Prime Minister Narendra Modi is garnering recognition for his ambitious "Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam" initiative, which translates to "One Tree for Mother," aimed at boosting afforestation efforts across India. During the most recent episode of his popular radio program, Mann Ki Baat, on November 24, 2024, the Prime Minister revealed the astounding achievement of planting 100 crore (1 billion) trees within just five months of the campaign's launch. This accomplishment has drawn extensive participation from citizens across the nation, demonstrating their commitment to environmental sustainability.
PM Modi's announcement not only highlighted the vast scale of tree planting efforts but also provided inspiring anecdotes of community involvement. He pointed out remarkable feats, such as the planting of over 12 lakh (1.2 million) trees within 24 hours in Indore, Madhya Pradesh, and showcased the enthusiastic efforts of women teams who planted 25,000 trees in just one hour at Jaisalmer, Rajasthan. Modi emphasized the personal connections and emotions tied to the campaign, encouraging individuals to plant trees as tributes to their mothers, thereby keeping their memory alive.
Through various stories, PM Modi illustrated how organizations have aligned their tree-planting initiatives with local environmental needs. For example, self-help groups for women have taken the lead to plant 75 lakh (7.5 million) fruit trees across Bihar, linking economic development to ecological health. By planting these trees, not only are they contributing to the environment, but they are also generating future income for their families.
During the program, the Prime Minister expressed heartfelt gratitude for the overwhelming response, acknowledging the collective effort of citizens and local organizations, which now extends beyond India, with influences reaching international shores. For example, Guyana's President Irfan Ali has also voiced support for the initiative, which invites greater global participation. PM Modi remarked, “Your support will always be cherished,” appreciating the commitment shown by not just citizens of India, but of Guyana as well.
One fascinating point raised during the episode was the concerning decline of the sparrow population due to urbanization. PM Modi noted how many children today are unable to witness the cheerful presence of sparrows, referring to them by their regional names across various Indian languages. He urged communities to take steps to restore biodiversity by fostering environments where these birds can thrive once more.
Showcasing initiatives like the Kudugal Trust from Chennai, which engages children to build nests for sparrows, Modi underlined the importance of teaching the younger generation about the environment. Over four years, the organization has made 10,000 nests, and as per reports, there has been a noticeable increase in the sparrow population in these areas.
The Prime Minister also applauded the 'Early Bird' initiative based out of Mysuru, Karnataka, which conducts educational programs for children, allowing them to learn about bird species and how to connect with nature, thereby raising awareness and appreciation for local wildlife.
PM Modi concluded the episode by calling on listeners to replicate these efforts within their communities, emphasizing the necessity of sustaining cultural connections to nature. He implored those inspired by these initiatives to document and share their own journeys of planting and nurturing trees, possibly through selfies on the MyGov platform, thereby fostering community spirit and collective responsibility.
Overall, the episode of Mann Ki Baat served not just as a report on the ecological strides being made, but as a rallying cry for citizens to participate actively—the message being clear: every small effort counts when it involves our world, our feet on the earth, and our connection to nature.
