Chandigarh (Balwinder Singh): Haryana Environment, Forest and Wildlife Minister Rao Narbir Singh on Saturday inaugurated the country’s first ‘Tirthankar Vanam’ established within the picturesque Aravalli mountain range in Gurugram. Developed by the Jain International Trade Organisation (JITO) Gurugram Chapter Foundation in collaboration with the Haryana Forest Department, the initiative was executed under a formal Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on allocated government forest land. Following the ribbon-cutting ceremony, the minister toured the premises and took part in a ceremonial tree-planting drive alongside former Additional Director General of Police Anil Rao and other prominent dignitaries.
Addressing the gathering during the state’s ongoing Wildlife Week celebrations, Singh emphasized that ecological conservation requires proactive community participation rather than relying exclusively on governmental action. He lauded JITO for conceptualizing an initiative that blends nature preservation with spiritual heritage, calling it an inspiring model that encourages citizens to assume personal responsibility for safeguarding urban forestry and biodiversity across the delicate Aravalli ecosystem.
The forested complex integrates nature preservation with spiritual contemplation, featuring 24 designated meditation zones, each dedicated to one of the 24 Tirthankaras of Jainism. Designed as a sanctuary for mindfulness and ecological education, the space offers visitors a quiet retreat amidst native green cover while fostering environmental stewardship.
Anand Chordia, Chairman of JITO Environment and Sustainability, announced that the Gurugram project serves as the flagship model for a nationwide ecological campaign. Under this initiative, the organisation plans to establish 24 Tirthankar Vanams across various regions of India in the first phase to commemorate the 24 spiritual teachers. The inauguration ceremony saw the presence of Chief Conservator of Forests Subhash Yadav, JITO Apex Director Raman Jain, JITO Gurugram Chapter Chairman Sanjay Jain, and several community representatives.
