Who is SayTrees founder Kapil Sharma, whom PM Modi mentioned in Mann Ki Baat?

Bengaluru, once known as the Garden City and the City of Thousand Lakes, is today struggling to breathe amid rising temperatures and fading greenery. But amid this environmental crisis, one man’s mission to bring back the city’s lost green cover has garnered national attention and praise from Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Kapil Sharma, a software engineer from Raipur, Chhattisgarh, moved to Bengaluru 11 years ago. Deeply troubled by the city’s dwindling tree cover, Sharma started planting trees on weekends in 2007. What started as an individual initiative has now grown into a nationwide environmental movement, Setriz, which has inspired millions of people to join hands to restore India’s ecology.

Sharing a video of the forests created by her team, Sharma wrote on

I started planting trees #Bengaluru In the year 2007.
This campaign that started with planting 1 tree has now turned into a movement, where lakhs of trees are planted and taken care of every year. And this is now happening in more than 9 states of the country.
This video shows some… pic.twitter.com/5BNDMCAHg6

– Kapil Sharma (@kapil_saytrees) 5 January 2024

Prime Minister Modi Highlighting Sharma’s work in his recent Mann Ki Baat address, he lauded Satriz for rejuvenating nine lakes and 40 wells in Bengaluru and 29 more lakes in Pune, Hyderabad and Bengaluru. He described the NGO’s work as “an inspiring model of citizen-led environmental action.”

Highlights of a commendable effort to further promote sustainable living in Bengaluru.#mind matter pic.twitter.com/RjTOZ0SDOK

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) 26 October 2025

Speaking to News18 from Dallas, Texas, Sharma said, “It is an honor to be mentioned Prime Minister. The reward for good work is more work. I want to do as much as I can every day while we are on this lovely planet.

From one sapling in 2007, Sharma’s movement has now grown to plant six million trees this year alone, with the aim of reaching ten million by December. Many of these are fruit-bearing trees that have been planted with the help of more than 20,000 farmers. “We are creating Miyawaki forests in Bengaluru almost every month,” he said.

Over time, Sharma realized that Bengaluru’s problem was not limited to trees, but extended to water. “This year alone, we revived nine lakes in Bengaluru and 29 in Bengaluru, Hyderabad and Pune. By the end of the year, we will touch 50 lakes,” he said, acknowledging challenges such as encroachment and changes in government priorities, but stressed, “We do not stop.”

Looking ahead, Sharma envisions reviving 500 lakes by 2030 and working with one lakh farmers. His message to the city is simple but powerful: “Bengaluru was built around lakes. We just need to reconnect the dots between trees, lakes and people. Once that happens, this city will be fine again.”