Ministry of Defence undertakes mission of planting 15 lakh trees on Independence Day

New Delhi [India], July 28 (ANI): The Ministry of Defence (MOD) will undertake a massive 15 lakh tree plantation drive across the country on the occasion of the 78th Independence Day on August 15.

The plantation drive is a part of the ‘Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam’ campaign and will be conducted through three services and associated organisations such as DRDO, Defence PSUs, CGDA, NCC, Sainik schools and ordnance factories, as per a press release by the Ministry of Defence.

It may be recalled that the ‘Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam’ campaign was launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the occasion of the World Environment Day Campaign on June 5. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh also participated in the campaign and planted a tree in the memory of his mother.

Singh called upon the people to join the campaign to protect nature and actively make the movement for environmental protection more effective and dynamic.

Earlier, on July 21, a pedestrian programme ‘Raahigiri’ was organised at Arjun Chowk of Brahamasarovar in Kurukshetra. The theme of the programme was “Ek Pedh Maa Ke Naam,” with thousands of citizens planting trees.

The Chief Minister of Haryana, Nayab Singh Saini, was the chief guest of the programme.

The Minister Subhash Sudha also participated. Cultural programmes and various sports were demonstrated, and stalls were set up by different departments.

Addressing the public, CM Nayab Singh Saini said, “In today’s Raahgiri programme, people have come from all parts of Kurukshetra. My warm wishes to all the students of Kurukshetra. The programme is organised at different levels across the state by the government, but it achieves success when people attend in large numbers.”

He further stated, “The youth today came in large numbers while cycling and other students from self-help groups have set up stalls. The NCC students are also presenting their skills. This Raahgiri programme will bring the youth together.”

He also spoke about how the Prime Minister implemented the “Ek Pedh Maa Ke Naam” campaign.

He said, “In the last couple of years, pollution in the state has increased significantly. Following PM Modi’s campaign, we will plant trees to increase the count to 1.5 crore in the state and make Haryana a better place to live.”