Challenging India's prejudice against women: The incredible village which plants 111 fruit trees for every baby girl

By Becky Pemberton For Mailonline 10:35 31 May 2015, updated 10:35 31 May 2015

• The Indian village of Piplantri aims to challenge prejudice against women
• The former chief started a project to provide a sustainable future for girls 
• A quarter of a million trees have been planted in the eco-friendly initiative 
• The fruit trees provide food for the girls and their families for years
• Aloe vera plants are harvested and used to make juices and gels for sale 

In a country that celebrates the birth of boys over girls, the tiny Indian village of Piplantri offers a refreshing perspective that seeks to challenge traditional views. 

Instead of the Western custom of buying dolls for newborn girls, this Rajasthan settlement plants 111 trees every time a baby girl is born in the village.

Villagers band together to donate money and help to plant the fruit trees, which provide food for the child and her family.

The village in Rajasthan plants 111 trees for every girl born in a bid to promote eco-feminism 

The tradition celebrates girls while creating a sustainable future for families and the village as a whole

As the woman blossoms into adulthood, so do the trees in a brilliant example of eco-feminism.

Not only have a quarter of a million trees been planted from this initiative, but the families have to pledge their daughters will not be married until they receive an education and reach the age of 18.

The incredible custom was started in 2006 by the former village chief, Shyam Sundar Palawal, following the tragic loss of his daughter, Kiran, to illness. 

He told MailOnline Travel: 'This prompted me to start the new initiative to save female children born in village.

'I wanted to combine this initiative with working to safe guard the environment.

'Villagers plant 111 trees for each baby girl born and the community ensures these tree survive, attaining fruition as the girl grown up.'

The families have even planted 2.5 million aloe vera plants around the trunks to protect from termites

The girls' families must promise their daughters will not marry before 18 and will receive an education

The former village chief, Shyam Sundar Palawal, started the custom following the tragic loss of his daughter

Palawal aimed to challenge historical prejudice against women, who are considered more of a financial burden to families due to having to pay their marriage dowries, and also sought to create a sustainable future for his village. 

The project works by residents collecting 21,000 rupees as a village whole and 10,000 rupees from the girl’s parents.

The total sum of 31,000 rupees (approximately £315) is made into a 20-year fund for the girl, reducing the financial strain on her family.

The planted fruit trees help provide resources which not only support her family but the whole village population.  

Grazing commons are used for the plantations, which now hold an oasis of neem, mango and amla trees

Girls also receive a fund, which the whole village helps to raise to provide financially for their futures

Village grazing commons are used for the plantations, which now hold an oasis of neem, mango, amla and sheesham trees.

Residents care diligently for the 111 trees, which is considered a holy number in Indian mythology. 

Over the last nine years they have protected the trees' branches and leaves from termites by planting 2.5 million aloe vera plants around the trunks.

The plants are harvested to produce aloe-based juice and gel to sell.

Villagers use the 2.5 million aloe vera plants, grown to protect the trees, for a number of products

The village harvests the protective aloe vera plants and produces gels and juice to sell

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