Sadhguru's Isha Foundation, based in Coimbatore, has launched a series of plantation and cleanliness drives across Tamil Nadu and Karnataka. The plantation drives are aimed at multiplying farmers' income by encouraging them to take up tree-based agriculture as part of the Cauvery Calling movement, the foundation said in a statement.
Cauvery Calling is a campaign launched by Isha in 2019 to revitalise the river Cauvery. As part of the project, around one crore trees were planted in Tamil Nadu in 2022.
“In Tamil Nadu, Cauvery Calling successfully kickstarted a series of tree plantation drives aimed at enabling state farmers to plant 1.1 crore trees in their farms this year,” Isha said.
The foundation claimed that the plantation drives were conducted in 140 farmer lands across all districts of Tamil Nadu and Pondicherry planting a staggering 1.6 lakh trees in a day.
“The movement is facilitating farmers to plant valuable timber trees such as teak, red sandalwood, banyan, neem, mahogany and rosewood, which, while improving their economic conditions are also crucial in revitalising the Cauvery river,” it said.
These events were attended by Local MPs, MLAs, mayors and the general public.
In Pollachi, MP K. Shanmugasundaram inaugurated the 'Plastic Free Noyyal River' drive. As a part of this, Isha has joined hands with the Tamil Nadu government to revive the Noyyal River, the main water source for four districts including Coimbatore and Tirupur. The foundation has been entrusted to remove the garbage from the first 4 km of the Noyyal River.
“The enthusiastic students of Isha Samskriti and Isha Home School came together to begin the cleaning of the river. Touched by the involvement and dedication of the students, the honourable minister appreciated their efforts in preserving the environment,” it said.
In Chennai, the Save Soil volunteers cleaned the Marina beach by collecting plastic waste.
In Karnataka, newly-elected Chikkaballapur MLA Pradeep Eshwar planted a sapling near the Adiyogi statue as part of the 'Green Chikkaballapur' initiative which aims to plant over 10,000 saplings in the district in 2023.