To mark the 75th birthday of Prime Minister Narendra Modi on September 17, Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi has announced a massive tree plantation drive.
As part of the second phase of the ‘Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam’ campaign, a record 75 lakh trees will be planted across the state in a single day.
During a preparatory meeting at the Lok Seva Bhawan in Bhubaneswar, CM Majhi described the plantation drive as a tribute from the people of Odisha to the Prime Minister, acknowledging his significant contributions to the state and the country.
He noted that the ‘Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam’ campaign, originally launched by PM Modi last year, has evolved into a widespread movement.
“This ‘Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam’ campaign has transformed into a mass movement. Last year, Odisha surpassed its target under this programme by planting 6.72 crore (67.2 million) trees, securing the fourth position nationwide. This year, the goal is to plant 7.5 crore (75 million) trees, and the Chief Minister announced that 75 lakh (7.5 million) trees will be planted in a single day, which he said would be a record,” said CM Majhi.
To ensure the success of the initiative, CM Majhi emphasized the crucial need for post-plantation care and protection. He called for extensive participation from multiple government departments, public sector units (PSUs), NGOs, youth associations, and local bodies like Panchayati Raj institutions and women’s self-help groups.
The Chief Minister has also directed the Information and Public Relations Department to launch a broad publicity campaign to ensure the drive becomes a mass movement for environmental protection, not just a one-off event. He stressed that simply planting a tree is not enough; every citizen and government employee must take responsibility for nurturing it.
Plantation efforts will focus on group forests, village forests, and roadsides, with a recommendation to plant locally suitable species such as Neem, Karanja, and Tamarind.
The data and photos of the plantations will be uploaded to the “Meri Life” portal for monitoring. Panchayat officers will be responsible for local implementation and supervision, and the CM proposed awards to recognize outstanding participation.
