Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam: PM Modi’s Tree Plantation Campaign for World Environment Day
On 5 June 2024 — World Environment Day, Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched one of India’s most resonant environmental campaigns: Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam (एक पेढ माँ के नाम), meaning Plant a Tree in Your Mother’s Name. The initiative beautifully intertwines two ideas that run deep in Indian consciousness — the nurturing love of a mother, and the life-giving role of Mother Earth.
PM Modi personally planted a Peepal tree at Buddha Jayanti Park in New Delhi to mark the launch, urging people across India and the world to follow suit — not just as a symbolic act, but as a pledge to protect trees and safeguard the environment for generations to come.
What is Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam?
Also known by its social media hashtag #Plant4Mother, the campaign is rooted in a simple and powerful idea: a tree planted in your mother’s name becomes a living tribute — one that grows over time, offering shade, clean air, and ecological balance long into the future. It connects personal love with planetary care in a way few campaigns have managed.
The campaign aligns with the central theme of World Environment Day 2024: Land Restoration, Desertification, and Drought Resilience. India, like much of the world, faces the twin threats of land degradation and worsening water stress. Tree cover is one of the most direct and cost-effective responses — and the Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam campaign puts this solution in every citizen’s hands.
Government and Community Scale
To give the campaign national scale, Central and State Government Departments and Local Bodies have been directed to identify public spaces for plantation drives. The targets set are ambitious:
- 80 crore trees to be planted by September 2024
- 140 crore trees to be planted by March 2025
This “Whole of Government” and “Whole of Society” approach spans ministries, local bodies, individual citizens, and community organisations. The Department of School Education has engaged Eco-clubs in 7.5 lakh schools, embedding tree plantation into summer camps as a form of experiential learning — a core principle of India’s New Education Policy.
How to Participate
Joining this campaign is simple and meaningful. Here is what you can do:
- Plant a tree in your mother’s name — find a spot in your home, colony, or a designated plantation area
- Nurture the tree — watering and caring for it regularly is the real commitment
- Share on social media — use the hashtag #Plant4Mother to inspire others
- Join a local drive — connect with environmental organisations and municipal bodies organising group plantation events
A Global Invitation
The Ministry of External Affairs has extended this campaign beyond India’s borders, inviting people from every nation to participate. Institutions such as the Botanical Survey of India (BSI), Zoological Survey of India (ZSI), Indian Council of Forestry Research and Education (ICFRE), and the National Museum of Natural History (NMNH) are all actively supporting the campaign’s reach and scientific grounding.
India’s tradition of reverence for trees — from the Bishnoi community’s centuries-old tree protection to the Chipko movement of the 1970s — gives this campaign deep cultural roots. Today, India’s sustainable changemakers are continuing this legacy at scale: planting forests, restoring degraded land, and building communities around ecological stewardship.
Plant a Tree, Leave a Legacy
Every tree planted through Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam becomes a living legacy — offering shade, shelter, oxygen, and cooler temperatures for decades to come. It is one of the most tangible and beautiful expressions of sustainable living: a single action with lifelong impact, rooted in love.
If you want to go further, explore our Sustainability FAQ for everyday climate actions, or discover eco-friendly products that help you live more lightly on the earth every day.
Have you planted a tree for your mother? Share your journey in the comments or tag us with #Plant4Mother!
