Bhubaneswar, Sep 15 (NationPress) The Odisha government has announced an ambitious plan to plant 7.5 million saplings within just one day on September 17, coinciding with the birthday of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The initiative, dubbed “Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam 2.0”, serves to both honor the Prime Minister and advocate for environmental sustainability.

Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi held a pivotal preparatory meeting at Lok Seva Bhawan on Monday, assessing the campaign's readiness with senior officials and District Collectors.

Majhi characterized the tree planting effort as “a sincere tribute” from the citizens of Odisha to the Prime Minister.

“Participation is vital—from elected officials to students, youth to women’s groups. Only through a united effort can we reach this ambitious target,” emphasized the Chief Minister.

The CM urged all residents to plant a sapling, take a selfie with it, and share it on the Meri Life Portal and other social media platforms to showcase their contributions.

All participants will receive digital certificates via the portal. The tree plantation will occur from sunrise to sunset across all districts, engaging government departments, educational institutions, NGOs, businesses, banks, and community organizations.

A staggering number of 15 lakh students, 2 lakh teachers, 76,000 Anganwadi workers, 17,000 ASHA workers, 10,000 eco-clubs, 17,500 forest protection committees, 1 lakh NSS volunteers, 16,500 MY Bharat youth volunteers, and thousands of self-help groups and corporate volunteers will take part in this extensive plantation initiative.

Various government departments, including the police, have been assigned specific targets for the plantation.

Reflecting on the success of last year’s campaign, CM Majhi noted that Odisha planted 6.72 crore trees, securing the fourth position nationally. The target for 2025 is set at 7.5 crore trees, with 4.65 crore already planted.

The Chief Minister praised Prime Minister Modi’s vision for a self-sufficient and advanced India, commending his role in driving Odisha’s development.

“His leadership, spanning five decades, has been both transformative and inspirational for generations,” stated the CM.

Satyabrata Sahu, Additional Chief Secretary of the Forest & Environment Department, assured that the entire campaign will be monitored with the same diligence as an election, ensuring transparency and efficiency.

Chief Secretary Manoj Ahuja emphasized that regular follow-ups and survival checks on saplings will be conducted.

Odisha’s single-day plantation drive has been officially registered on the Meri Life Portal, and participants will qualify for digital certificates.

A focused promotional campaign across television and social media is also in progress to amplify the CM's message and raise awareness.