Kozhikode: Kudumbashree has taken the ambitious project of planting one crore saplings across the state by 2020. ‘Harithapuraskaram smart green clean Kozhikode’ is being implemented as a pilot project in Kozhikode district with the support of an NGO, Green Clean Earth Movement (GCEM).
“The specialty of the project is the close scrutiny of the saplings planted. The growth of each sapling will be uploaded every month as images on www.greencleanearth.org. The best saplings will be awarded each month through a lucky draw,” said Kudumbashree district coordinator Syed Akbar Badsha Khan.
Kudumbashree members planted more saplings but many of them did not know how to post it on the website. “To address that, we have roped in the services of students from National Service Scheme (NSS) and Student Police Cadets (SPC) , who will help Kudumbashree members near their neighbourhoods to upload the images,” explained K. Mohammad Iqbal, Chief Coordinator of GCEM.
The incentives are students get certificates from Kudumbashree and discounts on computer courses they attend at private computer centres. Kudumbashree officers claim that the target can be achieved through their strong 28,000 Ayalkootam network in the state. “Villagers of Mandamangalam near Koyilandy had planted 200 saplings at a go. So, this target can be achieved,” says Mr Khan.
The ultimate aim is to donate one crore trees from Kerala to the UNEP programme. Seeds of Teak, Mahagani, Lakshmitharu, Chandanam, Valanpuli, Mandaram, Poovarashu, Kanikonna, Pera, Neermaruthu among others have been distributed. The immediate target is to plant 10 lakh saplings by June 5.
