CNN Central News & Network–ITDC India Epress/ITDC News Bhopal: A World Record of Planting 1.1 Million Saplings in One Day in Indore under the ‘Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam’ Campaign
Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s ‘Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam’ campaign has now become a mass movement. Today, people across the country are participating in the campaign, planting saplings to honor their mothers and Mother Earth. The campaign will also be known for its focus on cleanliness, good governanAmit Shah ce, cooperation, and participation throughout the country.
Nurture the saplings like a child until they grow up; later, they will take care of you like a mother. The Home Minister praised all the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs) for achieving the goal of planting 50 million trees ahead of schedule. So far, all CAPFs have planted 52.1 million saplings and plan to plant another 10 million by the end of this year.
Prime Minister Modi has become the country’s leader for the third time, and under his leadership, India will become more secure, prosperous, and modern, leading the world in every field.
Union Home and Cooperation Minister Amit Shah today inaugurated the event by planting a tree at the BSF campus in Indore, marking the beginning of the program to plant 1.1 million saplings in one day under the ‘Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam’ campaign. The event was attended by many dignitaries, including the Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh, Dr. Mohan Yadav.
In his address, Amit Shah said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has called upon the people of the country to join the ‘Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam’ campaign. He mentioned that when Prime Minister Modi started this campaign, no one expected it to become a movement. Today, people across the country are planting trees in the name of their mothers, paying tribute to both their mothers and Mother Earth. Indore, known for its cleanliness, taste, good governance, cooperation, and participation, will now also be known for the ‘Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam’ tree-planting campaign. Indore, already recognized as a smart city, metro city, clean city, and hub of modern education, will now also be known as a green city.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah emphasized that this program is not just a government initiative, as the administration can only provide facilities but cannot ensure the success of any campaign. The state government has involved the entire population of Indore in this campaign. The youth of Indore have initiated the creation of various forests named after different great personalities from various castes and communities. Alongside long-lived trees like banyan, neem, and peepal, medicinal trees like guava, madhukamini, karonda, bael, custard apple, and amla have also been planted. Nine forests will be developed in the area, along with three ponds for irrigation.
Praising the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs), Shah mentioned that a goal was set for all CAPFs to plant 50 million trees by May 2025. The CAPFs achieved this target a year early, having planted 52.1 million saplings to date, with plans to plant another 10 million by the end of the year, totaling 60 million trees. The Matsya Purana states that one tree is equivalent to 10 sons, 10 sons to one pond, 10 ponds to one well, and 10 wells to one tree, highlighting the significance of trees.
Amit Shah stated that Prime Minister Modi has urged us to think ahead for future generations. With the current pace of global development, environmental protection has become a concern not just for India but for the entire world. He noted that the ‘Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam’ campaign is a precise response to the problem of climate change. Madhya Pradesh, with 31% of its total area covered by forests, contributes significantly to providing oxygen to the entire country. It holds 12% of India’s total forest cover, promoting various tourism activities. Madhya Pradesh has six tiger reserves, 11 national parks, and 24 sanctuaries, and Prime Minister Modi has also introduced cheetahs to the Kuno Tiger Reserve, benefiting the environment. Amit Shah mentioned that Prime Minister Modi initiated several initiatives at the G-20, such as One Earth, One Family, One Future, and the Global Biofuel Alliance, earning him the Champion of the Earth award from the United Nations.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah stated that numerous national-level initiatives have been taken for environmental protection under Prime Minister Modi’s leadership. Permission has been granted for 20% ethanol blending in petrol and diesel, with the goal to achieve this nationwide by 2025. More than 12 refineries have been established to convert biomass into biofuel, and a program worth 20,000 crore rupees has been prepared under the Green Hydrogen Mission. Additionally, Prime Minister Modi has introduced the Govardhan Scheme and the National Adaptation Fund for Climate Change with a vision for environmental protection.
Amit Shah mentioned that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has become the country’s leader for the third time, and under his leadership, India will become safer, more prosperous, and more modern, leading the world in every field. He acknowledged that Madhya Pradesh also deserves significant credit for this achievement. Shah highlighted that Chief Minister Dr. Mohan Yadav’s government in Madhya Pradesh has initiated numerous development programs, including the recent presentation of a 3.65 trillion rupee budget, the largest in the state’s history, which will balance development and agriculture.