TIST India : 4, Lakshmi Nagar, 6th Main, Nanganallur, Chennai, Tamil Nadu (India) 600061 Tel. +91-44-22246844 E-Mail prabakar@tist.org / josephrexon@tist.org Web: wwwtist.org
Tree Never Fails to Help Trees are always useful to us. On 26th December 2004 Tsunami shattered several villages in coastal Tamil Nadu, one village, Kameswaram near Nagapattinam escaped by the help of trees. There are hundreds of coconut trees on the sea shore of Kameswaram, these trees stood like a barrier and reduced the speed of Tsunami and helped the people escape from flow. Similarly, it was a dense belt of mangrove that saved the village of Pitchavaram, around 40 kms from Cuddalore, from extensive damage by the gushing tidal waves.
TIST February 2005 February 2005 not destroy the trees thereof by forcing an axe against them: for thou mayest eat of them, and thou shalt not cut them down (for the tree of the field is man's life) TIST India : 4, Lakshmi Nagar, 6th Main, Nanganallur, Chennai, Tamil Nadu (India) 600061 Tel. +91-44-22246844 E-Mail prabakar@tist.org / josephrexon@tist.org Web: wwwtist.org Revised Voucher Payment for Seedlings Every small group should have a nursery with minimum 1000 seedlings round the year, so that, if there are any casualties, with the available seedlings immediate transplanting can be done. During the year 2004, few small groups started a huge nursery with more than 30,000 seedlings. While transplanting the seedlings, only few thousand were transplanted, because
I) they did not have enough land area;
2) they were not able to maintain;
3) just for the sake of boosting the voucher payment they had more number of seedlings. With immediate effect, TIST has framed a different structure in voucher payment for seedlings. A small group can have even 50,000 seedlings, but TIST will pay only for 3,000 seedlings. Once the seedlings are transplanted with good intervals and that too in their own land, than the voucher payment for the entire 50,000 seedlings will be released. TIST looks forward to have a complete cooperation from all the small groups on this different pay structure for seedlings. TIST also strongly urges Small Groups to plant several different types of tree species. Groups should plant trees that can bear fruits and other byproducts which can add to the value and revenue from the trees. These longer lasting trees will also reduce soil erosion, provide more shade and improve rains in your areas.
TIST India : 4, Lakshmi Nagar, 6th Main, Nanganallur, Chennai, Tamil Nadu (India) 600061 Tel. +91-44-22246844 E-Mail prabakar@tist.org / josephrexon@tist.org Web: wwwtist.org Tamarind Grove of Aseeamman Small Group of Kanthur Since 2003, Aseeamman Small Group of Kanthur is engaged with TIST. They have been maintaining seedlings of different species in their grove. Despite the bad water condition they were maintaining their nursery. Since months now, they were having 1500 Eucalyptus seedlings in their nursery. Now they have transplanted 75% of their seedlings in the farm area, all round the paddy field. During beginning of January 2005, they have started a wonderful grove with 60 Tamarind Trees. The trees are just 20 cm in height. Most amazing act of this small group is that they have given more than 15 m spacing between each tree. They are also planning to plant Eucalyptus or Casuarina in between the Tamarind trees. Though this small group has got minimum trees, but still, their revenue will certainly be equal or more than the other small groups, because apart from the voucher payment from TIST, the Tamarind Trees will give them a good yield. TIST appreciates this small group and advices the other small group to have trees/seedlings other than Eucalyptus or Casuarina, going for fruit bearing trees like Mango, Sapota, Guava, Custard Apple will be a great idea.
