'OXY-KADU' TREE PLANTATION DRIVES - CORPORATE TO AID FROM CSR FUNDING.

'OXY-KADU' TREE PLANTATION DRIVES - CORPORATE TO AID FROM CSR FUNDING.   

Cities are getting crowded with pollution and there is hardly any circulation of air, with the proliferation of apartments that have sprung up in close proximity to one another.  In the early sixties, we used to live in Mowbrays road, Alwarpet, Chennai in a rented house that belonged to (Late) Sir C.V.Raman,  a  noted scientist  from Tamil Nadu who won the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1930 for his work on light scattering - The Raman Effect.   I recollect that we had ample space then and every home would be far apart, having a sprawling garden space. We had Tamarind trees, Nungu, Mangoes, Curry leaves, Lemon and more which would give us a good yield and could be made available for barter with the vegetable shops then.  We would climb trees, sit on logs to study and have fun in the garden after school hours. Children of today are cooped up sadly in small cubicles ! The same place is now sold out  and i could hardly recognize the same place after 1980 . 

Today, there is not an inch of space available and you could just peep into another home from where you are seated at your home.  Most apartments in the city barring a few are thoroughly cemented in common spaces due to sheer ignorance. Such be the case, there is no circulation of air, let alone air purification made possible by house plants  Every member at home needs oxygen to breathe without an exception. So how best can we handle this?

During Corona Crisis we encountered situations where there was lack of oxygen supply for the body and hence corporate hospitals were doing all they could to procure and stock oxygen cylinders. Of course there was a big waiting list  for it, as supply was much lesser than demand.   It did not come free and came for a hefty price tag.  Now, does it not make sense that when oxygen is freely available in the atmosphere, we tap the resources such that we optimize and live life queen-size, cooperating with nature?

All that one has to do is to engage in planting such of those  category of trees that supply oxygen 24/7 in the vicinity of their homes. Every apartment must have oxygen gardens as otherwise life may become difficult sooner or later, as it is survival of the fittest.  

Normally all plants supply oxygen, beyond a shadow of doubt but a few of them supply oxygen all through the night too. They are a real blessing to the animal kingdom too, considering that birds (and bats) need a place after their long flying hours (some birds migrate from other places) and have to have a place for rest at dusk on a daily basis. They can survive, rest and nest only on such trees that provide oxygen all through the night instead of releasing carbon-di-oxide as many other plants do normally.  So, invariably, nature has been kind here too to provide for such free amenities . However, man has to make efforts to learn to tap the same and utilize the benefit. Birds don’t perch themselves on all trees at nights. They know which tree gives oxygen at night for comfortable, sound sleep.  In temples too, it is for this reason that we have the Peepul, Neem ,  etc., growing, so that people don’t get suffocated due to lack of oxygen on festival time when there is a crowd.

In fact, I strongly recommend schools and institutions to plant oxygen trees and plants so that life is made easier. Children need to be safe. Their health gets hampered if oxygen supply is less and they cannot study well if such amenities are not provided.  Free air and abundant oxygen supply is a basic need  pretty much like like food, clothing and shelter.

The PALM – a public charitable Trust formed in 2013 by my dad (Late) Shri V.Kalyanam  ( Mahatma Gandhi’s Personal Secretary & a Freedom Fighter ) and others has been advocating for the supply of oxygen by promoting such trees that dole out oxygen 24/7.  As one of the Founder Trustees, I have been rooting for the Peepul Tree which, unfortunately people are not aware of, that it provides non-stop supply of oxygen all through the year.  People invariably pull out a sapling of the Peepul and nip it away as soon as they see one in their campus as they fear  if it grows too large, it may destroy buildings. This is a misconception.

I have Peepul, Neem, Badam, Bamboo, Rudraksha , etc., growing inside the campus of my residence and the amount of oxygen they provide is to be seen to be believed.  

All that the Peepul tree would need is more space when it starts becoming bigger and all that one has to do is to create a barricade of space such that with organic fertilization, it reaches out bigger and stronger, without hampering the building.  There are homes I have visited, where they have trees running in the center of the hall and the building is absolutely fine. Tree and nature lovers make sure they build their homes in such a way that they don’t destroy the tree and it is part and parcel of that home, as a member of the family.

The PALM also conducts free workshops to create awareness on Oxygen supplying houseplants/ trees  and also disseminates information on how to go about raising them in homes and apartments alike. There is a need to maintain them on a regular basis and periodically prune them in their early years apart from watering them until they reach at least 3 years, after which, they do grow on their own.  There is a need to plant these in the highways and roads too, considering there are wayside travelers traversing by foot who may need good oxygen supply and rest during their journeys.   It is suggested that every street in the locality has a few oxygen supplying trees, as it is our social responsibility too to help and protect the environment. It is here that the Corporate can play a commendable role to transform the city into an 'oxy-kadu' where there is no dearth whatsoever moving forward for supply of 02. 

Request assistance from Corporate for funding through their CSR funds so that the exercise of oxygen supplies can be meted out gracefully to benefit all. Every street and highway are common area and deploying CSR funds for such noble causes helps and benefits our next gen too as they begin to take over from us. This is the real investment that we provide for our next gen.  If we don’t have proper oxygen in the air, where is the question of enjoying Gold and Silver, Fixed deposits, Real estate properties, and more that one gifts to their children?  

A city that  develops in its infrastructure must pave the way for oxygen trees so that  life is heaven on earth. Corporate must play a major role such that with their  CSR funding, oxygen supply is augmented with ease through Nature for humanity at large.

If  it interests you and you feel inclined to support, please do so. We welcome you to do the needful as per your bucket capacity.

The PALM

SB a/c: 05310100024770

BANK OF BARODA, TEYNAMPET BR.

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palmtrust2013@gmail.com