In a touching tribute to Mother Earth and mothers' nurturing spirit, the Indian Institute of Management (IIM) Jammu marked World Environment Day with a special Tree Plantation Drive under the national campaign theme ‘Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam 2.0’. Held on 5 June, 2025, the initiative blended environmental stewardship with personal gratitude, reflecting IIM Jammu’s deep-rooted commitment to sustainability, empathy, and civic responsibility.
Prof. B.S. Sahay, Director, IIM Jammu, graced the occasion and led the plantation drive. He was joined by Shri Rajesh Uppal, Principal Consultant, Maruti Suzuki.
Conceptualised under the visionary leadership of Prof. B.S. Sahay, Director, IIM Jammu, the event sought to foster a deep, personal connection between individuals and the environment—by encouraging each member of the IIM Jammu community to plant a tree in honour of their mother. More than just an act of environmental conservation, the initiative was a symbolic expression of love, care, and responsibility—qualities shared by both trees and mothers.
As part of the drive, the IIM Jammu campus witnessed the creation of three dedicated green spaces—a Neem Grove, Mango Grove, and Rose Garden—each thoughtfully cultivated to symbolise growth, care, and renewal. In a meaningful effort to deepen student engagement and make sustainability a shared responsibility, every sapling was entrusted to a student, who will take on the role of its caretaker. This thoughtful gesture transforms the act of plantation into a living relationship, reflecting not only the nurturing essence of a mother but also the long-term dedication required to protect and preserve our environment. Through this initiative, students are not just planting trees—they are planting values, forging personal bonds with nature, and becoming active stewards of a greener tomorrow.
“This campaign invites us to plant not just trees, but emotions—gratitude, remembrance, and hope. A tree in a mother’s name is a tribute to her life-giving presence and a commitment to future generations,” said Prof. Sahay. He emphasized that such symbolic actions not only deepen our ecological consciousness but also cultivate empathy, accountability, and civic values among young leaders.
In alignment with this spirit, the IIM Jammu community also took a pledge to eliminate single-use plastics and polythene from the campus—reaffirming its intent to create a greener, cleaner, and more responsible institutional environment.
The event witnessed enthusiastic participation from across the IIM Jammu fraternity, including Prof. Shyam Narayan Lal, Chairperson, Anandam and Media & Publication Division; Brigadier (Retd.) Neeraj Soni, Faculty; Prof. Ravij Seth, Professor of Practice, IIM Jammu; Cmdr. Kesavan Baskkaran, CAO, IIM Jammu; CA Rajat Jain, FA-CAO; and Shri Shailesh Lohiya, Librarian, IIM Jammu.
Faculty, officers, staff, and students came together to turn this drive into a moment of reflection, connection, and action. The initiative was coordinated by the Anandam Team and the Student Affairs Office and executed precisely by the Horticulture Department of IIM Jammu. Their collective efforts ensured the event’s success not just in numbers, but in spirit.
By planting trees in the name of their mothers, the IIM Jammu community created living legacies—acts of remembrance that grow, bloom, and give back to the Earth. The drive was not just a celebration of World Environment Day, but a reaffirmation of IIM Jammu’s core values: sustainability, emotional intelligence, and holistic development. As these saplings grow into trees, they will serve as quiet yet powerful reminders of love rooted in action, and of progress grounded in nature.
