Govt targets greener future with launch of ‘Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam 2.0’ campaign

The Haryana Government has launched an ambitious green initiative, — ‘Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam 2.0’ (EPMKN 2.0) 2025-26 — aimed at enhancing environmental sustainability through extensive plantation drives and robust public participation. The state’s action plan was reviewed at a high-level meeting chaired by Chief Secretary Anurag Rastogi, where senior officials stressed on aligning the campaign with key national missions and ensuring effective coordination at the district level.

During the meeting, Rastogi emphasised that EPMKN 2.0 would be implemented using a “Whole of government” and “Whole of society” approach. He said the campaign would align closely with national flagship schemes such as MGNREGA, Jal Shakti Abhiyaan, Swachh Bharat Mission, Smart Cities Mission and the National Green Highways Mission. “This convergence is expected to maximize both impact and outreach, fostering ecological sustainability through collective action,” he said. He also underscored the importance of conducting a thorough review of last year’s plantations to ensure their sustained upkeep and growth and submit a report in this regard.

The 2025-26 campaign will place a major emphasis on massive plantation activities, with a particular focus on school-led initiatives through Eco Clubs for Mission LiFE, under the Department of School Education and Literacy (DoSEL).

The Chief Secretary underscored the importance of involving youth and students, stating that “Instilling environmental responsibility at an early age will have long-lasting societal benefits.”

In addition to schools, the State Forest Department (SFD), Urban Local Bodies and the horticulture and public works departments and the Haryana Shahari Vikas Pradhikaran, along with community organisations and volunteers, will actively participate in the plantation drives. These activities will target riverbanks, canal bunds, Amrit Sarovars and other water bodies, in line with this year’s “Catch the rain 2025” theme under the Jal Shakti Abhiyaan.

District-level planning and execution

To ensure effective on-ground implementation, Chef Secretary Rastogi instructed all Deputy Commissioners to form District Plantation Committees. These committees will be responsible for identifying plantation sites, assessing land availability, preparing plant demand and finalising coordination plans. Each department at the district level has been asked to submit data on available lands suitable for plantation and to collaborate closely with nurseries to meet sapling requirements. They were also directed to prepare a plan regarding the aftercare of planted saplings under the scheme.

The Forest Department has confirmed that 1.81 crore saplings are available for this year’s plantation drive across 200 government nurseries in 22 districts of the state. To facilitate access to this information, the department released a “Booklet on Forest Nurseries” on the World Environment Day 2025. Details of nursery locations and available planting stock are also accessible on the department’s website — haryanaforest.gov.in.

Technology-enabled monitoring of plantation

The state will utilise technology for real-time monitoring of plantation activities. Data from school plantations will be captured through a microsite on the Eco Clubs for Mission LiFE portal (DoSEL). All other plantations by the Social Forestry Department (SFD) and other departments will be uploaded on the Meri LiFE portal — https://merilife.nic.in — which is managed by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change.

The Chief Secretary also directed district administrations to launch intensive social media campaigns to promote eco-conscious messaging under EPMKN 2.0. Students will be mobilised to hold plantation drives within and around their schools, colleges and university campuses, fostering a sense of ownership and pride in local green initiatives.

Anand Mohan Sharan, Additional Chief Secretary, Environment, Forests and Wildlife, informed that last year, the state planted 1.87 crore saplings, with 52.21 lakh in the urban areas and 134.44 lakh in the rural regions.