JAMMU / MUMBAI, Jun 7: In a major initiative aimed at addressing climate change while creating sustainable livelihood opportunities, Surjagad Ispat Pvt. Ltd. and MIAM Charitable Trust have announced the launch of the Green Gadchiroli Mission, a large-scale afforestation and community development project centered on environmental conservation and rural empowerment.
The initiative was formally presented to Devendra Fadnavis by Nitu Joshi, Director of Surjagad Ispat Pvt. Ltd. and Founder of MIAM Charitable Trust, during a meeting in Mumbai. The project envisions transforming Gadchiroli into a model district for environmental sustainability and inclusive growth through community participation.
Under the Green Gadchiroli Mission, nearly five lakh saplings will be nurtured and planted across the district to strengthen green cover, improve biodiversity and contribute to long-term ecological restoration. The initiative comes at a time when rising temperatures, climate change and environmental degradation have emerged as pressing global concerns.
A key feature of the project is its focus on generating sustainable livelihoods alongside environmental conservation. Through plantation activities, nursery development and related programs, more than 200 women have already been provided employment opportunities. In addition, hundreds of tribal families have benefited from income-generation initiatives linked to environmental protection and natural resource management.
Speaking about the vision behind the mission, Nitu Joshi said that climate action must begin at the grassroots level and emphasized the need to connect environmental conservation with social and economic development. She stated that the initiative seeks to create a sustainable ecosystem that empowers women, supports local communities and benefits future generations.
Over the years, MIAM Charitable Trust has been actively engaged in women’s empowerment, education, environmental conservation, animal welfare and rural development. The organization has trained over 100 women in food processing, hospitality and various skill-development programs, enabling them to become financially independent.
The Trust has also undertaken educational support initiatives for rural youth. Through its free library and career guidance programmes in Nashik and Gadchiroli, more than 30 students from villages have successfully secured positions in the Army, Police and other government departments.
Environmental experts have welcomed such community-based plantation drives, noting that large-scale afforestation can contribute significantly to carbon sequestration, soil conservation and climate resilience while creating meaningful economic opportunities in rural areas.
The Green Gadchiroli Mission is being viewed as a unique example of collaboration between industry, social organizations and government to address environmental and socio-economic challenges. With its commitment to planting five lakh trees and promoting women’s empowerment and tribal livelihoods, the initiative aims to create a greener, more sustainable future for Gadchiroli.