New Delhi, June 5: Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan actively participated in the 'Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam 2.0' initiative, a tree plantation drive launched on World Environment Day to promote environmental sustainability.

As part of the campaign, he planted a sapling at his residence in New Delhi, reinforcing the message of honouring mothers and nature through afforestation.

The initiative aims to plant 10 crore trees across India, encouraging citizens—especially students—to dedicate a tree in their mother's name.

This year, World Environment Day is themed 'Beat Plastic Pollution'.

The campaign was launched on June 4, 2024, by Prime Minister Narendra Modi by planting a 'Peepal' sapling at Buddha Jayanti Park in New Delhi.

The initiative not only seeks to honour mothers but also aims to create a greener and more sustainable future for generations to come.

This initiative, spearheaded by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change in collaboration with state governments and union territories, achieved its target of planting 80 crore saplings by September 2024.

The campaign, which follows a "Whole of Government" and "Whole of Society" approach, engaging citizens, communities, and local administrations in a concerted effort to restore India’s green cover, received an overwhelmingly positive response, with numerous states surpassing their plantation targets ahead of schedule.