Odisha Ministers Advocate for Gifting Plants Over Bouquets

Bhubaneswar: In a heartfelt call for environmental consciousness, three prominent Odisha Ministers have urged the public to replace flower bouquets with potted plants as New Year gifts. This initiative, championed by the Bakul Foundation, aims to blend climate action with cultural practices and foster a sustainable future.

Speaking at a press conference organized by the foundation, founder Sujit Mahapatra shed light on the “My Tree Campaign,” a 15-year-old initiative that encourages people to celebrate occasions like birthdays, weddings, and festivals by planting trees. Highlighting the potential impact, Mahapatra remarked, “If even 1% of the bouquets exchanged in Odisha were replaced by plants, it could lead to thousands of new trees being planted.”

Minister for Law, Works, and Excise Prithviraj Harichandan applauded the Bakul Foundation for integrating climate action into public discourse. He shared his department’s environment-friendly practices, including the use of recycled plastic in road construction and tree transplantation during infrastructure projects. Reflecting on his personal connection, Harichandan recounted planting a tree in memory of his brother-in-law, emphasizing the emotional value of such acts.

Ganesh Ram Singhkhuntia, Minister for Forest, Environment & Climate Change and Labour, lauded the campaign as a potential cultural revolution. He expressed optimism about grassroots initiatives achieving goals beyond the reach of government programs and called for a united effort to restore Odisha’s ecological balance by 2036. To inspire participation, he announced plans to plant a tree with his son on his birthday.

Suryabanshi Suraj, Minister for Odia Language, Literature & Culture, Higher Education, and Sports & Youth Services, linked the initiative to Odisha’s cultural roots. Referencing Lord Jagannath as “Daaru Debata,” he highlighted the spiritual significance of trees in Sanatana Dharma and praised the Bakul Foundation for aligning environmental actions with cultural traditions.

The event concluded with “Tree Man” Dedi Loku, a green superhero representing the Kui language, gifting plants to the Ministers as symbolic tokens of the campaign.