After CM K. Chandra Sekhara Rao’s Haritha Haram programme was launched, the entire state worked hard to set up foliage. The program, launched in 2015, aimed to raise the forest cover from 24 per cent to 33 per cent.
While we saw everyone from film stars to bureaucrats to civilians get involved, three youngsters came up with a question that shook the programme a little bit: What happens to the plants after they are planted? Especially since many of the plantations had begun to wither or die.
Pravalika Kokku (19), Madhava P.S. (23), and Nikhil Talluri (23), realised that plants don’t grow on their own. They need watering, weed control and application of urea in monsoons. The three, who volunteer at the Lokakshemam foundation, started working on this. Prabhakar Talluri, of the foundation inspired them by putting this question in their minds.
“Sometime in November 2016 we started working on an idea. And today, nearly seven months later, we have launched the programme ‘Patron Of A Plant’,” Nikhil says.
Anyone can get onto their website and donate Rs 2 for a day’s maintenance of the plant — i.e. Rs 750 for a year. Every donor will be a “patron of a plant” and can monitor its growth and even visit it occasionally.
Every plant will be geo-tagged, making it possible for people to track it. “Our idea was simple. People might make donations but the sense of responsibility that comes with ownership is what made us come up with this plan,” adds Nikhil.
While Nikhil devised the plan, Madhava, who’s pursuing CA, became the brainchild behind the financial aspect of the project. “All the registered donors will be receiving half yearly balance sheets so that they can know how their contribution is being used,” Madhava says.
Pravalika initiated the backend operations and developed presentations and videos that are being used by the team to explain their idea to the other volunteers.
Talking about the management of manpower in the project, they explain, “We have a team of people who water the plants regularly. And to track that, our organisation has volunteers. Young volunteers are a good option but not disregarding the busy lives everyone has, we offered the role to a huge number of senior citizens, and retirees who would love to be part of such activities.”
While the three are hoping for a greener future, they are dealing with the project practically. Unable to stop anyone from constructions or any kind of development, they just hope to increase greenery on a parallel scale.
