What is Van Mahotsav? Who started it and when?

Van Mahotsav is an annual tree-planting festival in India. This movement was initiated in the year 1950 by India's Union Minister for Agriculture, Kulapati Dr K. M. Munshi. It has gained immense national importance and every year, millions of saplings are planted all across India in observation of the Van Mahotsav week. It is expected that every citizen of India has to plant a sapling in the Van Mahotsav week. It helps spread awareness amongst people about the harm caused by the cutting down of trees.