As part of "Go Green" initiative, Dhwani team is planning to plant 10000 plants in and around Bengalooru in a phased manner. This page will give you the present status of the initiative.
Present saplings count (as on June 25th, 2008) -
Saplings planted as of now -
Morning was pleasant, and the breeze was special. Sun rose to a perfect harmony as the volunteers moved towards Hosakote. Some reached early, some late. Some came prepared, and some didn’t. However, it didn’t dither them from doing their bit to address the major problem of the planet today, the global warming.
The barren and neglected land that was selected for sapling plantation program was on the outskirts of a village called Jadigenahalli, some 7KMs off Hosakote. Saplings were bought for a reasonable price at the Whitefield forest department nursery. Saplings varied from floral to fashionable to the fruiting ones. Variety also ranged from plants that would eventually grow to a few feet to the ones those grow to a few meters. Varied saplings were selected to add to some 200 in numbers. The Singapore cherries, peepul tree, guava, Jack fruits, Lagestramia, Spethodia, Honge, kadamba plants and so on.
As we entered the lands where the plantation had to happen, we observed some pits graved by a JCB machine a few days ago. First task cut out for us was to fill these huge pits at least by 50% to make our saplings sit quiet and root in there. And we began the day of plantings by planting a peepul tree.
A few villagers were all geared up to accompany the city lads in this task unusual. With the able guidance of experienced people in our team, and the village guys as well, within 2 hours we could cover a vast area that was empty earlier with the plants that we carried.
Dhwani team members participated in the drive with utmost interest and with a sensational spirit that was infective. Villagers were happy to see us indulge in the country activity and were beaming with huge smiles. They were pretty impressed, and were committed to growing the plants to make them trees in the near future.
The village had a brand new temple that was inaugurated a couple of weeks before our visit. It is a very big and a beautiful temple of Karagadamma devi. Our next halt was at the temple, and the remaining 50 and odd plants were to be planted around here. The villagers too joined hands making our jobs easier and saving a lot of time. Here we planted fruiting sapling in abundance, with a few flowering and a few Kadamba plants.
The enthusiastic 30+ volunteers of Dhwani, if not anything else, were successful in inspiring a whole village to maintain the forest around them, and grow more trees.
A vole of satisfaction ruled over all the faces of those volunteered that day. After getting freshened up at a well nearby, the team headed back to the temple, took part in a special pooja of the Goddess Karagadamma and had prasada with contention.
Before ending the note on our first ever plantation drive, we would like to thank all those who made the program a grand success; the volunteers especially took their time off to present themselves with a satisfaction of being a part of a social awareness community. The program was organized and arranged by Swapna in association with Madhu, special thanks to the both of them. Next, to the villagers who were supporting us right from the beginning till the very end to make it a startling beginning of the plantation season for Dhwani. Last and not the least, two families who were responsible for the whole programme. One, the family of Mrs. & Mr. Prakash, who, being a village chieftain permitted us to plant in the land belonging to him, as well as around the temple. He not only gave us permission, but also stood there instructing us, guiding us to go in a right direction. Another family that stood as a backbone for the whole event, without whom we couldn’t have even dreamt of being there, are Mrs. and Mr. Shivabasaiah Badnimath. Also, they arranged for the sumptuous food that we relished later in the evening.
This was a grand new beginning of a fresh new era in Dhwani’s existence. We hope and wish that we be a cause and part of hundreds of such events and occasions further in the coming days.
Volunteers who were part of the activity:
Akshata, Albert, Amogh, Anitha, Arun,Balakrishna, Bilvashree, Chaitra, Chetan, Chitralekha, Gautham, Levin, Madhusudhan, Manju, Natraj, Nimmi, Phaniraj, Ramesh Ramaswamy, Retheesh, Rajkumar, Reghunath, Srikanth, Sreelakshmi, Sudarshan, Sushma, Swapna, Umesh, Mr & Mrs Prakash, Mr & Mrs Badnimath and few people from the village - Deepu, Yashas, Hemanth and many more
Tree plantation Jadigenahalli
Date:June1st 2008
Participants:Akshata,AlbertAnand,Anitha,Amogh,
Balakrishna,Bilvashree,Chaitra,ChetanChitra,
Levin,Nataraj,Nimmi,Phaniraj,Madhusudhan,Manjula
Rethesh,Ramesh,Raghu,Rethesh,Sreelakshmi,Shrikanth,Sushma,Sudarshan,
Organisers:Prakash & sunanda, Shivabasaiah &Ratna
Trees planted-200
Morning was pleasant, and the breeze was special…Sun rose to a perfect harmony as the volunteers moved towards Hosakote. Some reached early, some late. Some came prepared, and some didn’t. However, it didn’t dither them from doing their bit to address the major problem of the planet today, the global warming.
