Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai on Monday, 20 July 2026 participated in a tree plantation drive at Swami Atmanand Utkrisht Vidyalaya in Durg district, reaffirming the state's commitment to environmental conservation during the state-level Shala Praveshotsav ceremony. The event marked the annual school admission festival and served as a platform to advance the 'Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam' (One Tree in the Name of Mother) campaign.

Context

Posting on X, Chief Minister Sai wrote: 'Maa jeevan deti hain, prakriti jeevan ko sanwaarti hai' — 'A mother gives life; nature nurtures life.' He described planting a tree as an act of preserving the blessings of both a mother and nature for future generations. He called on citizens to plant trees, protect them, and together build a 'green, clean, and developed Chhattisgarh.'

The Shala Praveshotsav is an annual state-level celebration marking the start of the new academic session, bringing together students, teachers, and government officials. Holding a plantation drive alongside it embeds environmental messaging within a high-visibility public event attended by school communities across the state.

Policy Backdrop

The 'Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam' campaign encourages citizens to plant and nurture trees as a tribute to their mothers, linking an emotional, personal act to broader afforestation goals. Chhattisgarh has maintained tree plantation programmes since its formation in 2000, continuing the national Van Mahotsav tradition launched in 1950.

The state also participates in the central government's Green India Mission, active since 2014, which targets the expansion of forest and tree cover nationwide. With over 44 percent forest cover, Chhattisgarh holds one of the highest proportions of green land among Indian states, yet faces ongoing pressure from industrial activity, particularly in districts like Durg.

State governments, particularly during the monsoon season, routinely integrate plantation drives with community and school events to maximise public participation and leverage favourable growing conditions.

Stakeholders and Impact

School students attending the Shala Praveshotsav are the primary participants, with the campaign designed to instil conservation values from an early age. The Swami Atmanand Utkrisht Vidyalaya network — a model government school initiative in Chhattisgarh — provides an institutional base for spreading such programmes to communities across the state.

Chhattisgarh's large forest-dependent tribal population has a direct stake in sustained afforestation, as healthy forest cover supports livelihoods, water security, and biodiversity. Industrial development pressures in districts such as Durg make community-anchored conservation drives particularly relevant.

What's Next

The state is expected to roll out the 'Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam' drive across remaining districts through the monsoon planting season. The long-term credibility of such campaigns will depend on tree survival audits and follow-up monitoring in subsequent years. A green Chhattisgarh, as articulated by Chief Minister Sai, will require sustained institutional effort well beyond individual plantation events.