At a time when Delhites are emulating a “Chipko” styled movement in a bid to save the city's lungs~ its trees, the alumni association of Indian Institute of Technology -Delhi (IIT-D) will plant saplings of indigenous varieties of trees in each of the 100 villages adopted by it as part of the initial phase of its “Swachhta” initiative.
The 50,000 strong alumni association of IIT-D, inspired by the “Swachhta Abhiyan” of the Union Government, has started its initiative to adopt villages whereby one or more than one village is adopted by the alumni interested for its development.
The initiative will kick-start from “Pahari” village near Pataudi in District Gurugram of Haryana on 1 July. “Haryana Chief Minister Manohar lal Khattar will inaugurate it and about 500 trees of native indigenous varieties would be planted in the village,” said Atul Bal, president, alumni association, IIT-D.
As a part of the rural adoption plan about Rs.10 to 15 lakh would be invested in each of these villages with focus on developing sewage system & waste management, renovation of Panchayat and community centres, opening of small libraries for villagers especially for the children and plantation of native varities of trees like Peepal, Neem, Banyan, Mango, Jackfruit, Jamun etc.
“In just three weeks starting from first week of June, 35 alumni's have adopted 100 villages. RH Dalmia has alone adopted 55 villages and has planned to adopt 20 more. We reached our alumni through website, email, mobile and other communication channels,” said Bal.
He said that in the initial phase Rs 10-15 lakhs would be spend per village but efforts would be made to increase the amount later on depending upon the need. Further, informing that bio-gas plant would also be developed in the villages.
Bal informed that an standard operating plan/ procedure would be developed for the villages and each village would be developed according to it.
In the initial phase IIT-D alumni's have expressed interest for developing villages located in Haryana, Uttar-Pradesh, Orissa, Uttarakhand and Delhi. Expressions of interest have also been made for development of pocket of 69 villages located in the Najafgarh area of Delhi.