Massive plantation drive with women SHGS help

Tirupati: The Mission for Elimination of Poverty in Municipal Areas (MEPMA) embarked on a massive tree plantation drive by involving its big contingent of the 18 lakh women members of SHGs in the State.

According to MEPMA Director P Chinnathataiah, the tree plantation was taken up to support the government initiative for improving green cover in the State so as to check environment pollution and induce rains.

Speaking to the media here on Wednesday, Chinnathataiah said that each woman member will take the responsibility of planting only three saplings which they will plant in the open spaces at residences in the cities and town.

Before planting the trees, he said that they will consult the households to take their firm assurance that they will protect it and also give them the choice to name the plants in their premises after their beloved ones.

“This was to give a sentimental attachment to see the trees are taken care after planting the instead just leaving them to their fate and to ensure 100 per cent survival and success of the plantation programme,” he explained.

Further, a geo tagging of the trees planted and woman member of SHG visiting the house at regular interval also planned, he said adding that the three pronged approach -sentimental value, geo tagging and SHG member visit- will sure to give rich dividends. The Social Forestry department is roped in to provide the required sampling to SHGs for planting of a minimum of 54 lakh trees in urban areas in the State, he added.

This apart, the women SHGs will be involved in other tree plantation programme taken up by various government bodies and private including schools, he said.

MEPMA Director held a meeting with the district-level Project Directors and officials of the five districts including four in Rayalaseema and Nellore to assess the performance of various schemes being implemented by the MEPMA in each district.

He said that the MEPMA had resolved to focus on welfare of the people residing in the 6,755 slum localities in the 13 districts. Accordingly, with the support of women SHGs, the MEPMA will take up promotion of Chandranna Bima Pathakam to cover the poor mainly the 1.85 crore people engaged in unorgnaised sector and also extend the scheme for education of slum children. Both the initiatives will be taken up from August this year, he said.