CHENNAI: Chennai Social Service, a volunteer group of city youths, is introducing a novel SMS scheme to increase tree population here .
Briefing about the proposed scheme to reporters here, C Tirupathiah, a volunteer for Chennai Social Service’s Environment Care Group (ECG), said, “We have coined a SMS-a-Sapling scheme, by which anyone who wish to grow tree at (his/her) home, can SMS us for a sapling, and our volunteers, after getting the details like variety of sapling, will deliver it at their doorstep itself.” On a question about the practical issues in delivering the sapling, Tirupathiah, said, “Upon receiving the SMS on the number 9894062532, one of our volunteers would call the number and verify it. Based on the details gathered over the phone, we will forward the information to our volunteer residing nearest to the SMS sender’s residence.” Once the variety of sapling is finalised, a volunteer would deliver it at the person’s residence, he added .
He also said that they will have a centralised tracking system by which growth of saplings can be monitored by volunteers by regularly calling the people who availed it from them .
When asked about saplings, he said that a few of their volunteers have temporary nurseries at their home and if need arises, they will go for a full-fledged nursery to fulfil the demand.