PUNE: Over 16,631 National Service Scheme (NSS) volunteers from 350 colleges were distributed neem saplings by Savitribai Phule Pune University (SPPU) on Sunday in an attempt to create a Guinness World Record for distribution of most number of saplings.
Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis was present at the varsity campus on the occasion. The students to whom these saplings were distributed, have been told to plant these along the Pune-Pandharpur pilgrimage route taken by warkaris during Ashadhi Wari.
This event marked the start of SPPU’s ‘Green Wari’ initiative, an ambitious venture that combines ecological awareness with the larger objective of promoting the conservation of water resources and regenerating tree cover.
During the event, Fadnavis took oath along with participating NSS volunteers for ensuring a ‘Green Wari’ this year.
“The pilgrimage has a tradition of over 700 years and it should be a matter of privilege for the students to be able to contribute towards making the journey of warkaris easier and fulfilling,” the Chief Minister said.
“I am extremely happy not only to witness but to be a part of another historic moment, for the cause of environment conservation by our students in Pune. It is heartening to see that society is still following the path shown by our great saints. I appeal everyone to not restrict this for just one year,” he said.
The record was attempted in presence of Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, Pune district Guardian Minister Chandrakant Patil, ministers Sanjay Bhegde, Vijay Shivtare, Pune Mayor Mukta Tilak, District Collector Naval Kishore Ram and SPPU Vice Chancellor Nitin Karmalkar.
VC Karmalkar said, “Attempting the world record is not a goal in itself. The goal is to make the wari more environment-friendly by taking active efforts. We have lined up several events throughout the wari days to ensure that the pollution levels, plastic use goes down while making the journey more enriching for the participants.”
The green wari programme, kickstarted on Sunday, will continue till July 15. SPPU’s NSS unit students started their own dindi (groups participating in the wari) several years ago with an aim to “participate in socially productive work, and also gives them an experience of a tradition in the State that has been practised for over seven hundred years”.
CURRENT HOLDERS
As per officials, at present the record for most saplings distributed in a day is held by Habitat Schools, Ajman, UAE, which was achieved in April 2019. At that time, a total of 9,371 saplings of Sesbania grandiflora, in Maharashtra known as Shevri, were distributed. To break the record, a total of 20,000 saplings of Neem plant were procured from nurseries in Pune outskirts planning for which started six months ago. At the end of the day on Sunday, more than 300 saplings were still left with the organising committee. These saplings will be planted in SPPU campus.
POOR PLANNING, SAYS MNVS
Meanwhile, the Maharashtra Navnirman Vidyarthi Sena (MNVS) has alleged that the student participants of the events were not taken care of by the University.
“It is the responsibility of the organisers that 18,000 students coming for the event have to be provided with water and food arrangements. Around 5,000 students were not served food and even water. This was a result of poor planning. The organising committee chairman has to take responsibility and give the resignation. Also, the bills of the contractor should not be paid. We demand high-level enquiry for mismanagement, otherwise, we will protest against the university administration,” said MNVS President Kalpesh Yadav.
