Panaji: On the occasion of the birthday of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Manipal Hospital Goa launched ‘Ek Ped Beti Ke Naam’, a new plantation initiative that will see the hospital plant a tree to commemorate the birth of every girl child at the hospital. The occasion also marked the 91st birthday of Dr Ramdas M. Pai, Padma Bhushan Awardee and Chancellor, Manipal Academy of Higher Education (MAHE).
Through ‘Ek Ped Beti Ke Naam’, Manipal Hospital Goa aims to connect the celebration of every girl child with the responsibility of nurturing a greener environment. The initiative is a continuing plantation effort by the hospital, with each tree serving as a living reminder of the birth of a girl child.
The initiative seeks to create a lasting environmental commitment that grows with every new beginning. By linking tree plantation with an important milestone in a family’s life, the hospital aims to encourage greater awareness of environmental responsibility and the importance of nurturing green spaces.
The initiative comes at a time when Goa is placing greater emphasis on plantation and environmental participation. The state government’s ‘Green Goa, Clean Goa’ movement has focused on expanding green cover and encouraging citizens and institutions to participate in plantation and conservation efforts.
Present on the occasion were doctors from Manipal Hospital, Dr Shekhar Salkar, Dr Dipchand Bhandare and Dr Amol Mahaldar. Also present was Medical Officer PHC Chimbel, Dr Jude Desouza and Anita Kavlekar among other dignitaries.
Speaking about the initiative, Mr. Surendra Prasad, Hospital Director, Manipal Hospital Goa, said, “Every birth is a celebration of hope, and the birth of a daughter brings with it a very special promise for the future. Through ‘Ek Ped Beti Ke Naam’, we want to make that celebration live on in another form — through a tree that grows alongside her. Each sapling will be a symbol of new life, hope and our shared responsibility towards the world that these children will inherit.”
He added, “This is not just about planting a tree on the day a girl child is born. It is about creating a memory that continues to grow. Whenever possible, we will nurture these trees on our campus. Where space is a constraint, we will invite parents to take a sapling home and give it a place in their own family’s journey. Years from now, when that tree has grown, it will carry with it the story of a little girl whose arrival brought new hope to her family.”
Prasad said the initiative will be undertaken every month, making it a continuing commitment of the hospital.
“Whenever there is a girl child born in our hospital, we will plant a tree in her name. We want every daughter born here to leave behind a little more green in the world. Our hope is that these trees will grow into a living legacy for the children, their families and for Goa,” he said.
Dr Shekhar Salkar said the hospital was celebrating the 91st birthday of the visionary leader Dr Ramdas M. Pai, which coincided with the Prime Minister’s birthday. He said that while the Prime Minister had given a call for ‘Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam’, Manipal Hospital Goa had taken the sentiment forward with ‘Ek Ped Beti Ke Naam’.
“Every daughter is a promise of tomorrow. When we plant a tree in her name, we are not simply planting a sapling — we are planting a promise that will continue to grow. The little girl may not understand it today, but years from now, when she sees that tree standing tall, she will know that on the day she entered this world, someone planted something for her future,” he said.
Dr Salkar added, “We will see to it that each plant grows well. If we run out of space at the hospital, we will hand over a sapling to the parents of the girl child to be planted at their home. I hope other hospitals and the government sector also take up such initiatives. If every institution contributes in this way, the collective impact can be enormous.”
Dr Salkar said that with around 25,000 deliveries recorded in Goa annually, and approximately, 12,000–13,000 of these being girl children, the initiative could have significant potential to contribute to the state’s green cover.
“So, in a year, at least 13,000 saplings can potentially be planted. Imagine the difference this can make over the years. These will not just be trees; each one will represent a daughter, a family and a new beginning. As these trees grow, they will give shade, fruit and life to future generations. That is the kind of legacy we should leave behind,” he said.
“For every girl child born, we plant a sapling because her future deserves a greener tomorrow. This is our concept, and we have therefore planted *six fruit-bearing saplings today*, as we had six girl-child deliveries last month,” he said.
Dr Salkar said the emotional connection between a daughter and the tree planted in her name could encourage families to care for it over the years.
“Those who want to take a sapling home and take care of it, we will give them a plant. Once you use this emotional tag of a ‘beti’, I am quite sure that the family and siblings will look after that plant very well. The plant will grow with the child. One day, when that girl becomes an adult, she can look at the tree and say, ‘This tree was planted when I was born.’ That is the emotional connection we want to create,” he said.
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.
Through ‘Ek Ped Beti Ke Naam’, Manipal Hospital Goa aims to make every birth of a girl child an opportunity to create a lasting green legacy — one that grows with the child, gives back to the community and leaves behind a greener world for generations to come.
“Her First Breath,Our Promise, A Greener Tomorrow”
About Manipal Hospitals
Manipal Hospitals is one of India’s leading integrated healthcare providers serving ~ 8 million patients annually, focussed on providing accessible, high-quality healthcare services. Manipal’s integrated network today has a pan-India footprint of 50 hospitals with over 13,400 licensed beds across 14 States & Union Territories. The network is India’s largest multispecialty hospital network by bed capacity, supported by a talented pool of 11,000+ doctors and an employee strength of over 25,000.
With a commitment to provide patient-centric care, Manipal Hospitals combines clinical expertise with advanced technology, research and innovation to serve a multitude of patients across the globe. Its continued focus on clinical quality and operational excellence is reflected in its NABH accreditation, with several of its hospitals also accredited by NABL and recognised for its excellence in nursing and emergency care.
