ur \ufb01rst Tree Walk was held in Besant Nagar. Led by Dr. Narayanaswamy, a retired professor of Botany, a mot- ley group of 30 tree enthusiasts went

While learning about the trees, walkers learnt about issues that trees in urban ar- eas face \u2013 abuse, nailing, and suffocation by indiscriminate paving. People don\u2019t re- alise the long-term effects of a tree that is cut and not replaced. In one act of destruc- tion, a vital eco-system that provided a haven for many birds, squirrels and insects is removed. So, the damage goes on until worrying stories about global warming (for many individuals, this too seems to have no effect) make you think you\u2019d better do something. There are several things we can do to create a greener Chennai.

\u2022 Being aware of the correct procedure for planting and caring for a sapling is very important. Also, choose species that help regenerate local biodiversity.

\u2022 Begin to notice the trees around you \u2013 the beautiful shapes, colours, \ufb02owers and fruits. Also notice the insensitive pruning, stakes that need removal, tree guards that can harm, and trees dying from wounds, drought and pollution and do everything you can for them.

wash its leaves, give it a drink, and see if it needs any special care. Then take on an- other and another. Check up on them ev- ery once in a while to see how they\u2019re doing.

Nizhal invites corporate organisations to be part of our movement for sensitive greening. One could take part in tree sur- veys, awareness campaigns, and most im- portantly, to dispel the myth that \u2018greening\u2019 is only about \u2018planting saplings\u2019. To be a responsible tree planter is most important, and this means taking care to monitor the growth of the saplings planted (it should never be about the number of saplings planted), and to help regenerate biodiversity of \ufb02ora and fauna with a care- ful choice of species and a focus on bring- ing back indigenous species that are fast vanishing.

Often, in the course of my work, I re- member the concluding line from Late Sundara Ramasami\u2019s poem, Vriksha Ma- nidhargal \u2013 Manithargal marangal pol vaz-

The author is one of the \ufb01ve founder
trustees of Nizhal (\u2018Shade\u2019 in Tamil), a
Chennai-based NGO that promotes tree
culture in urban landscapes. Reach them at
nizhal.shade@gmail.com or call 044-
42045137. More information on Nizhal and
its activities can be found at

Learn about
issues trees
in urban
pockets face
on a walk
with Nizhal

organisations keen on celebrating the day for
more than a day. The Madras Terrace House, this
time, is playing host to a eco expo. \u2018Eco Fest\u2019 will
see eco-stalls, eco-fashion, trash brands, photo
exhibitions, organic counter and \ufb01lm screening.
The fest starts from June 12 and will continue till
June 30. Keeping with the eco-friendly theme,
each of the items on sale will stand for that. Like,
Udbhava will be showcasing table mats, trays,
boxes made out of banana \ufb01bre and other agro
waste. Organic store Restore will sell organic food
grains, Conserve India will display bags and
footwear made from recycled plastic bags, Lets is
into selling laptop sleeves which are recycled
from vinyl hoardings and Street Trust will sell its
recycled plastic baskets, to name a few.
For \ufb01lm buffs there is screening ofCrocodile

documentary on the
Gharials, followed by
a discussion with

Naina Shah will hold
a talk on \u2018Waste
management in your
home\u2019. There are
many other events
planned, so keep
dropping in at
Madras Terrace
House, No 15
Sripuram, II Street,

Max is a four-year-old black, male labrador, neutered. He\u2019s healthy,
friendly and playful. He needs a home that preferably has a large
garden. Email maisie4829@yahoo.co.in for adoption.

An eco-friendly footwear
and earrings made from
waste cloth

he 30-odd elders of Aruwee, a day care home for destitute el- ders and deprived children, are

breathing a sigh of relief. For the Rs 5 lakh donated by the CSR wing of Alcatel- Lucent would surely help them shift to a much larger place than the asbestos topped small rented room on a terrace, in which they are staying with much dif\ufb01culty now.

