The Chief Minister's Office of Uttarakhand on 5 June 2026 — World Environment Day — shared remarks by Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami endorsing Prime Minister Narendra Modi's nationwide 'Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam' (One Tree in Mother's Name) campaign, calling it a symbol of reverence for nature, motherhood, and cultural values.

Context

Speaking through the official CMO handle, CM Dhami described the campaign as a matter of 'pride and faith,' stating that through mass tree-plantation drives it simultaneously advances environmental protection and expresses respect for matrishakti (the power of motherhood). The post was shared on the occasion of World Environment Day, lending added symbolic weight to the message.

The original Hindi statement reads: 'यह हमारे लिए गर्व और आस्था का विषय है कि इस अभियान के माध्यम से विशाल संख्या में पौधारोपण कर पर्यावरण संरक्षण के साथ मातृशक्ति के प्रति सम्मान भी व्यक्त किया जा रहा है' — 'It is a matter of pride and faith for us that through this campaign, trees are being planted in vast numbers, honouring both environmental conservation and the power of motherhood.'

Policy Backdrop

Prime Minister Modi launched the 'Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam' campaign in 2024, inviting citizens across India to plant a tree in their mother's name as a gesture combining ecological responsibility with cultural sentiment. The campaign drew on India's long-standing National Afforestation Programme, which has provided institutional support for large-scale plantation drives since 2002.

Uttarakhand, a Himalayan state with significant ecological sensitivity, has been a natural participant in such drives. Its forests form a critical watershed for several north Indian river systems, making afforestation targets here directly relevant to downstream water security and biodiversity conservation.

Stakeholders and Impact

The campaign engages state forest departments as the primary implementing agencies, coordinating with local communities and citizen volunteers to meet plantation targets. By framing tree-planting as a tribute to mothers, the initiative aims to deepen public participation beyond routine government drives.

For Uttarakhand specifically, successful afforestation carries implications for soil stability, reduction of flash-flood risk, and alignment with India's commitments under international climate frameworks. CM Dhami's public endorsement signals continued state-level administrative support for the campaign's goals.

What's Next

Attention will now turn to state-level plantation reports and survival-rate assessments as the monsoon season approaches — the period most critical for newly planted saplings. Any expansion of the campaign's scope or targets announced by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change will determine how ambitiously Uttarakhand scales its participation in the coming months.

The broader pattern of linking afforestation with cultural symbolism has proven effective in mobilising public engagement across Indian states; whether Uttarakhand can translate that enthusiasm into verifiable, sustained green cover gains will be the real measure of the campaign's success.