1- Bahraich 989
2- Badaun 795
3- Prayagraj 782
4- Saharanpur 612
5- Hardoi 601
6- Gorakhpur 536
7- Aligarh 485
8- Rae Bareli 480
9- Agra 460
10- Mathura 428
11- Muzaffarnagar 394
12- Pilibhit 387
13- Firozabad 371
14- Hathras 359
15- Sultanpur 354