The WELCOM (welfare commit- tee), is a voluntary corporate social responsibility group started within Alcatel Lucent, Chennai, which serves many orphans, disabled chil- dren and destitute elders joining hands with various NGOs. The group has been working closely with NGOs Good life Centre, Aruwe, An-

bu Karangal and Gnana Deepam. Recently the WELCOM group bagged the CSR Champions Award 2008 and a cash award of US $ 10,000 by competing with the 130 centres of Alcatel Lucent spread across the world.

B.V.S. Krishnamoorthy, Director (R&D) Alcatel- Lucent, who gave away the cheque to Aspy Joyson, founder trustee of Aruwe, said that the WELCOM group is working with Aruwe for the past eight years and they found them doing true service. \u201cThe sustained effort of the volun- teers has helped them win the award. There are 10 core members in the group supported by 350 volunteers. Supported by the HR and communications wing of the \ufb01rm, the volunteers are involved in long-term social responsibility ac- tivities,\u201d Krishnamoorthy said.

Apart from the fund provided by the corporate, the Pay Roll Giving (PRG) Scheme of the WELCOM group is also a constant source of \ufb01nance from the employees to- wards various welfare activities. He- ma Mohandas, DGM, HR, Alctael- Lucent, who heads the CSR wing in Chennai, says that they are also planning to provide old PCs to NGOs which take care of children. \u201cAlcatel Lucent, not only aims for the welfare of its own employees but also to improve the society in which they are living,\u201d Hema adds.

The CSR wing of Alcatel- Lucent, a global telecommunications corporation,
donated Rs. 5 lakhs to Aruwe, a social service organisation which
takes care of destitute elders and deprived children

B.V.S. Krishnamoorthy, Director
(R&D) Alcatel- Lucent (third from
left) presents the cheque to
Aspy Joyson (third from right),
founder trustee of Aruwe.

founded in 1993 is run by Aspy Joy- son and Rachel Victor, both alumni of Social Work Department of Stella Maris College. Inspired by the \ufb01eld work they did among the \ufb01shermen community in Kanyakumari and at Otteri Slum with YWCA during their college days, they set out to help destitute elders.

Since Aspy was from Aynavaram, she decided to help the elders in the slums near her house.

Aruwe, started as a day care home for elders now also works for the reha- bilitation of children in slums. Aspy and Rachel visited the slum and invited the elders to their one room of\ufb01ce lo- cated on the terrace of Apsy\u2019s maternal house. Now the of\ufb01ce has turned into a home for more than 30 destitute elders out of them 15 reside there, while the rest go home after dinner and returns in the morning.

\u201cWe never thought that it will turn into a complete destitute home. Now the problem we face is space con- straint. It is dif\ufb01cult to accommodate so many people in one room. And also the elders \ufb01nd it dif\ufb01cult to climb the stairs. We are looking for sponsors who can provide us with a piece of land. The money we got from Alactel \u2013Lucent will be used for the building,\u201d says Aspy, who has a team of seven, to look after the elders plus the 80 children of the slums who they provide with dinner and supplementary education.

\u201cChildren in slums also have dreams. One such boy who ful\ufb01lled his dream is now placed in a famous IT company in Chennai. \u201cHe lost his father at a young age and his mother is mentally retard- ed. He asked us for help and we found sponsors for him. After \ufb01nishing his engineering degree from Anna Univer- sity, he was placed in a software \ufb01rm. Now he is in U.K.\u201d

\u201cLast academic dear, one of our stu- dents got more than 400 marks in the SSLC examination,\u201d says Aspy adding that it is dif\ufb01cult to make people un- derstand the importance of education. \u201cBut there are really bright students whose lives are spoilt by their very own parents. One thing I ask educated peo- ple is not to give alms to kids who beg on roads especially near traf\ufb01c signals. Because the more money you give, in future there will be more on the streets.\u201d

Aruwe\u2019s next project is to \ufb01nd spon- sors for the 38 children of Tirunelveli district. \u201cThe children need Rs. 600 each per year for their studies. We have to \ufb01nd sponsors for them. Though we are struggling here to run this home, we cannot ignore these children who have come to us for help. God will show us some way,\u201d says Aspy while sorting out the application of the chil- dren class wise.