Assam’s ‘oxygen boy’ to plant 1,000 saplings

SILCHAR: The graphic details of patients struggling to breathe or their families begging for

oxygen

during the second coronavirus wave left Abhinab Deb so distressed that the nine-year-old has decided to plant thousands of saplings in his area.


Abhinab, a class 3 student, who hails from Borjalenga in Dholai block of Assam’s Cachar district, has undertaken the job to plant 1,000 saplings in his area. His aim is to increase oxygen in the atmosphere.

An ardent tree-lover, Abhinab, a student of

Delhi Public School

’s Silchar unit, never allows the felling of any tree at his house or in the neighbouring areas. “Since he heard about lack of oxygen which led to the death of many Covid-19 patients, he pledged to increase oxygen in the atmosphere by planting trees. He has requested his parents to help him protect the saplings,” said a family member.

Talking about his initiative, the nine-year-old on Wednesday said, “I have heard that people are dying because of lack of oxygen. My teachers have said that trees are the only source of oxygen and we can increase oxygen by planting and preserving the trees. I want to protect each and every tree in our area and would also like to plant many more. I have started planting saplings on my 9th birthday recently and this will go on still I make my entire area full of valuable trees. Right now I have planted 300 saplings, and a total of 1,000 saplings will be planted along a stretch of 2.5km from

Chotojalenga

to Nagathal village.”

“When Abhinab shared his thoughts with us we decided to support him. He has undoubtedly taken a bold step. In fact, today when the whole world is struggling in the the pandemic, such a drive for afforestation should be encouraged. We hope that many more will come forward and help Abhinab achieve his goal,” said Abhinab’s mother, Bulti Deb, who is also an anchalik panchayat member.

After coming to know about the boy’s noble initiative, DFO of Cachar forest division Sunny Deo Choudhury on Tuesday invited Abhinab to his office and felicitated him with a bouquet and a memento. The DFO fondly named him “Oxygen Boy”.

“Abhinab’s noble gesture will surely motivate his contemporaries. We have decided to make him brand ambassador of our forest division. In fact, I am going to discuss this matter with environment and forest minister Parimal Suklabaidya,” said Choudhury.