CM Pema Khandu joins 'Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam' drive in Chimpu
Synopsis
Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu joined the 'Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam' plantation drive at Government Secondary School, Chimpu on 6 June 2026. Organised by BJP Arunachal and the State Minority Morcha, the event underscored the party's push to pair development with environmental responsibility under PM Modi's 12-year leadership.
Key Takeaways
CM Pema Khandu participated in the Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam drive at Government Secondary School, Chimpu on 6 June 2026 .
The event was jointly organised by BJP Arunachal Pradesh and the State Minority Morcha .
The Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam campaign was launched nationally by PM Narendra Modi in June 2024 to promote mass afforestation.
Khandu called tree-planting a 'lifelong mission,' linking the drive to 12 years of PM Modi's leadership.
Arunachal Pradesh sits in the ecologically sensitive Eastern Himalayas , adding strategic weight to state-level afforestation efforts.
Further plantation phases are expected ahead of the 2026 monsoon planting window.
Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu participated in the 'Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam' tree-plantation drive on Saturday, 6 June 2026, at Government Secondary School, Chimpu, in Itanagar. The event was organised by BJP Arunachal Pradesh in collaboration with the State Minority Morcha, drawing students, local residents, and party workers.
Context
Sharing photographs from the morning drive, CM Khandu called tree-planting a 'lifelong mission' rather than a once-a-year ritual, saying every sapling planted today would deliver 'cleaner air, a healthier environment and a better future for our children tomorrow.' He also thanked BJP karyakartas, students, volunteers, and the people of Chimpu for their participation.
The Chief Minister linked the drive to what he described as '12 years of transformative leadership' by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, framing environmental responsibility as inseparable from development — a recurring theme in the BJP's national messaging.
Policy Backdrop
The Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam campaign was launched nationally by Prime Minister Modi in June 2024, encouraging citizens to dedicate a sapling to their mothers as a gesture combining personal sentiment with mass afforestation. Since its launch, BJP units across multiple states have organised coordinated plantation drives under the campaign's banner, reflecting a deliberate party-government approach to climate and ecology messaging.
Arunachal Pradesh is one of India's most ecologically sensitive states, positioned along the India-China border in the Eastern Himalayas and home to exceptionally high biodiversity. State-level participation in centrally driven afforestation programmes carries added significance given this ecological profile.
Stakeholders and Impact
School students at Government Secondary School, Chimpu were among the direct participants, embedding environmental awareness early in the community. Local residents and BJP volunteers formed the broader base of the drive, consistent with the campaign's model of mobilising party networks for civic environmental action.
The State Minority Morcha's co-organisation signals an effort to broaden the campaign's reach across community lines in the state capital's locality of Chimpu.
What's Next
With the 2026 monsoon planting window approaching, further phases of the Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam campaign are expected across Arunachal Pradesh. State government reporting on sapling survival rates and cumulative plantation targets will be a key indicator of whether these drives translate into lasting forest-cover gains. CM Khandu's public commitment to making tree-planting a 'lifelong mission' suggests the state administration intends to sustain momentum beyond single-event drives.
Point of View
Using ecology as a soft-power vehicle ahead of the monsoon season. By invoking PM Modi's 12-year tenure, the event serves a dual purpose: reinforcing the Centre-state alignment on environmental policy while lending local visibility to a national scheme. For Arunachal Pradesh, a state with high ecological sensitivity and strategic border significance, afforestation messaging also carries a territorial stewardship dimension that extends beyond routine party optics. Whether the drives produce verifiable forest-cover improvements will ultimately determine their policy legacy over mere campaign value.
NationPress
24 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam campaign?
The Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam campaign is a nationwide tree-plantation initiative launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in June 2024, encouraging citizens to plant a sapling dedicated to their mothers as a symbol of environmental care.
Where did CM Pema Khandu join the plantation drive?
CM Pema Khandu joined the drive at Government Secondary School in Chimpu, a locality in Itanagar, the capital of Arunachal Pradesh, on 6 June 2026.
Who organised the Chimpu plantation event?
The event was organised by BJP Arunachal Pradesh in collaboration with the State Minority Morcha, with participation from school students, local residents, and party volunteers.
Why is tree plantation significant in Arunachal Pradesh?
Arunachal Pradesh is located in the ecologically sensitive Eastern Himalayas along the India-China border and has exceptionally high biodiversity, making afforestation efforts particularly important for both environmental and strategic reasons.
What did CM Khandu say about tree planting?
CM Khandu said that planting trees must become a 'lifelong mission' rather than a once-a-year activity, adding that every tree planted today will provide cleaner air, a healthier environment, and a better future for children.
