- Van Mahotsav 2025 was introduced on Monday by Telangana Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy
- Professor Jayashankar Agricultural University's Botanical Garden in Rajendranagar served as the venue for the event
- This year, the target sets of with 18.03 crore plant saplings
Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy on Monday flagged off Van Mahotsav 2025 at the Botanical Garden in Professor Jayashankar Agricultural University, Rajendranagar, with an ambitious target of planting 18.03 crore saplings in Telangana this year. He stated that the programme is intended to make the state a "lush green forest" in the coming years.
Inaugurating the event, the CM planted a Rudraksha sapling and visited a photo exhibition featuring forestry and conservation of the environment. He requested all mothers in Telangana to nurture two saplings at home, likening their care to bringing up children. "If mothers raise two trees as their own children, Telangana will become green in no time," he stated.
The state has set apart ₹21,000 crore this year alone for bank linkage assistance to women's groups. "Our mission is not merely to offer financial support but to witness women head businesses, become decision-makers and define the future of the state," he said.
Criticising the previous BRS government, he pointed out that it did not include a single woman in its cabinet over the past decade. He also paid homage to former Prime Ministers Indira Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi for their pioneering reforms, including Indiramma housing, land rights, and women’s reservation in local governance. He credited Rajiv Gandhi’s 33 percent reservation policy in panchayats for enabling leaders like Gadwal Vijayalakshmi and Srilatha to rise as mayor and deputy mayor.
In a major announcement, Revanth Reddy stated that 60 Assembly seats will be reserved for women in the forthcoming polls. With the constituencies getting reorganised and boosting the number of seats in Telangana to 153, the Congress government will enforce 33 percent reservation keeping a minimum of 51 seats reserved for women. "We will do even more and reserve nine additional seats from our party, taking it to 60," he declared.
"In Indiramma Rajyam, each girl should grow up with dignity and self-respect," he asserted, reiterating his political commitment to empowering women.
