Shimla, Aug. 14 -- Himachal Pradesh Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, on Thursday, launched the Rajiv Gandhi Van Sanvardhan Yojana in Shimla, a community-driven afforestation programme aimed at boosting the state's green cover while generating employment for local groups.

Under the scheme, youth clubs (yuvak mandals), women's groups (mahila mandals), and self-help groups will plant trees and maintain them for five years, with financial assistance from the government. Launching the initiative in the Kallog area of the city, the Chief Minister also inaugurated the state's annual Van Mahotsav by planting a deodar sapling.

"When the idea of the Van Utsav came up, I decided to host it in Kallog because of my long association wit...