Bhubaneswar, Odisha : Ek Ped Maa 2.0 campaign has successfully planted over 35 lakh saplings across Odisha, engaging villagers, students, youth groups, and self-help organizations. Spearheaded by the Panchayati Raj and Drinking Water Department, the initiative promotes environmental conservation while celebrating Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi’s 75th birthday.
Thousands of villagers, students, youth groups, and self-help organizations actively participated, turning the campaign into a vibrant mass movement for ecological sustainability. Panchayati Raj and Drinking Water Minister Shri Ravi Narayan Nayak praised the department’s efforts and encouraged citizens to take part in environmental initiatives that strengthen community engagement and ecological balance.
Under this drive, each Gram Panchayat planted approximately 500 saplings. The officials carefully selected species suitable for local soil and climate conditions, prioritizing shade-giving, fodder-providing, and environmentally beneficial trees. Local administrators, Panchayati Raj representatives, and departmental staff guided villagers on watering, protection, and early maintenance to ensure strong sapling growth.
The department integrated development programs like MGNREGA to support livelihoods while ensuring proper care and monitoring of saplings. Volunteers strategically planted saplings along village roadsides, school campuses, ponds, and community spaces to maximize environmental and social benefits. The department uploaded photographs of each sapling to a dedicated portal, enabling continuous monitoring and accountability.
Women’s self-help groups and local youth took responsibility for the saplings’ protection, ensuring that each plant received consistent attention. These proactive measures strengthened the campaign’s impact and guaranteed the saplings’ long-term survival.
The campaign became a shining example of community-driven environmental stewardship. Thousands of villagers and volunteers united to prioritize greenery and sustainable living, transforming the plantation into a model program for other regions.
In parallel, the government launched the ‘Swachhata Hi Seva’ initiative, engaging citizens in cleanliness drives until Gandhi Jayanti. By combining tree plantation with sanitation awareness, the department reinforced its vision for a cleaner, greener, and healthier Odisha.
The ‘Ek Ped Ma Ke Naam 2.0’ campaign created tangible ecological benefits and cultivated a sense of responsibility among citizens. It demonstrated that large-scale environmental conservation succeeds when communities unite, take action, and commit to sustainable development.
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