Bhubaneswar: Odisha will plant 75 lakh saplings on September 17, when Prime Minister Narendra Modi will celebrate his 75th birthday, as part of the Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam campaign, Chief Minister Mohan Majhi informed on Thursday.
“This will be a gift from the people of Odisha to the Prime Minister for his commitment to the state’s development and goodwill towards its people. Last year, on his birthday, he visited Odisha and launched the Subhadra Yojana to honour our mothers,” the CM said while chairing a preparatory meeting at Lok Seva Bhawan here on the campaign.
The Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam campaign was launched by the Prime Minister last year. The second edition, Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam 2.0, began on June 5 and will continue till September 30 this year. The state government has set a target of planting at least 7.5 crore saplings during this campaign.
The Chief Minister further stated that the Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam campaign has transformed into a people’s movement. “Last year, Odisha surpassed its target by planting 6.72 crore saplings, securing the fourth position in the country. This year, the goal is to plant 7.5 crore samplings, including 75 lakh on a single day,” Majhi said, terming it as a record-breaking effort.
The CM further stated that while the Forest and the Agriculture & Farmers’ Empowerment departments have key responsibilities, the campaign should be expanded by involving various government departments, PSUs, NGOs, youth organisations, and voluntary institutions to ensure its success.
Panchayat institutions, schools, colleges, and self-help groups will also play a crucial role, he said.
Majhi also directed the Information and Public Relations department to promote the campaign and transform it into a people’s movement for environmental protection. “Planting saplings is not enough; ensuring their care and protection is equally important. Every government employee and the public must take care of these plants,” he said.
Majhi suggested selecting saplings of neem, karanja, tamarind, mahua, arjuna, harida, bahada, jackfruit, palm, pijuli, krishnachura, peepal, banyan, ashoka, jamun, kadamba, amla, deodar, sunari, and chakunda for community forests, village forests, roadside plantations, and individual planting. He also instructed that photos and data of the tree plantation be uploaded to the Meri LiFE portal. “Panchayat officers will accelerate and monitor the plantation efforts in rural areas,” he said while recommending awards at individual and group levels for outstanding performance and ensuring the supply of saplings suitable for local fruit production.
