Ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's 76th birthday on 17 September, beneficiaries of the Annapurna Yojana in Purulia district, West Bengal, have planted trees as a symbolic 'birthday gift' to the Prime Minister, drawing inspiration from his 'Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam' initiative. The gesture underscores how government welfare scheme beneficiaries across the country are finding personal ways to mark the occasion.

The Tree-Planting Initiative

Mamata Mahato and Lenin Mahato, residents of Amlatora village in Purulia district and beneficiaries of the Annapurna Yojana, planted trees in their own field to celebrate the occasion. The couple said they were inspired by Modi's 'Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam' campaign to plant the trees in the name of mother earth. The initiative, according to the couple, represents their personal commitment to carrying forward the Prime Minister's message of a clean and green environment.

What the Beneficiaries Said

Mamata Mahato said, 'September 17 is the birthday of our country's Prime Minister Narendra Modi. On this auspicious occasion, honouring the message given by PM Narendra Modi — 'Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam', we have planted a tree in the name of our mother. By planting this tree, we are giving him a birthday gift.'

Lenin Mahato added, 'My wife and I have taken an initiative to plant trees alongside keeping our village clean, to make our village green. September 17 is Narendra Modi Ji's birthday, so by planting a tree, we sent a small message to Narendra Modi that along with cleanliness, we will fill our area and our village with greenery.' He further noted, 'Throughout this rainy season, we plan to plant as many trees as possible and nurture those trees. For us, planting trees is not just a program. This is a small responsibility for our future generations. If nature survives, we will survive.'

About 'Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam'

The 'Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam' initiative was launched by Prime Minister Modi in 2025, with the broader objective of serving Mother Nature and encouraging citizens to plant trees in honour of their mothers. The Mahato couple said they are also actively spreading awareness among fellow villagers about maintaining a clean environment and educating school children on its importance.

Nationwide 'Aashirwad Ka Diya' Campaign

The tree-planting effort is part of a wider wave of grassroots activities organised ahead of the Prime Minister's birthday. Lakhs of beneficiaries of various central welfare programmes are set to participate in a campaign called 'Aashirwad Ka Diya', wherein they will light a lamp at their homes on 17 September — in a manner reminiscent of Diwali celebrations — as an expression of gratitude. The nationwide effort reflects the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)'s sustained outreach to welfare scheme beneficiaries as a political constituency ahead of several upcoming state elections.

How far the momentum of such grassroots expressions translates into broader environmental impact will depend on whether individual initiatives like the Mahatos' are institutionalised into sustained community programmes beyond the birthday week.