TIST
August 2007
CHEZHUMAI
The best time to plant a tree is twenty years ago. The second best time is now – Plant Trees.
Green Vision Small
Group This Small Group is doing the tree planting work at Adhilavakkam Village at Placepalayam Center, Thiruvallur District. Their Node Center is at DB Puram. There are more than 5 different species like, Cashew, Guava, Mango, Red Cedar, Teak of trees planted in a huge area of 95 acres. The members of this group have given good spacing in between each trees, so that, all the trees grow well.
During 13th August 2007 quantification, there are 14,540 one year old trees and 13,250 seedlings ready for transplanting during the rainy season. The members of this group take great care of the seedlings. The seedlings are kept in a shed to prevent from direct sun light. Few species of trees are given support with a stick tied, so that, those trees grow tall and do not spread down on the ground. The members use good water management system to water all the trees and seedlings with the available water. Small Groups who wish to plant Cashew, Guava, Red Cedar and Teak can get advice from the members of this Small Group.
Opinion Poll
TIST had an opinion poll at Semboondy Village. Almost all the Small Groups at Semboondy Village have good opinion about TIST Project. Find below the questionnaire with answer from Sakthi Vinayagar Small Group of Semboondy.
Questionnaire with answer from Sakthi Vinayagar Small Group of Semboondy
1. Do you believe that the socioeconomic situation of the region (where the project activity is implemented) will improve due to the project activity?
Yes, there would be improvement in socio-economic situation and we should also work hard for the same.
2. Is the implementation of Reforestation project able to improve the environmental situation in the surrounding area?
Yes, we see our village surrounding have turned green due to planting trees
3. Would you recommend authorities to develop projects of this nature?
Yes, we wish this project develops more and more.
4. Do you think “the project activity” will contribute to local employment generation in lower economic sector in the region?
Yes, we also get yield from our trees in addition to the TIST Voucher payment
5. Do you think “the project activity” will contribute to Sustainable Development of the region?
Yes. We have planted long standing trees and TIST has also committed to be with us for decades
6. Any additional comments on the project activity and suggestions to improve Sustainable Development through this project or such projects?
We wish this project grows more and more.
Useful Trees to Grow
Wood Apple Tree
Wood apple is an erect, slowgrowing tree with a few upwardreaching branches bending outward near the summit where they are subdivided into slender branchlets drooping at the tips. The bark is ridged, fissured and scaly and there are sharp spines. The deciduous, alternate leaves, 3 to 5 in long, darkgreen, leathery, often minutely toothed, blunt or notched at the apex, are dotted with oil glands and slightly lemon-scented when crushed. Yellowish green flowers, tinged with red, 1/2 in across, are borne in small, loose, terminal or lateral panicles. The tree is mostly known for its hard woody fruit, size of a tennis ball, round to oval in shape. The pulp is brown, mealy, odorous, resinous, astringent, acid or sweetish, with numerous small, white seeds scattered through it. Wood Apple is famous during the Vinayagar Chathurthi Festival. This hard woody fruit is presented to Lord Ganesa during the Festival.
Pachiamman Small Group – Semboondy Node Center
Our Small Group is working very well under Semboondy Node Center. Pachiamman Small Group was registered in 2006. This Small Group has planted casuarinas and some Indian Species. This group has about 24,700 trees. This kind of trees can grow well in sandy soil areas. Moreover, we have planned to plant long standing trees. This will be done in the forthcoming rainy season.
All the Small Groups which belong to the Semboondy Node Center are working very well. All the women members participate regularly in the Node Meetings. The benefits of the tree depend on the growth of the trees. The planting of trees contribute much to the improvement of environmental situation and economy of the surrounding areas.
All the members of all the Small Groups in our area get together every month on the first Saturday to discuss about our activities. Our trees also help to control the pollution caused from motor vehicles. TIST pays us once in very three month for the maintenance of the trees. WE grow these trees in the hope of getting good benefit from them after period of twenty years. We are able to make this possible only with the help of our TIST.
G.Kumaravel, Pachaiamman Small Group, Semboondy
Tindivanam Center
Thellar is about 15 km from Vandhavasi. TIST India had a meeting at Thellar on 7th July and 12th August 2007. Few villagers participated in the meeting and came forward and joined in TIST Small Group. 17 New Small Groups were recruited during July-August 2007 at Thellar area.
1. Shri Ram Jayam Small Group
2. Krishna Small Group
3. Naval Small Group
4. Jansi Rani Small Group
5. Ellaiamman Small Group
6. Amman Small Group
7. Mahalakshmi Small Group
8. Mullai Small Group
9. Malligai Small Group
10.Roja Small Group
11.Raja Small Group
12.Kalikambal Small Group
13.Nithyashree Small Group
14.Roja Small Group
15.Sivaji Small Group
16.Muthu Small Group
17.Arunachalam Small Group
All upcoming new Small Group make sure that your quantifier makes a baseline quantification of your land where you would be planting trees. Baseline quantification should be done before plant trees.
Amman Small Group
This Small Group has planted trees under TIST program at Saluki Village, Mel Kodungalur Center. They have two different species like Casuarina and Eucalyptus. During 17th May 2007 Quantification they have 6,240 Casuarina and 3,360 Eucalyptus trees in two different groves. They would be planting yet another species of trees during this rainy season. The members of this group water their trees regularly and weeds are removed whenever required.
Point to Note
Mel Kodungalur & Vandhavasi Small Node meeting spot is changed. From September 2007, these two Nodes will be organized at the Mel Kodungalur Government School.