Give back to Nature this Gudi Padwa

While celebrating a festival is probably the best time to give back to nature instead drawing from it for once. Exercising this principle, the state department of social forestry has been propagating plantation of neem saplings on the occasion of Gudi Padwa, the Maharashtrian New Year, on March 27. Following the motto ‘Gudi Padwa, Kadunimba Wadhwa’ (Grow neem on Gudi Padwa), the department has collected over five lakh neem seedlings from all over the state, which will be sold at affordable rates at various spots in Pune on March 27. Volunteers from the department and various NGOs have come forward to spread the message of growing neem tree on the occasion. This is the first time the social forestry department is propagating neem vis-a-vis a festive occasion. “Instead of breaking the branches off the neem trees, it’s a good idea to plant one. This is a tree indigenous to India and moreover, the benefits of the plant have been underestimated and most people are not aware of its various uses,” Prakash Thosre, director, social forestry department, said. Around 10,000 saplings will be made available at the social forestry department nurseries located at Aundh, Hadapsar and Empress Gardens, and at one of the department’s offices at the Alka talkies chowk. The volunteers will be selling neem saplings at affordable prices and will inform people about the benefits of planting and nurturing neem. “Neem is a very good option for bio-fuel. We want to raise awareness about this plant’s advantages,” Thosre said. The plant has gradual growth but can give immense benefits when nurtured properly. The department has also plans to encourage school students to collect neem fruits and seeds during the summer season and plant them at the arrival of the monsoon.