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Project Green Kovai
Saplings for Goodness and Greenery

Project highlights

Project commenced on 23rd April, 2002

10 lakh saplings planted or given away in and around Coimbatore

5 lakh Jatropha saplings given to tribals in and around Anaikatti

Employment opportunities for 80 tribal women

Currently growing a herbal garden with over 90 plants of medicinal value

April 2002 was a typical summer month in almost every city in India. But in Coimbatore, it was going to be the beginning of cooler times. Not surprising, considering the fact that a green revolution was silently brewing in the city.

Turning Coimbatore Green

Appropriately titled ‘Project Green Kovai’, the movement was initiated by Pujya Swami Dayananda Saraswati on 23rd April, 2002. If trees could help us fight pollution, if they could produce pure oxygen for us and if they could bring down the ambient temperature, then the objective would be to grow more trees. To be more specific, 10 lakh trees. AIM for Seva would ensure that 10 lakh saplings would be planted or given away free so that they could serve humanity in myriad ways.

Employment Opportunities

The project impressed the Collector of Coimbatore to an extent that the organization was given the project to grow 5 lakh Jatropha saplings that could be given to the tribals living in and around Anaikatti. Since Jatropha also offers several economic benefits – the oil extracted from crushing its seeds could be used in a standard diesel engine and the residue used to power electricity plants. Nursing these plants also ensured that around 80 tribal women would gain employment by watering and nurturing these plants. The project also benefited several schools, colleges and individuals in and around Coimbatore as over 10,000 plants were given to them free of cost.

Offering Medicinal Value

The project has been successfully implemented and has now evolved to the next stage, where a herbal garden is being grown that contains over 90 plants of great medicinal value. Over 14 varieties of important medicinal plants are given away free for day-to-day use. Besides medicinal plants, several aromatic plants and special vegetables are also grown in the Green Kovai green house.

Innovating without Water

The medicinal plants grown by AIM for Seva not only have a healing effect, but also offer a business proposition that can help AIM for Seva in its activities. A company in Mysore has entered into a contact with AIM for Seva to buy all the medicinal plants grown by Green Kovai.

Plans are also underway to grow plants that do not require water. This is extremely relevant in areas where there is water scarcity and where plants can make a big difference. The Government of India has already been promoting the awareness of plants and trees that require less water. AIM for Seva has applied to the National Medicinal Board to include Project Green Kovai in that programme.

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