The barren and neglected land that was selected for sapling plantation programme was on the outskirts of a village called Jadigena halli, some 7KMs off Hosakote. The saplings were bought by Dhwani for a reasonable price at the white field forest department nursery. The saplings varied from floral to fashionable to the fruiting ones. The variety also ranged from plants that would eventually grow to a few feet to the ones those grow to a few meters. The varied saplings were selected that added to some 200 in numbers.
The Singapore cherries, people tree, the guava, Jack fruits, flowering plants, kadamba plants and so on.
As we entered the lands where the plantation had to happen, we observed some pits graved by a JCB machine a few days ago. The first task cut out for us was to fill these huge pits at least by 50% to make our saplings sit quiet in there. And we began the day of plantings by planting a people tree.
A few villagers were all geared up to accompany the city lads in this task unusual. With the able guidance of experienced people in our team, and the village guys as well, within 2 hours we could cover a vast area that was empty earlier with the plants that we carried.
Dhwani team members participated in the drive with utmost interest and with a sensational spirit that was infective. Villagers were happy to see us indulge in the country activity and were beaming with huge smiles. They were pretty impressed, and were committed to growing the plants to make them trees in the near future.
The village had a brand new temple that was inaugurated a couple of weeks before our visit. It is a very big and a beautiful temple of Karagadamma devi. Our next halt was at the temple, and the remaining 50 and odd plants were to be planted around here. The villagers too joined hands making our jobs easier and saving a lot of time. Here we planted fruiting sapling in abundance, with a few flowering and a few kadamba plants.
The enthusiastic 30+ volunteers of Dhwani, if not anything else, were successful in inspiring a whole village to maintain the forest around them, and grow more trees.
A vole of satisfaction ruled over all the faces of those volunteered that day. After getting freshened up at a well nearby, the team headed back to the temple, took part in a special pooja of the Goddess and had prasada with contention.
A sumptuous “ragi mudde oota” was waiting for all the tired souls that day at a neighbouring house. All relished the food with brim thankfulness.
Before ending the note on our first ever plantation drive, I’d like to thank all those who made the programme a grand success; the volunteers especially took their time off to present themselves with a satisfaction of being a part of a social awareness community. The programme was organised and arranged by Swapna in association with Madhu, special thanks to the both of them. Next to the villagers who were supporting us right from the beginning till the very end to make it a startling beginning of the plantation season for Dhwani.
Last and not the least the two families those were responsible for the programme themselves, one the family of Mrs. & Mr. Prakash who, being a village chieftain permitted us to plant in the land belonging to him, as well as around the temple. He not only permitted us to go ahead, but also stood there instructing us, guiding us to go in a right direction.
Another family that stood as a backbone for the whole event, without whom we couldn’t have even dreamt of being there here are Mrs. and Mr. Shivabasaiah Badnimath. They also arranged for the sumptuous food that we relished later in the evening.
This was a grand new beginning of a fresh new era in Dhwani’s existence.
We hope and wish that we be a cause and part of hundreds of such events and occasions further in the coming days.
With warm regards,
Srikanth.
"The trees come up to my window like the yearning voice of the dumb earth" ~ Rabindranath Tagore
Trees, a major entity that keeps life afloat on this wonderful planet, and as Rabindranath Tagore puts it, trees are the messengers of Mother Earth. A tree can nest thousands of birds, shade hundreds of people from the harsh Sun, feed countless number of animals. A tree can host many animals like squirrels and monkeys, can feed millions of insects with its floral nectar. Fruits grown here were the saviors for over an age in human history. Brings rain — "The elixir of life".Such a part of our lives, the most cherished friends of our neighborhood, are a whisker away from getting out of sink with the brimming artificialities. Man is cutting them in order to build a space for him to survive, build roads over their gory, carving them to make fashionable furniture to his vanity living rooms.
Papers we use, gum we utilize, bags that we carry, carpets that we walk on, beds that we sleep on… clothes those we wear. All come from trees!
Remember, Trees ask very little from us but gives plenty in return.
