Agartala, June 18, 2025: Tripura Chief Minister Dr. Manik Saha on Tuesday called for transforming tree plantation into a mass movement, emphasizing its critical role in preserving environmental balance and safeguarding future generations.

Speaking at a tree plantation drive under the ‘Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam 2.0′ campaign at Maharani Tulsibati Girls’ School in Agartala, Dr. Saha said the initiative blends ecological responsibility with an emotional tribute to motherhood.

“This campaign, initiated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, is not just about planting trees—it’s a heartfelt gesture of gratitude towards our mothers. By linking the environment with maternal respect, the Prime Minister has inspired a movement that is both humane and sustainable,” said the Chief Minister.

The event was organized by the Department of School Education. Highlighting Tripura’s pioneering role in large-scale afforestation, Dr. Saha noted the state’s achievement in planting 5 lakh saplings in just five minutes in 2024, a feat that, he said, “drew praise from officials in Delhi.”

Recounting previous efforts, Dr. Saha said the first phase of the campaign in 2023 saw 1.42 lakh saplings planted with the participation of 1.16 lakh students and mothers.

This year, under the slogan ‘One Student, One Tree’, the Education Ministry has set a target of 3.5 lakh saplings across Tripura. So far, around 1.56 lakh saplings are being planted by over 2.92 lakh students and 90,000 mothers from 3,652 schools across all eight districts.

Tripura, known for its rich forest cover has 7,422 sq. km of green area 73.34% of the state’s geographical territory. Referring to India’s global commitment to carbon neutrality by 2070, Dr. Saha said Tripura is doing its part through successive record-breaking plantation drives. These include the plantation of 1.02 lakh saplings in five minutes in 2022 followed by 2.07 lakh saplings in 2023 and the historic 5 lakh plantation in 2024.

The event was attended by senior officials, including Ravel Hemendra Kumar, Special Secretary of the Education Department; N.C. Sharma, Director of School Education; and L. Darlong, Director of SCERT, along with teachers and students.

Dr. Saha urged all citizens to actively participate in tree plantation drives, stating, “It’s time to turn this initiative into a people’s movement—for a greener, healthier Tripura and a more sustainable India.”