Chennai: Madipakkam Social Service Trust works towards the goal of making the neighbourhood greener and cleaner. Members of the trust, along with the residents who voluntarily participate, run weekly sapling plantation campaigns in and around Madipakkam.
The drive began 112 weeks weeks ago in Madipakkam by a few members of the trust along with the federation of residents welfare associations (RWAs) in the neighbourhood.
The federation comprises 30 RWAs, including the ones in Balaiah Garden, Kuberan Nagar, Bank of Baroda Nagar and many other areas.
People from all parts of Madipakkam and all walks of life, participate in the sampling plantation campaign. Saravana Kumar, an active participant in the sapling plantation drive, says, “It was just just a few people in the beginning and now there are so many individuals interested in joining us in the campaign. Now, people are aware of the effects of deforestation and there is good response from the public. Most of the people who participate every week are working people. A few students join us every Saturday when we plant saplings in a stretch with the help of volunteers. As of now, we have planted more than 3,000 saplings in Madipakkam.”
“Every week all the volunteers meet at a point and then start the drive by planting saplings in appropriate places or where the tree will be able to grow without any hindrance,” adds Saravana Kumar. At times, depending on the availability of volunteers, they also organise clean-up programmes. Last week, a similar programme was conducted to clean plastic waste and other garbage dumped at Ayyappa Nagar lake bund.
“It is heart-warming to see a lot of people come forward and participate in such an initiative because they don’t expect anything in return. They contribute efforts to make the dream of having a cleaner and greener Madipakkam come true,” Saravana Kumar said.
MSST can be reached at 8754400154, 984617768.