Panaji, September 17, 2026: Every girl child born at Manipal Hospital Goa will now be commemorated with a tree as the hospital launches ‘Ek Ped Beti Ke Naam’, a continuing plantation initiative connecting the celebration of a new life with a commitment towards a greener environment.
The initiative was launched on the occasion of the birthday of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and also marked the 91st birthday of Dr Ramdas M. Pai, Padma Bhushan Awardee and Chancellor, Manipal Academy of Higher Education (MAHE).
Under the initiative, Manipal Hospital Goa will plant a tree for every girl child born at the hospital. The hospital plans to undertake the plantation activity every month, turning each sapling into a living reminder of a daughter’s arrival and a family’s new beginning.
Six Saplings Mark the Launch
As part of the launch, six fruit-bearing saplings were planted, representing the six girl-child deliveries recorded at the hospital during the previous month.
The initiative is intended to create a lasting environmental connection with an important milestone in a family’s life. The hospital plans to nurture the trees on its campus wherever space permits. Where space is a constraint, parents will be invited to take a sapling home and make it part of their own family’s journey.
‘A Tree That Grows Alongside Her’
Speaking about the initiative, Mr Surendra Prasad, Hospital Director, Manipal Hospital Goa, said every birth represents hope and that the birth of a daughter brings a special promise for the future.
He said the initiative aims to make the celebration continue through a tree that grows alongside the child, with every sapling symbolising new life, hope and a shared responsibility towards the environment.
Prasad emphasised that the initiative is intended to create a memory that grows over time, with trees planted at the hospital wherever possible and saplings being given to families when campus space is limited.
He added that the programme will be undertaken every month, making it a continuing commitment of Manipal Hospital Goa.
Taking the Spirit of ‘Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam’ Forward
Dr Shekhar Salkar said the initiative was being launched while celebrating the 91st birthday of Dr Ramdas M. Pai, coinciding with the Prime Minister’s birthday.
Referring to the Prime Minister’s call for ‘Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam’, Dr Salkar said Manipal Hospital Goa had taken the sentiment forward through ‘Ek Ped Beti Ke Naam’.
He described every daughter as a promise of tomorrow and said planting a tree in her name could create an emotional connection between the child, her family and the tree as it grows.
Dr Salkar said the hospital would make efforts to ensure that each plant grows well. If there is insufficient space at the hospital, saplings will be handed over to parents to be planted at home.
Potential for a Wider Green Legacy
Dr Salkar also highlighted the potential scale of such an initiative, citing an estimate of around 25,000 deliveries in Goa annually, with approximately 12,000–13,000 being girl children.
Based on these figures, he said around 13,000 saplings could potentially be planted in a year if similar efforts were undertaken widely.
He said the trees could eventually provide shade, fruit and other environmental benefits while carrying the story of the daughters and families they represent.
A Growing Connection Between Families and Trees
The emotional aspect of the initiative is central to its concept. Families who wish to take a sapling home will be able to do so and care for it as the child grows.
Dr Salkar said the connection created by naming the plantation after a ‘beti’ could encourage families and siblings to care for the plant over the years.
The idea is that a girl, years later, could look at the tree and know that it was planted around the time she was born.
Dignitaries Attend the Launch
The launch was attended by doctors from Manipal Hospital, including Dr Shekhar Salkar, Dr Dipchand Bhandare and Dr Amol Mahaldar.
Also present were Dr Jude Desouza, Medical Officer, PHC Chimbel, and Anita Kavlekar, among other dignitaries.
Through ‘Ek Ped Beti Ke Naam’, Manipal Hospital Goa aims to transform every girl-child birth at the hospital into an opportunity to create a lasting green legacy.
The initiative brings together the celebration of a daughter, environmental responsibility and the idea of nurturing something that grows alongside a child.
“Her First Breath, Our Promise, A Greener Tomorrow.”
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