Bhubaneswar: Odisha witnessed a massive plantation drive on September 25, with over 47 lakh saplings planted across the State in a single day under ‘Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam 3.0’.
The plantation drive, held as part of Seva Sankalp Abhiyan–2026, saw participation from all districts and Gram Panchayats, bringing communities across the State together for a common resolve towards a greener and healthier Odisha.
The scale of the State-wide mobilisation was evident as this year’s single-day plantation surpassed last year’s figure of 37 lakh saplings. The plantation was carried out at over 14,000 sites across the State, reflecting the scale of participation and the reach of the campaign at the grassroots.
Minister for Rural Development and Panchayati Raj & Drinking Water, Rabi Narayan Naik, welcomed the state-wide participation, noting that the involvement of every district and Gram Panchayat reflected the collective resolve of the people of Odisha to protect the environment and build a greener future. He emphasised that plantation is only the beginning, with nurturing the saplings and ensuring their survival being an equally important shared responsibility.
He called for the spirit generated through the campaign to be sustained to make villages across Odisha greener, healthier and more sustainable.
Commissioner-cum-Secretary, Panchayati Raj & Drinking Water, Girish S.N., congratulated all those involved in the achievement, observing that it demonstrated how the latent potential of the state can be realised through serious and coordinated team effort. He particularly appreciated the efforts of the teams across the state, who delivered this feat despite inclement weather conditions, and emphasised the need to sustain the same spirit and momentum in the days ahead.
The scale of the plantation drive reflects the collective strength of Odisha’s grassroots institutions and communities. With 47 lakh-plus saplings taking root across Odisha in a single day, ‘Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam 3.0’ has brought environmental action to the grassroots and reinforced a shared responsibility to nurture the saplings and protect the green future they represent.
