Soil being collected from over 25 crore houses to build 'Amrit Vatika': Anurag Thakur

New Delhi: Union Minister Anurag Thakur said on Tuesday that soil was being collected from over 25 crore houses in more than 6 lakh villages of the country to build 'Amrit Vatika' (garden), which has been conceived as a grand symbol of 'Ek Bharat Shrestha Bharat'.

The garden will be developed at the National War Memorial in the national capital. 

"Several programmes were organised across the country to celebrate the 'Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav'. The 'Meri Maati Mera Desh' campaign is the last of these programmes. Soil is being collected from more than 25 crore houses in more than 6 lakh villages and, with it, 'Amrit Vatika' will be developed as a garden commemorating 'Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav'. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has given 'Panch Pran' to build a developed India and to shed our legacy of slavery," Thakur said. 
Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced the 'Meri Maati Mera Desh' campaign during one of the episodes of his monthly radio address — ‘Mann ki Baat’.

The campaign has been launched to honour the men and women in uniform, who made the supreme sacrifice for the country on the line of duty.
Sharing details of 'Meri Maati Mera Desh' campaign, PM Modi said, "Under this, many programs will be organised across the country in memory of our bravehearts. In their memories, special inscriptions will also be installed in lakhs of village panchayats of the country. Under this campaign, 'Amrit Kalash Yatra' will also be organised across the country.”

The 'Amrit Kalash Yatra', carrying soil in 7,500 urns from every corner of the country, will eventually reach the national capital.
Saplings from different parts of the country will also be carried during the journey. 'Amrit Vatika' will be built near the National War Memorial by merging the soil with the saplings that would arrive in 7500 urns.

The 'Amrit Vatika' will also become a grand symbol of 'Ek Bharat Shrestha Bharat', according to sources.
The 'Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat' programme aims to enhance interaction & promote mutual understanding between people of different states/UTs through the concept of state/UT pairing.