Odisha will plant 75 lakh saplings on September 17, 2025, Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s 75th birthday, under ‘Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam 2.0’, led by CM Mohan Charan Majhi to honour both mothers and Mother Earth
Mrunal Manmay Dash
Odisha is going to witness a mass plantation on September 17 with 75 lakh saplings on a single day. The day has been specifically chosen as it coincides with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s 75th birthday, who had launched the ‘Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam’ campaign last year.
The second edition of the campaign, which was launched on June 5 this year will see plantation of 7.5 crore saplings across Odisha before it comes to an end on March 31, 2026. However, only September 17 has been earmarked to plant a record number of 75 lakh saplings.
In a video message for Odisha, Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi said, “Mother is the greatest blessing on earth. Like the biological mother, Mother Earth is another ‘Maa’. Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has initiated ‘Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam’ campaign for the protection of mother earth. The drive which began last year, has turned in to a mass movement today.”
“In this second edition of the campaign, we have a target of planting 7.5 crore saplings. On September 17 alone, the birthday of PM Modi, 75 lakh saplings will be planted across the State. It will be a fitting gift to PM Modi for his efforts and focus to develop Odisha,” he added.
CM Majhi called upon everybody to be a part of this drive and plant a tree for safeguarding of Mother Earth and help build a sustainable world for the future generations.
Odisha Forest, Environment and Climate Change Minister, Ganesh Ram Singkhuntia said, “Odisha has planned to plant 75 lakh saplings in a single day on September 17, the birthday of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. As per the Chief Minister’s instruction, several Departments have also been roped in for the campaign. Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam is a drive to honour the biological mother and the Mother Earth in order to keep it safe. I would like to request all the citizens of Odisha to plant a tree on September 17 and upload a picture doing so in the Meri LiFE portal.”
Supporting the government in this campaign, many eminent personalities from various walks of the society have also extended their solidarity.
Famous Sand Artist Sudarsan Pattnaik who has displayed his support for the cause with a sand sculpture at Puri beach said, “Acting upon the clarion call by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Mohan Charan Majhi, Chief Minister, Odisha has proposed an initiative to plant 75 lakh saplings on September 17. Through this sand sculpture, I request all the people of Odisha to plant a sapling on that day under ‘Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam 2.0’ initiative.”
Eminent writer, Dr Pratibha Ray hailed the ‘Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam’ 2.0 initiative. According to her, “Without nature, there won’t be any literature, neither any song nor dance. So it is necessary to keep planting saplings for a sustainable future.”
MLA and Actor Sidhant Mohapatra lauded CM Majhi’s call to plant 75 lakh saplings on September 17. He said, “Mother is the embodiment of love, affection and sacrifice. This earth is our mother too. Let us plant saplings for its protection under the Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam 2.0 drive.”
The single-day plantation drive, a dream campaign of CM Majhi, is led by Department of Forest, Environment and Climate Change, in collaboration with Agriculture and Farmers Empowerment, and Panchayati Raj and Drinking Water Departments strategically spreading the plantation drive from the grassroots level to the urban hotspots of the State.
It is worth mentioning here that the Government of Odisha, through its progressive environmental policies, has been actively spearheading plantation drives across the state. With Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam 2.0, the vision goes beyond plantation—it is about creating a bond between people and trees, much like the bond with a mother.
The idea resonates with families and communities, making plantation a heartfelt act rather than a mere compliance exercise. The campaign promotes not only to plant saplings but to nurture them into thriving trees that will stand as living testaments to love, care, and responsibility towards Mother Earth.
The State government is actively promoting the campaign through print, outdoor, electronic and social media reaching out to a wide range of audiences. A video song titled, ‘Maa Pain Gachha Tie..’ (A Tree For The Mother) produced by the Department is making rounds in social media.