Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam: 500 Saplings Planted in One Day at Koraput
On the 75th birthday of Honourable Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, Odisha marked 17th September 2025 with a state-wide environmental initiative under the “Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam” campaign. The state has set a historic target of planting 75 lakh saplings in a single day, strengthening the movement that has evolved into a people’s initiative since its inception last year. Honourable Chief Minister Shri Mohan Charan Majhi highlighted the significance of trees as symbols of life, companionship, and prosperity, calling upon citizens to contribute towards building a greener and healthier Odisha for future generations.
In this context, the M.S. Swaminathan Research Foundation (MSSRF), in collaboration with the Forest Department, actively participated in the district-level programme at Koraput, which was inaugurated by Shri Raghuram Machha, Honourable MLA, Koraput, in the presence of Shri Manoj Satyawan Mahajan, IAS, Collector, Koraput, Shri K.V. Bhaskar Rao, DFO, Koraput, CDEO, DIG-Police, Deputy Director Horticulture, Shri Hemant Kumar Padhiary, ADO Koraput, Shri Pradip Kumar Mishra, Programme Head, FES Koraput, Dr. Kartik Charan Lenka, Scientist MSSRF, and other dignitaries including members of the SOG Battalion. As part of the initiative, 500 saplings were planted during the event.
To raise awareness among school children and the public, a street play was performed, highlighting the importance of tree plantation and environmental conservation. The programme witnessed enthusiastic participation of nearly 400 individuals from various departments, including the Special Operations Group (SOG), schools, and other line departments. The event was jointly organised by Koraput Forest Division, MSSRF, and the Foundation for Ecological Security.
In addition to the district-level event, MSSRF also coordinated tree plantation programmes at Kuntarkhal in Jeypore block and Lima School in Kundra block. At Kuntarkhal, the plantation drive was graced by Shri Narendra Mohanty, Chairman, Jeypore Municipality, and Smt. Saraswati Majhi, Sarpanch, along with officials from the Forest Department including the DFO, ACF, Ranger, and other departmental staff. Similarly, at Lima School, the programme was inaugurated by Dr. Raimati Ghiuria, popularly known as the Millet Queen, in the presence of the Vice Chairman and Headmaster of Lima High School under Jeypore Forest Division.
Overall, the celebrations formed part of the state’s record-breaking initiative to plant 75 lakh trees in a single day. The MSSRF programmes were coordinated by Dr. Kartik Charan Lenka, Scientist MSSRF, under the guidance of Mr. Prashant Kumar Parida, Director, Tribal Agrobiodiversity Centre (TAbC), MSSRF, Jeypore.