TIST India : 4, Lakshmi Nagar, 6th Main, Nanganallur, Chennai, Tamil Nadu (India) 600061 Tel. +91-44-22246844 E-Mail prabakar@tist.org / josephrexon@tist.org Web: wwwtist.org Chamundhi Small Group of Chittoor This small group has more than 20,000 Eucalyptus seedlings and 20,000 Casuarina seedlings in their nursery. Five months back they have transplanted more than 15,000 Casuarina seedlings. The only drawback with their hard work is that the spacing between the trees are very less, not even one 1 m. Now, the Casuarina trees have grown more than 4.5 f in height. Once the side branches are trimmed, the trees will grow faster and by end December 2005 they should be more than 4-5 m in height. Apart from the 40,000 seedlings in nursery, they have more than 15,000 trees in their grove. While the entire small group is playing safe by not going for transplanting during the present water condition, this small group had gone for transplanting their Eucalyptus seedlings. They have transplanted more than 2,500 seedlings during January 2005. They are very confident in bringing up this new grove. They are planning to buy hosepipes or cut small canals to water their groves. One of the members of this Small Group Mr. Dhakshinamoorthy says “even if there is any casualty in their new grove, they will not worry because they have enough seedlings in reserve at their nursery for replacing the casualty”. This Group considers this to be a best practice for Small Groups in Tamil Nadu. 4 / 6 Casuarina Grove, Chamundhi Small GroupGroup rt[f;F ku';fs; , rhKd;or; rpWf;FG Casuarina Grove, Chamundhi Small GroupGroup
TIST India : 4, Lakshmi Nagar, 6th Main, Nanganallur, Chennai, Tamil Nadu (India) 600061 Tel. +91-44-22246844 E-Mail prabakar@tist.org / josephrexon@tist.org Web: wwwtist.org Chamundhi Small Group Member is explaining the TIST Tree Planting activities to the Vaishnava College Students Surprise Visitors at Molachur Small Groups in Molachur have been doing very well in the TIST program. On 20th of January 2005, several Small Group members in Molachur were surprised to see about ten college girls walking into their land with pens and writing pads in their hands. They were accompanied by the TIST India project manager, Mr.Prabakar. These were college students from the Vaishnava College in Chrompet, Chennai. The purpose of their visit was to collect information for an Environmental Project that they are currently doing. The word on the tremendous growth and success of the TIST project in Molachur and other areas of Kanchipuram District has spread through the TIST website, attracting college students such as these to study the TIST Small Groups and their planting activities. TIST India Mr. Prabakar Srinivasan, Project Manager Mr. A. Joseph, TIST Coordinator and Correspondent
TIST India : 4, Lakshmi Nagar, 6th Main, Nanganallur, Chennai, Tamil Nadu (India) 600061 Tel. +91-44-22246844 E-Mail prabakar@tist.org / josephrexon@tist.org Web: wwwtist.org Schedule for Node Meeting Node Villages Covered Group Center Day Session From To Chamundi Chamundi, El Endathur, Agili Mel Kodungalur 1st Sunday 02.02.2005 05.03.2005 Morning 11:00 AM 1:00 PM Mel Kodungalur Singapalli, Ulundhai, Mel Kodungalur, Kattukolli Mel Kodungalur Kunnavakkam 1st Tuesday 04.02.2005 03.03.2005 Evening 5:30 PM 7:30 PM Peruvalayam Peruvalayam, Melapulam, Mottur Melapulam 2nd Saturday 08.02.2005 12.03.2005 Morning 9:00 AM 11:00 AM Kattiampandal Kattiampandal, Vellaputur Kattiampandal 2nd Sunday 09.02.2005 13.03.2005 Morning 9:00 AM 12:00 AM Chitoor KeeraNallur, Chittoor, Molachur, Nandhimedu, Singadivakkam, Marutham, Jambhodi Molachur 3rd Sunday 23.02.2005 20.03.2005 Afternoon 3:00 PM 5:00 PM Kandoor Sokandhi, Kandoor Molachur 3rd Sunday 23.02.2005 20.03.2005 Evening 6:00 PM 8:00 PM Aandiseruvallur Vedal, Aandiseruvallur, Kottavakkam, Melpadavur, Seruvallur, SeruvallurMettucolony Vedal 4th Saturday 22.02.2005 26.03.2005 Afternoon 3:00 PM 5:00 PM