Bhubaneswar: Building on the success of last year’s tree plantation drive, Odisha is set to take part in the nationwide campaign “Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam 2.0”, to be held during the Seva Parv from September 17 to October 2, 2025.
The campaign, launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on World Environment Day 2024, honors the selfless spirit of mothers by encouraging citizens to plant trees in their name. Last year, Odisha emerged as the fourth-highest contributor nationally, with 6.72 crore saplings planted by institutions, government bodies, and the public.
This year, the Ministry of Environment, Forest, and Climate Change is leading the drive across India to promote mass participation in afforestation efforts. Odisha’s Forest, Environment, and Climate Change Minister Ganesh Ram Singh Khuntia expressed confidence that the campaign would once again receive overwhelming support. He also stressed that “nurturing saplings to maturity is more important than simply planting them.”
Earlier on World Environment Day this year, Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi had called for citizens’ cooperation in achieving the state’s ambitious target of planting 7.5 crore saplings in 2025–26. To mark the Prime Minister’s 75th birthday on September 17, the Odisha government has also announced a one-day plantation drive of 75 lakh saplings across the state.
The program will be spearheaded by the Forest, Environment, and Climate Change Department in coordination with the Panchayati Raj and Drinking Water Department, Agriculture and Farmers’ Empowerment Department, Industries Department, Information and Public Relations Department, and several other government agencies.
