Bhubaneswar: On the occasion of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s 75th birthday on September 17, Odisha is set to create a new record by planting 75 lakh saplings in a single day. This massive green initiative, described as a unique birthday gift to the Prime Minister, will see participation from students of all high schools and higher secondary schools across the state.
Additional Chief Secretary, Home, Forest, Environment and Climate Change Department, Shri Satyabrat Sahu, announced the plan after a high-level meeting. He emphasized the crucial role of students, calling them “beacons of green consciousness” and “green ambassadors” for their potential to inspire a long-term environmental protection movement. The event, he said, is not merely about increasing tree count but about building a large-scale mass movement.
Approximately 15 lakh students from around 40,000 schools, guided by 2 lakh teachers, will plant saplings at pre-determined locations. The program will be overseen by District Education Officers, with support from Additional District Education Officers, Block Education Officers, and school principals.
Principal Secretary, Agriculture and Farmers Empowerment Department, Dr. Arbinda Kumar Padhee, highlighted the students’ vital role in tree conservation. He urged students to take personal responsibility for the saplings, nurturing and protecting them after planting. The Horticulture Department will provide indigenous fruit saplings for free. To encourage participation, various competitions on the benefits of tree plantation and environmental protection will be held at the high school level, with prizes for winners on September 17.
Secretary of the School and Mass Education Department, Smt. Shalini Pandit, stated that the planting locations for each school will be decided in advance by the Community Development Officer and Education Officer.
Panchayati Raj Secretary Shri Girish S.N. confirmed that 37,000 plantation sites have been identified at the Panchayat level. Banners will be displayed at these locations. School authorities are instructed to contact Group Development Officers and Block Development Officers in advance to coordinate the event. The planting will take place from 5 am to 5 pm on September 17, with photos of the event being uploaded to the Meri Life portal. A training session for photo uploads will be held on September 11 at 11 am.
The meeting also featured a PowerPoint presentation by CAMPA Chief Executive Officer Shri G. Rajesh, who provided details about the “Ek Peed Ma’ Ke Naam 2.0” campaign, of which this event is a part. OSEPA State Project Director Ananya Das and Environment Director Shri K. S. Pradeep also offered suggestions. District Education Officers from all districts participated virtually to provide updates on their preparations.