Kishan Reddy Plants Sapling in Chennai Under Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam
Synopsis
Union Coal and Mines Minister G. Kishan Reddy planted a sapling at West Mambalam, Chennai, on 21 June 2026 under PM Modi's Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam campaign, urging citizens to plant trees in honour of their mothers as a pledge toward a greener future.
Key Takeaways
Kishan Reddy , Union Minister of Coal and Mines, planted a sapling at West Mambalam, Chennai on 21 June 2026 .
The event was part of PM Narendra Modi 's Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam campaign, launched on World Environment Day, June 2024 .
The campaign encourages citizens to plant a tree in honour of their mothers as a symbol of environmental commitment.
The initiative aligns with India's Green India Mission , approved in 2014 , which targets expanded forest and tree cover under the National Action Plan on Climate Change.
Reddy called on the public to join the movement, framing tree plantation as a step toward preserving nature for future generations.
Union Coal and Mines Minister G. Kishan Reddy participated in Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam campaign on Sunday, 21 June 2026, planting a sapling at West Mambalam, Chennai, as a public pledge toward environmental conservation.
Context
Reddy, who also serves as BJP Telangana state president, joined the nationwide afforestation drive during his visit to Tamil Nadu. Sharing images from the event on X, he wrote that 'every tree we plant is a step towards environmental conservation and a stronger commitment to preserving nature for future generations.' He urged citizens to join the movement and plant a tree in honour of their mothers.
The Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam (One Tree in the Name of Mother) campaign was launched by Prime Minister Modi on World Environment Day, June 2024, to encourage citizen-led and government-backed tree plantation across India.
Policy Backdrop
The campaign sits within a broader framework of India's climate commitments. The Green India Mission, approved in 2014 as part of the National Action Plan on Climate Change, set long-term targets for expanding forest and tree cover across the country.
Successive administrations have used periodic afforestation drives — involving ministerial participation — to raise urban green cover and reinforce national sustainability messaging. The current campaign extends that tradition, with a symbolic emphasis on maternal tribute to broaden public participation.
Stakeholders and Impact
Urban residents and environmental groups in Chennai stand as the immediate audience for such visible ministerial participation. Events of this kind are intended to normalise tree-planting as a civic act and to amplify the campaign's reach through social media.
Tamil Nadu has its own urban forestry initiatives under municipal bodies, and observers will watch whether the national campaign's momentum is integrated into local greening plans for cities like Chennai.
What's Next
The Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam campaign continues to draw participation from ministers, legislators, and public figures across party lines, with the government encouraging documentation and sharing of plantation pledges. Longer-term scrutiny will focus on sapling survival rates and whether state-level bodies in Tamil Nadu incorporate campaign plantings into measurable urban forestry targets.
Point of View
Visible alignment with a green campaign serves a dual purpose: it reinforces the government's sustainability narrative while broadening the party's outreach in Tamil Nadu. The campaign itself, now in its second year, has become a standard fixture in ministerial public engagement, raising questions about whether symbolic planting events translate into measurable gains in urban tree cover. The real test will lie in whether state and municipal bodies in Tamil Nadu embed these pledges into auditable urban forestry plans.
NationPress
21 Jun 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam campaign?
Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam, meaning 'One Tree in the Name of Mother,' is a nationwide tree plantation campaign launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on World Environment Day in June 2024, urging citizens and officials to plant trees as a tribute to their mothers and a commitment to environmental conservation.
Why did Kishan Reddy plant a tree in Chennai?
G. Kishan Reddy planted a sapling at West Mambalam, Chennai, as part of his participation in the Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam campaign, pledging support for a greener and more sustainable future under PM Modi's initiative.
Where exactly did Kishan Reddy plant the sapling?
The sapling was planted at West Mambalam, a locality in Chennai, Tamil Nadu, on 21 June 2026.
What is the Green India Mission?
The Green India Mission is a government programme approved in 2014 under the National Action Plan on Climate Change, aimed at increasing India's forest and tree cover to support climate targets and biodiversity conservation.
How can citizens participate in Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam?
Citizens can participate by planting a tree in honour of their mothers and sharing their pledge on social media under the campaign hashtag, as encouraged by the government and participating public figures.
