World Environment Day: President Murmu Draws Attention To Climate Change, PM Modi Launches ‘Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam’ Campaign

New Delhi: “We are trustees and not owners of natural resources,” said President Droupadi Murmu, on the occasion of World Environment Day (June 5). Bringing attention to climate change and its impact on lives and livelihoods, President Murmu called for building a sustainable world. In a post shared on X (formerly Twitter), she wrote, “On World Environment Day, let us remind ourselves that protecting Mother Earth is our fundamental responsibility. We are trustees and not owners of natural resources. Climate change is affecting lives and livelihoods, particularly in vulnerable communities. Let us make collective efforts for building a better and greener world based on sustainability.”

Prime Minister Narendra Modi took it as an opportunity to initiate a campaign “Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam” (A tree in the name of the mother). He made a clarion call to plant a tree as a tribute to your mother and asked everyone to share a picture with #Plant4Mother.

In line with the commitment to protect nature and make sustainable lifestyle choices, PM Modi planted a Peepal sapling. Sharing pictures on social media, he wrote, “I urge you all to also contribute to making our planet better (sic).”

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Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath also participated in the “Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam” campaign and planted a tree in the capital Lucknow. He wrote, “The Government of Uttar Pradesh is serving with full commitment for the conservation and promotion of Mother Earth and nature.”

Chief Minister of Assam, Himanta Biswa Sarma planted a sapling and encouraged everyone to do their part to create a safe, sustainable, and shared future. He wrote, “For the benefit of our future generations, our government has been continuously striving to create a clean and green environment where everyone can live in comfort and well-being.”

“Let us all express our gratitude to nature and plant as many trees as possible to protect the environment,” said Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami. CM Dhami also participated in tree plantation program and contributed towards environmental protection.

He said, “By maintaining a balance between ecology and economy, our government is moving forward on the path of development.”

World Environment Day, marked on June 5, puts a global spotlight on the pressing environmental challenges. Since its inception in 1973, the event has been led by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). This year, World Environment Day is being hosted by Saudi Arabia, focusing on land restoration, desertification, and drought resilience.

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NDTV – Dettol have been working towards a clean and healthy India since 2014 via the Banega Swachh India initiative, which in its Season 10 is helmed by Campaign Ambassador Ayushmann Khurrana. The campaign aims to highlight the inter-dependency of humans and the environment, and of humans on one another with the focus on One Health, One Planet, One Future – Leaving No One Behind. It stresses on the need to take care of, and consider, everyone’s health in India – especially vulnerable communities – the LGBTQ population, indigenous people, India’s different tribes, ethnic and linguistic minorities, people with disabilities, migrants, geographically remote populations, gender and sexual minorities. In a world post COVID-19 pandemic, the need for WASH (Water, Sanitation and Hygiene) is reaffirmed as handwashing is one of the ways to prevent Coronavirus infection and other diseases. The campaign will continue to raise awareness on the same along with focussing on the importance of nutrition and healthcare for women and children, fight malnutrition, mental well-being, self-care, science and health, adolescent health & gender awareness. Along with the health of people, the campaign has realised the need to also take care of the health of the eco-system. Our environment is fragile due to human activity, which is not only over-exploiting available resources, but also generating immense pollution as a result of using and extracting those resources. The imbalance has also led to immense biodiversity loss that has caused one of the biggest threats to human survival – climate change. It has now been described as a “code red for humanity.” The campaign will continue to cover issues like air pollution, waste management, plastic ban, manual scavenging and sanitation workers and menstrual hygiene. Banega Swasth India will also be taking forward the dream of Swasth Bharat, the campaign feels that only a Swachh or clean India where toilets are used and open defecation free (ODF) status achieved as part of the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2014, can eradicate diseases like diahorrea and the country can become a Swasth or healthy India.