The Chief Minister's Office of Chhattisgarh announced on 5 June 2026 that Chief Minister Vishnu Dev Sai planted a Krishna Vat (banyan) sapling at a state-level function in Raipur, marking World Environment Day and formally launching the 2026-27 phase of the 'Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam' (One Tree in Mother's Name) campaign.

Context

Speaking at the event, CM Sai described the campaign — first launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on World Environment Day 2024 — as 'paryavaran sanrakshan ko jan andolan banane ki disha mein ek prerak aur bhavnatmak pahel' (an inspiring and emotional initiative to turn environmental conservation into a mass movement). The choice of the banyan, a tree of deep cultural significance in India, was deliberate in reinforcing the campaign's emotional connect between nature and motherhood.

World Environment Day, observed every 5 June, is the United Nations' principal vehicle for encouraging global awareness and action on pressing environmental issues. India has consistently used the occasion to anchor national and state-level afforestation drives.

Policy Backdrop

PM Modi introduced the 'Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam' campaign in 2024 with the explicit goal of converting tree plantation from a government exercise into a citizen-driven movement by invoking the universal sentiment of maternal love. Since its launch, multiple state governments have adopted the initiative through localised events and official endorsements, embedding it within their annual environmental calendars.

Chhattisgarh, which is among India's more densely forested states, has a structural stake in such campaigns. The state's forest cover forms a critical part of central India's green corridor, making biodiversity conservation a policy priority beyond ceremonial observance.

Stakeholders and Impact

At the same event, CM Sai honoured three individuals for outstanding contributions to social service and public welfare: Padma Shri Pandi Ram Mandavi, Jageshwar Yadav, and Dr. Ramchandra Godbole. The recognition underscored the state government's intent to celebrate grassroots environmental and social work alongside the plantation drive.

The Chhattisgarh State Biodiversity Board also used the occasion to release several publications documenting the state's biodiversity. These books are aimed at researchers, policymakers, and educators, strengthening the knowledge base for conservation planning across the state.

What's Next

The 2026-27 phase of the 'Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam' campaign in Chhattisgarh is now formally under way, with the state-level launch setting the tone for district and block-level plantation drives expected to follow. Implementation reports and participation targets for this phase will be a key metric for assessing the campaign's reach beyond urban centres like Raipur into the state's tribal and rural heartland.

The convergence of the plantation campaign with biodiversity publication and civil honours signals that Chhattisgarh is positioning its environmental agenda as a multi-stakeholder effort — one that links federal policy mandates with local recognition and scientific documentation.