Bhubaneswar, on the 75th birthday of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, 18 September (IANS), Odisha has set a national benchmark by planting more than 1.49 crore saplings in a single day as part of the ‘Ek Ped Mala Naam’ campaign.
While the nationwide target was on a plant of 75 million, Odisha’s extraordinary contribution – almost doubled from the total national target – stood as a green salute for both the environment and the Prime Minister’s vision.
The campaign saw the participation of about 4 lakh volunteers across the state, including government departments, local bodies, environment groups and enthusiastic citizens.
Forest and Environment Minister Ganesh Ram Singh Khuntia took initiative as a milestone in environmental protection.
Speaking to IANS, Khuntia said, “We are grateful to both Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chief Minister Mohan Charan Maji to guide and support this remarkable campaign. It is not just about planting trees – it is about securing the future for generations to come.”
The minister also announced the implementation of the Special Monitoring Machine, so that the panchayats can be assigned to work with long -term care and security.
“We hope that within 18 months, most of the plants planted will be well bang, make maintenance easier and more efficient,” he said.
Khantia confirmed the state’s commitment to combat climate change, global warming and ecological imbalance, saying that planting drive would continue as part of Odisha’s comprehensive stability agenda.
Prime Minister Modi, born on September 17, 1950 in Vadnagar, Gujarat, has become one of the most influential global leaders of our time. Humble is coming from the beginning – his father, Damodardas Modi ran a tea stall, while his mother, Hiraben, was a housewife – PM Modi’s rise is a story of patience and determination.
He left home at the age of 17 to travel across India, later attended the Rashturia Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), where discipline and service became central for his life. Inspired by Swami Vivekananda, PM Modi’s early years were shaped by spiritual discovery and actively, including participation in the movement against the Emergency.
After joining the BJP in 1985, PM Modi gave four terms as the Chief Minister of Gujarat from 2001 to 2014. He was sworn in as the 14th Prime Minister of India on 26 May 2014, and is currently serving his third consecutive term.
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JK/Red