Indore, Madhya Pradesh: In a move towards environmental conservation, Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation Amit Shah inaugurated the ‘Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam’ campaign by planting saplings at the BSF campus in Indore. This ambitious drive aims to plant 11 lakh trees in a single day, contributing to a larger goal of planting 51 lakh trees in Indore, thus setting a world record.
The event was attended by several dignitaries, including the Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh, Mohan Yadav, and Union Minister Savitri Thakur. Earlier in the day, Amit Shah offered prayers at the Pitreshwar Hanuman Temple in Indore, which is known for housing the tallest sitting Hanuman statue in India.
In his address, Amit Shah credited Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the visionary ‘Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam’ campaign, emphasizing its roots in respecting both Mother Earth and maternal figures. “When Modi ji initiated this campaign, it was hard to foresee it growing into a people’s movement. Today, Indore is setting an example by linking cleanliness, good governance, and environmental stewardship,” he remarked. Shah highlighted Indore’s transformation into a green city, complementing its status as a smart, metro, and clean city, as well as a hub of modern education.
Shah underscored that such massive campaigns are successful only with community involvement, lauding the state government for involving all residents. He praised the young mayor of Indore for the innovative idea of creating forests named after great personalities, thereby involving every caste and community in the initiative. The campaign has seen the planting of long-lived trees like Banyan, Neem, and Peepal, along with medicinal trees like Guava, Madhukamini, Karonda, Belpatra, and Amla. Additionally, three ponds have been created to ensure adequate irrigation for the nine planned forests.
Highlighting the efforts of the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs), Shah revealed that the CAPFs had achieved their goal of planting 5 crore trees by 2023, well ahead of the May 2024 target. By the end of this year, they plan to plant an additional 1 crore saplings. Quoting the Matsya Purana, Shah emphasized the importance of trees, stating, “A tree is equal to 10 sons. Plants should be nurtured like children until they grow, after which they will take care of us like our mothers.”
Shah also detailed the numerous national-level environmental initiatives under Prime Minister Modi’s leadership. These include the goal of achieving 20% ethanol blending in petrol and diesel by 2025, the establishment of more than 12 refineries for converting biomass into biofuel, and a Rs 20,000 crore program under the Green Hydrogen Mission. Additionally, Modi has launched the Govardhan Scheme and the National Adaptation Fund for Climate Change.
Praising Prime Minister Modi’s global environmental efforts, Shah noted, “Modi ji’s initiatives like ‘One Earth, One Family, One Future’ and the Global Biofuel Alliance at the G-20 summit have earned him the United Nations’ Champion of Earth award.”
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