Maiti celebrates green 'V Day

Maiti celebrates green 'V Day
By Prabeer Kumar Sikdar
Dehradun 14 Feb 2008:

Valentine's Day has ended. The market was flooded with many gift items to make the day special for one's Valentine. Be it the evergreen red rose, or a box of luscious chocolates, gifts were in various hues and shapes and some of whose prices had skyrocketed on the 'V' Day. This is typical of this 'special' day, as one would say. But not for Maiti, a unique environment movement for afforestation, that attracted the attention of nature lovers in a different way. They distributed free saplings to young couples to commemorate this day and also to instil in them the need to conserve nature.

"Maiti is undertaking this initiative to make people aware about the need to tackle the harm caused to nature by pollution and deforestation. To make this day memorable for the young couples, we choose the Valentine's Day, and are using it in a creative way to advocate afforestation," said Kalyan Singh Rawat, founder of Maiti.

Literally meaning 'mother's home, the movement run by Kalyan Singh Rawat, distributed free saplings of Cassie and Sistula to young couples, who had reached Gandhi Park to celebrate the occasion. The Maiti Foundation initiated the practice of distribution of free saplings to people on auspicious occasions like Holi, traditional wedding ceremonies and other important days, in the 90’s.

Located in the heart of the city, the Park provides the breathing space to thousands of people. People, young and old, can be seen here on early morns and evenings enjoying the freshness of the green surroundings. "But, over the years, as a result of neglect, the Park has become a storehouse of garbage and plastics. Therefore, we are taking the help of Eco Club members to clean the park," Rawat said. For their initiative, the Forest Department provided free saplings to Maiti for plantation in the park. "By noon, around 20-25 couples gathered in the Gandhi Park, and planted the tender saplings," Rawat said.

When the saplings grow into full-blown trees, it will be a reminder to all the couples, who planted it, that love also grows with time!