Revanth Reddy launches Vanamahotsavam, pledges 18 crore saplings and women-led growth

Hyderabad: Telangana Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy launched Vanamahotsavam 2025 on Monday by planting a Rudraksha sapling at Professor Jayashankar Agricultural University, joined by Forest Minister Konda Surekha.

Principal Chief Conservator of Forests Dr. Suvarna, CM Advisor Vem Narender Reddy, MP Mallu Ravi, legislators, corporation heads, and senior forest officials attended the formal launch of this year’s plantation campaign.

The Chief Minister reiterated the cultural and ecological link between people and forests, stating, “We are the forest, and the forest is us. If we protect nature, nature will protect us.”

Telangana has set a plantation target of 18 crore saplings for 2025. Revanth called on citizens to participate by planting a sapling in their mother’s name and encouraged mothers to do the same in the name of their children. “Plant two saplings at every home. Raise them like your children,” he said.

He said the goal was to turn Telangana into a green, thriving state by linking environmental restoration with public participation.

Alongside afforestation, Revanth Reddy placed strong emphasis on women’s empowerment. He said his government is committed to handing leadership and economic opportunities to women across sectors.

Ongoing schemes include free TSRTC bus travel for women, leasing of 1,000 buses to female operators, and exclusive marketing platforms in Hyderabad’s IT corridors for women’s self-help group products, including zones occupied by firms such as Wipro and Microsoft.

“Our target is to make one crore women millionaires in Telangana,” Revanth said, adding that ₹21,000 crore has already been disbursed in loans to women’s groups this year. He appealed to urban women to form self-help groups and access government credit and market support.

He said the state would uphold girls’ education and political representation under the Indiramma Rajyam initiative. “I will take full responsibility to ensure women get 60 MLA tickets in the next elections,” he said, referring to plans for implementing legislative reservation for women.