Pradhan joins 'Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam' drive in Redhakhol
Synopsis
Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan joined students, intellectuals, and local residents in Redhakhol, Odisha, on 8 August 2026 to plant trees under PM Modi's Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam afforestation campaign, praising student enthusiasm for the environmental drive.
Key Takeaways
Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan participated in a tree plantation drive in Redhakhol, Sambalpur district, Odisha on 8 August 2026 .
The event was held under the national Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam ('One Tree in the Name of Mother') campaign, launched by PM Narendra Modi in 2024 .
Participants included students, intellectuals, environmentalists, and local residents.
Pradhan specifically praised the enthusiasm of students for the environmental protection effort.
The campaign uses a personal, emotional appeal — planting a tree for one's mother — to drive mass afforestation participation across India.
In the heart of Sambalpur district, Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan joined students, intellectuals, environmentalists, and local residents on Saturday, 8 August 2026, to plant trees under the 'Maa Paain Gachhatiye' ('A Tree for Mother') campaign in Redhakhol, Odisha — a grassroots green push that carries national ambitions.
Posting in Odia, Pradhan wrote that he planted trees alongside students, thinkers, environmentalists, and the general public at the Redhakhol event, adding that the enthusiasm of students in carrying forward this environmental protection effort was praiseworthy. The post was tagged #EkPedMaaKeNaam and #Odisha, and accompanied by four images from the event.
The national campaign behind a local sapling
The Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam campaign — 'One Tree in the Name of Mother' — was launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2024 to drive nationwide afforestation through personal, emotional participation. The premise is deliberate: asking citizens to plant a tree as a tribute to their mothers converts an abstract environmental target into a family act, widening the base of participation far beyond government machinery.
Pradhan's appearance in Redhakhol fits a pattern now visible across BJP-governed and opposition-governed states alike — senior central ministers anchoring local plantation drives to sustain momentum for the campaign. For Pradhan, Odisha is home ground; his political career is rooted in the state, and his presence at a district-level event signals that the campaign is being pushed beyond state capitals into smaller towns.
Students at the centre of the drive
The minister's specific praise for student enthusiasm is not incidental. As the minister heading India's education portfolio, Pradhan has consistently sought to tie environmental awareness to school and college programming. Tree plantation drives linked to eco-clubs and school calendars have become a recurring instrument for state education departments to demonstrate civic engagement, and Saturday's event — with students, intellectuals, and community members on the same ground — reflects that convergence.
Whether this event seeds a formal integration of plantation activities into Odisha's academic calendar is a question state education administrators will now face. The energy on the ground in Redhakhol, at least, suggests the raw material is there.
Point of View
Combining his education portfolio with a student-led green drive reinforces a 'youth and future' narrative that he has cultivated since taking charge of the ministry. The campaign's emotional framing — planting for one's mother — also insulates it from the cynicism that often greets government-run afforestation targets. The real test, however, is whether these drives translate into verified, sustained tree survival rates rather than one-day photo events.
NationPress
8 Aug 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 national afforestation campaign launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2024 that encourages citizens to plant a tree as a tribute to their mothers, aiming to boost public participation in environmental protection.
Where is Redhakhol and why did Pradhan visit?
Redhakhol is a town in Sambalpur district, Odisha. Dharmendra Pradhan, who has deep political roots in Odisha, attended a tree plantation event there on 8 August 2026 as part of the Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam campaign.
What did Dharmendra Pradhan say about students at the event?
Pradhan stated that the enthusiasm of students in carrying forward the environmental protection effort was praiseworthy, posting in Odia on X alongside four images from the Redhakhol event.
How does the Education Ministry connect to tree plantation drives?
As Union Education Minister, Pradhan has linked environmental awareness to school programming; tree plantation drives tied to eco-clubs and school calendars are a recurring tool for state education departments to promote civic engagement among students.
Is Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam only for BJP-governed states?
No. The Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam campaign is a centrally launched national initiative and tree plantation events under it have been organised across both BJP-governed and opposition-governed states.