What it is asking right now is to not to fell them, to grow them in abundance for the humanity to cherish on earth. What is required today is a green avenue, rather than an AC room. What we need is a plant in front of a house than a garage for a car that is seldom used.
What makes us happy when we sit lonely is a cuckoo’s voice from the window, smell of a lovely flower from just besides the house. For this sheer joy, we need trees. Let’s grow them.
Yes, friends, we need to grow them in abundance to give life another chance to survive on Earth, give another chance to Earth to evolve. I invite you to join hands in this great drive of planting trees in and around Bangalore this World Environment Day.
Dhwani, a raising voice, an NGO committed for a greener and peaceful Bangalore, is organizing a massive tree plantation drive to plant 10,000 trees in various locations in and around Bangalore starting 1st of June, 2008. Dhwani invites each and every one of you to come forward, be a part of this initiative, and feel blessed by Mother Nature.
Details of the Programme:
Project : Green drive.
Date : Starting June 1st 2008.
Time : 9.00 am
Venue : Jadigenahalli
Landmark : Near Hosakote circle.
Directions : Take Old madras road (towards kolar)
In phase one - this June 1st, we are planning to plant at least 500 plants to grow and branch out with an idea of providing shelter and food to many local birds and mammals. We will plant fruit bearing, flower bearing and big trees for birds to nest.
PFA & Dhwani
PFA Bangalore has come forward to give place to at least 500 plants to grow and branch out with an idea of providing shelter and food to many local birds and mammals. PFA will plant fruit bearing, flower bearing and big trees for birds to nest. Trees will display a sign board of the one who adopts, be it an individual, company, Family, school or college.
PFA will issue a certificate to the volunteer for adopting the trees. The amount paid by volunteers will be used to pay for watering the plants in summer/Manure/Pesticide/Wages for the Gardener.
How one can contribute:
* Come join us & be part of the teamFor more details drop in a line to - dhwani dot mail at gmail dot com.
* Adopt a tree in PFA by paying 160 Rs towards PFA. Cheque/DD in favor of People for Animals, Bangalore.
* You can also donate and adopt the plants through Team Dhwani.
~ Srikanth Prabhakar
Photo courtesy: Prashanth M
Project III: Maruthi primary school
Members Visited: Phani, Amandeep, Vijay, Gautham, two of my cousins and myself, Swapna, Harsha, Neha and AnupDate: Jan 26, 2008 Time: 10:00 am - 1:30 pm
About the school: School staff had only three people, two teachers and a Manager, Mr. Lakshmikanth. Slum the school runs in has some 700 families, of which only 30% can afford to send their children to schools. So, this school was started right in their middle, some 5 years ago, and it runs basically on the donations from people and is not financially aided by Govt.
Activities:We sang the National Anthem and then Mr. Lakshmikanth took over. He explained how the children would go without schooling if he hadn’t started the school over there, and he also urged the children to utilise what they have got now to come out to be responsible citizen of a stronger country.
He asked some of us to talk, and we did utter something, relavant/irrelavat don’t know. Then he was about to rough the session up, when we requested for an individual intro of the children.
It was nice to see each and every child go up the stage, stand there for a second and tell the crowd about him/her self. We could identify the glow in those faces of white uniform clad children, each a probable leader. (This was intentionally done to ensure that children get a feel of stage, at least at a small level).
Team members engaged children in games, break the pot, frog race, musical chair were some of the games we played with children.
Vijay had brought some choco-gifts to those who won in each race J
It was really a joyful feel to be in a school after all those years of being away from it.
We distributed sweets to the children and then they dispersed. It was 12PM by then.
Last we had a few mins discussion with the school management and bid adieu, contended with how we celebrated the 59th Republic Day of India.
As the next part of a planned activity, Swapna had brought 25 sapplings to be planted. So, we moved to AGS Layout, area where I reside in. We found a good place to plant our sapplings, and managed to plant some 5 of them. Of cource, some of the locals came calling on us, and were happy to know what we were doing. It was a nice experience.
More picutres http://picasaweb.google.co.uk/dhwani.team/MAruthiPrimarySchool
Dhwani
#28, "Karthika",
Behind Vidya Ganapathi temple,
AGS Layout, Arahalli,
Bengalooru - 560061Registration # - bng(u) - bsk/120/2007/08 1-22
Mail us at: dhwani dot org at gmail dot com
Project I: Chaityananda Ashrama
