Rijiju presents Modi govt booklet, plants tree in Andaman
Synopsis
Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju visited South Andaman on 19 June 2026 to present a booklet on 12 years of the Modi government and plant a tree at Padma Shri awardee K. Chellammal's organic coconut farm under the Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam campaign.
Key Takeaways
Kiren Rijiju visited Rangachang, South Andaman District on 19 June 2026 for the Special Public Outreach Campaign.
He presented a booklet highlighting 12 years of achievements of the Modi government under the #12YearsOfSeva initiative.
Rijiju participated in a tree-plantation drive under #EkPedMaaKeNaam at Padma Shri awardee Smt.
Chellammal's organic coconut farm.
Anil Kumar Tiwari , State President of BJP Andaman and Nicobar , joined the minister at the event.
The minister cited goals of 'empowering the poor, strengthening infrastructure, ensuring last-mile delivery and building an Aatmanirbhar Bharat .'
Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju visited the Andaman and Nicobar Islands on Friday, 19 June 2026, presenting a booklet on the achievements of the Modi government's 12 years under the Special Public Outreach Campaign and participating in a tree-plantation drive at Padma Shri awardee Smt. K. Chellammal's organic coconut farm in Rangachang, South Andaman District.
Context
The visit was part of the BJP-led central government's #12YearsOfSeva outreach initiative, marking 12 years of the Narendra Modi government since it first assumed office in May 2014. Rijiju presented the achievement booklet and joined the tree-plantation drive under the #EkPedMaaKeNaam campaign — a nationwide initiative encouraging citizens to plant trees in the name of their mothers. Anil Kumar Tiwari, State President of BJP Andaman and Nicobar, accompanied the minister at the event.
Rijiju described the past 12 years as 'a remarkable journey' under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, citing a 'commitment to empowering the poor, strengthening infrastructure, ensuring last-mile delivery and building an Aatmanirbhar Bharat.'
Policy Backdrop
The Aatmanirbhar Bharat Abhiyan, or Self-Reliance Mission, was announced by Prime Minister Modi in May 2020 as a comprehensive economic recovery and domestic-production push aimed at reducing India's import dependence. It has since become a central pillar of the ruling party's governance narrative, frequently invoked at outreach events across states and union territories.
The Special Public Outreach Campaign is a recurring government mechanism to take scheme-delivery updates directly to citizens, particularly in geographically remote regions. The Andaman and Nicobar Islands, a union territory in the Bay of Bengal, have received sustained central attention on connectivity, sustainable agriculture, and tourism development since 2014.
Stakeholders and Impact
The choice of venue — Smt. K. Chellammal's organic coconut farm in Rangachang — signals the government's intent to spotlight grassroots achievers in remote regions. Chellammal is a Padma Shri recipient recognised for her contribution to organic coconut farming in the islands, and her farm provided a symbolic backdrop linking agricultural self-reliance with the broader Aatmanirbhar Bharat message.
Island farmers and rural communities across the Andaman and Nicobar Islands are among the primary stakeholders of central welfare and infrastructure programmes highlighted in such outreach campaigns. Events of this nature also serve to reinforce the presence of BJP's organisational machinery in union territories where the party does not contest assembly elections.
What's Next
Similar outreach events under the #12YearsOfSeva and #EkPedMaaKeNaam banners are expected to continue across other union territories and coastal states as the government's anniversary campaign progresses. Parliamentary discussions on island infrastructure investment and central support for organic-farming initiatives in remote union territories remain areas to watch in the coming sessions.
Point of View
The BJP threads together self-reliance, grassroots recognition, and ecological responsibility into a single optic. The #12YearsOfSeva campaign appears designed to sustain political momentum in the run-up to future electoral cycles, including in union territories where the party's organisational outreach substitutes for assembly-level contests. The integration of the nationwide Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam drive into a partisan outreach event also illustrates how the ruling party routinely embeds government-sponsored campaigns within its own political communication.
NationPress
5 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the #12YearsOfSeva campaign?
#12YearsOfSeva is a BJP-led central government outreach initiative marking 12 years of the Narendra Modi government since May 2014, involving events across India to publicise scheme achievements and governance milestones.
What is Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam?
Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam is a nationwide tree-plantation campaign promoted by the central government that encourages citizens to plant a tree in the name of their mothers as a gesture of environmental commitment.
Who is K. Chellammal?
Smt. K. Chellammal is a Padma Shri awardee from the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, recognised for her contributions to organic coconut farming in the region.
What is Aatmanirbhar Bharat?
Aatmanirbhar Bharat, or Self-Reliant India, is an economic initiative announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in May 2020 to boost domestic production, reduce import dependence, and strengthen local economies.
Why did Kiren Rijiju visit Andaman and Nicobar Islands?
Rijiju visited South Andaman on 19 June 2026 to participate in the Special Public Outreach Campaign, present a booklet on 12 years of the Modi government's achievements, and join a tree-plantation drive at a local organic farm.
