In Piplantri, Rajasthan, India, every time a little girl is born 111 trees are planted in her honor. This amazing custom started when the daughter of the village leader passed away and he vowed to every girl would receive proper medical attention, thereafter. Ever since this practice has started it has benefitted both the planet and the villagers, this practice has provided a forward-thinking act of eco-feminism in a country that generally undervalues women.
As part of the tradition, Piplantri residents gather 21,000 Rupees amongst themselves, and collect 10,000 Rupees from the parents of the new child, setting aside Rs 31,000 for a 20 year fixed deposit for the child. Parents also sign a legal affidavit, which states that the daughter will receive proper education, not be married until she reaches the legal age of 18, and the trees planted in her honor will be taken care of, thus protecting the rights of these girls.
“Gradually, we realized that aloe vera could be processed and marketed in a variety of ways. So we invited some experts and asked them to train our women. Now residents make and market aloe vera products like juice, gel, pickle etc,” the village’s former sarpanch, Shyam Sundar Paliwal explains. This progressive little village continues to quietly create an environment of eco-feminism that promotes female rights and simultaneously generates a greener Earth.
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