User:Tapsidhyani/मैती आन्दोलन

'''Maitee Movement is an environmental movement started by Kalyan Singh Rawat that emphasises on creating an emotional bond between humans and trees. Maitee word comes from the local language and means maternal family of a married girl. It was started in 1994 in Uttarakhand and since then has spread over 18 states in India and more 5 countries across the globe. The movement has resulted in plantation and conservation of more than 5 Lakhs trees in Uttarakhand only.'''

Background
Since his college days, Rawat was actively involved in environmental movements and participated in Chipko Movement which inspired him to start Maitee Movement.

He observed how hundreds of saplings were planted but would die in less than a year. Saplings were planted in the same place year after year but there wasn't much success despite continuous plantation drives. Rawat realised this is due to the lack of any emotional attachment with the trees and environment. He believed that the change of this magnitude can come only through the active and emotional involvement.

Rawat encouraged brides to plant a sapling on their weeding day and leave it in care of her family creating the emotional bond between the sapling and the family.