On Sunday, July 14, 2024, Indore set a world record by planting 11 lakh saplings in a single day under the 'Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam' campaign. With this achievement, Indore has surpassed the previous world record of planting 9.26 lakh saplings in a single day, a record previously held by Assam. The city which was already known for its cleanliness, good governance, cooperation, and participation, will now be recognized for this campaign.
The 'Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam' campaign was launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on World Environment Day, July 5, encouraging people to plant trees in honor of their mothers and Mother Earth. The campaign has a goal of planting 140 crore trees across India including 5.5 crore in Madhya Pradesh with Indore contributing 51 lakh saplings to this effort.
The drive was initiated by Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation, Amit Shah, at the BSF campus in Indore, in the presence of the Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh, Mohan Yadav, and Union Minister Savitri Thakur. In his speech, Amit Shah praised Prime Minister Modi's vision, which has transformed the campaign into a widespread movement. He highlighted that the people of Indore have shown outstanding participation, leading to the historic achievement of planting 11 lakh saplings in just one day. This effort not only demonstrates Indore's dedication to environmental sustainability but also sets an example for other cities.
He mentioned that the campaign includes planting different types of trees, such as Banyan, Neem, Peepal, and medicinal plants like Guava, Madhukamini, Karonda, Belpatra, and Amla, with new ponds created for irrigation.
The Union Home Minister also praised the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs) for exceeding their tree plantation target. Initially set to plant 5 crore trees by May 2024, the CAPFs achieved this goal ahead of schedule in 2023, planting a total of 5.21 crore saplings. Another 1 crore saplings are expected to be planted by the end of the year.
The campaign emphasizes the cultural and ecological importance of tree planting. The Union Home Minister referenced the Matsya Purana, which values a tree as highly as ten sons, and encouraged people to care for their plants like children, as mature trees will, in turn, take care of them like a mother.
The Indian government continuously works on national initiatives with a commitment to protecting the environment, including ethanol blending in fuel, the establishment of biomass refineries, and the Green Hydrogen Mission. Madhya Pradesh was also praised by the Union Home Minister for its significant forest cover, which boosts the country's oxygen supply and tourism with its many Tiger Reserves, National Parks, and Sanctuaries. These drives give hope that India will continue to advance as a secure, prosperous, and modern nation, proud of its environmental accomplishments and initiatives.
