Odisha held the third State Level Monitoring Committee (SLMC) meeting of the flagship plantation campaign “Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam 2.0” at the Home Department Conference Hall in Bhubaneswar on December 17.
The meeting reviewed monitoring progress, portal data uploads, and plantation survival rates.
Additional Chief Secretary Satyabrata Sahu, Forest, Environment & Climate Change Department, chaired the session. He directed Divisional Forest Officers (DFOs) to complete all pending uploads on the monitoring portal by the end of the month. Furthermore, he instructed them to coordinate with stakeholder departments. Districts including Sundargarh, Malkangiri, Nuapada, Mayurbhanj, and Khordha received specific directions to expedite compliance.
Sahu urged District Collectors to convene monthly review meetings to ensure timely progress. Moreover, he praised the Panchayati Raj & Drinking Water Department for achieving full compliance. He also called for a stronger grievance redressal mechanism with clear accountability.
Principal Secretary, Agriculture & Farmers’ Empowerment Department, stressed advance planning for the upcoming plantation season. In addition, he emphasised scientific site selection, appropriate species choice, and enhanced community involvement.
Principal Chief Conservator of Forests & Head of Forest Force (PCCF & HoFF) announced that future plantations will prioritise wild fruit-bearing species, Non-Timber Forest Produce (NTFP), and multi-economic species. These efforts aim to support livelihoods, provide fodder, and strengthen ecological balance.
Sahu also appreciated the Forest Department and Odisha Remote Sensing Application Centre (ORSAC) for developing a technology-driven monitoring system. He directed the formation of a multi-departmental committee for scientific site selection based on agro-climatic zones. This committee will include representatives from the Forest Department, Directorate of Horticulture, and Directorate of Soil Conservation.
Senior officers from Agriculture, Panchayati Raj, Horticulture, ORSAC, District Collectors, DFOs, and Chief Development Officers attended the meeting physically and virtually. Ultimately, the review reaffirmed Odisha’s commitment to transparent monitoring, high survival rates, and community-centric implementation of “Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam 2.0.”
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