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| C.P.Roy, Green Leaf, Idukki |
C.P.Roy, college teacher in English, usually offers a different kind of gift to those who invite him for housewarming ceremonies. His gift is a bag containing 5 saplings each of fruit bearing and shade giving trees. This different teacher from Idukki along with the organization Green Leaf has evolved a modus operandi for planting trees on the roadside.
Only along roadsides where two heavy vehicles can cross easily will they plant saplings. Species that are shade giving, fast growing and unappetizing for the grazing stock are the ones they choose. There is no membership fee. However, each member must renew his membership by planting at least one sapling every year.
The member who chooses to plant a tree has to meet the expenses connected with it. However, he bears the expenses of the students who volunteer for the work. The organization publishes a little magazine ‘Veru’ dedicated to environmental issues.
Saplings are planted usually in the month of June so that plants have a better chance of surviving water stress during non-monsoon months.
His foray into this field started with a cleaning drive along the road leading to Government School at Kattappana, Idukki, which was being used by the neighbourhood as a dumping ground of waste. With active support of local youth, they were able to clean the road and plant trees along the road as well as inside the school compound. When the dumping of waste did not abate, vigilant youth and traders started protesting against the practice, which ultimately could not last for long.
Among other memorable incidents, he lists the planting of trees in the vast campus of Government College, Pattambi, where his wife was then working. His weekend visits from Idukki would be with saplings of fruit bearing trees.
It was the success at Pattambi that encouraged him to continue in this field.
Courtesy:
T.K.Sunil Kumar (text), Rocky George (photo), Karshakasree, May 2009
Contributed by: Administrator
