To commemorate the 75th birthday of Hon’ble Prime Minister Narendra Modi,
the Jindal Foundation, under the leadership of its Chairperson Smt. Shallu Jindal,
planted 75,000 saplings across multiple states including Odisha, Chhattisgarh,
Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, and Jharkhand — all in a single day.
In a heartfelt video message, Naveen Jindal, Hon’ble MP (Kurukshetra) and
Chairman of Jindal Steel & Power, lauded the Prime Minister’s visionary leadership
in steering India toward becoming a Viksit Bharat. He also extended warm wishes
for the Prime Minister’s continued good health and well-being.
As part of the Odisha Government’s statewide initiative ‘Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam 2.0’,
the Jindal Foundation planted 55,000 saplings across its operational areas in
Angul, Barbil, Tensa, and Kasia. This was the largest single-state contribution to
the day’s plantation target.
The initiative saw widespread community participation, including employees,
women’s self-help groups (SHGs), farmers' clubs, farmer producer organisations
(FPOs), school students, volunteers, local panchayats, and community leaders.
Fruit-bearing and medicinal plant species were selected to ensure long-term
ecological, nutritional, and health benefits for the communities.
At Angul, over 43,000 saplings were planted, transforming more than 20 acres of
land in Benagadia and Derjang villages. The event was graced by Pratap
Pritimay (ADM, Angul), along with Sub-Collector Mayadhar Behera, Tahsildar
Sushant Mishra, and key district officials. From Jindal Steel, Pankaj Malhan
(Executive Director, In-Charge), Prashanta Hota (President & Group Head –
CSR), Ashish Pandey (EVP), Prasanna Panda (EVP) and SK Sharma
(VP) actively took part.
Other dignitaries included Umashankar Mishra (CDAO), Ashutosh Roy
(NABARD’s DDM), Dr. Debashis Mishra (Principal Scientist, KVK) and local elected
leaders. The drive saw enthusiastic participation from Sarpanchs Anil Pradhan
and Tuni Sahoo, Zilla Parishad member Dilip Pradhan, and social workers like
Kumuda Sahoo, Sourav Behera, and Kumara Behera, who played a key role in
mobilizing the community.
In Barbil, Tensa, and Kasia, plantation drives were conducted across four gram
panchayats, resulting in the planting of 12,000 saplings. These efforts were led by
Pramod Patra (Cluster Head – BKT), Purushotham MD (Unit Head, Barbil),
and R S Raghuwanshi (Unit Head, Tensa) in collaboration with local leaders
and senior officials, ensuring strong community ownership and involvement.
Smt. Shallu Jindal, Chairperson of Jindal Foundation, remarked:
“We are proud to support the ‘Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam’ campaign, which deeply
resonates with both environmental and emotional values. Planting trees in the
name of our mothers is not just symbolic, but a meaningful act of nurturing both
nature and humanity. This initiative embodies our respect for the Prime Minister’s
vision and our commitment to a greener, more sustainable future.”
Pankaj Malhan, Executive Director (In-Charge), Jindal Steel, shared:
“Sustainability lies at the core of our operations. This initiative has enabled us to
connect with communities in a purposeful way and reinforce our commitment to
environmentally responsible development.”
Prashanta Hota, President & Group Head (CSR & Sustainability), added:
“At Jindal, we don’t just plant trees—we nurture ecosystems. Every sapling is
tracked and maintained with scientific care, ensuring long-term survival and
impact. This is our way of giving back to the land that sustains us.”
The plantation drives are fully community-driven, with the active involvement of
community-based organisations (CBOs). Scientific methods are adopted to
ensure 100% sapling survival, even during stress periods. The ADM of Angul, Shri
Pratap Pritimay, applauded the Jindal Foundation's long-standing partnership
with the government and district administration, noting:
“This plantation drive is a testament to the Foundation’s ongoing commitment to
enhancing the quality of life for local communities.
The Jindal Foundation has consistently demonstrated a strong commitment to
environmental sustainability through a wide range of initiatives. These include
extensive tree plantation drives, water conservation efforts, integrated watershed
development, the creation of orchards (wadi models), and the construction of
water harvesting structures to promote groundwater recharge. The Foundation
has also undertaken several carbon sink projects in and around its operational
areas. Additionally, it actively supports eco clubs in schools, promotes
environmental education, and provides green livelihood training to women’s self-
help groups. Guided by its motto, “Caring Beyond Bounds,” the Foundation
continues to embed ecological responsibility into every aspect of its social
development programs, fostering a culture of sustainability and community
empowerment.
