This Bengaluru Man Is Raising Funds For Those In Distress During COVID By Distributing Saplings

One of the biggest lessons the world learned from the COVID-19 pandemic is how the mindless destruction of the environment can come back to haunt us.

Across the world, there is a newfound interest in the need to save the environment to prevent another pandemic in the future.

This is a message Bengaluru resident Vijay Nishanth has tried to spread for years - the importance of trees, forests, and wildlife.

BCCL

The environmentalist, who describes himself as 'Tree Doctor' has been at the forefront of the fight to save the trees of the Garden City is now using the pandemic to spread awareness about conservation and also help at least some people whose lives have been destroyed by the pandemic.

On June 5, on World Environment Day, Nishanth launched a new campaign called Green Covid.

Indiatimes

As part of the initiative, Nishanth has been distributing tree saplings to people and collect a small amount from them in exchange. The money raised through the programme is then distributed among the needy.

"On Environment Day we launched the 'Green Covid' campaign. We started with giving saplings to our friends and family and we collected Rs 100 for a sapling. We have managed to raise Around Rs 80,000 in a few days. The money we have collected has been distributed among many victims of COVID-19 including families that lost their earning member, people who have lost their income etc," Nishanth told Indiatimes.

Indiatimes

According to him, there are many individuals and groups that are already distributing dry rations and meals among the needy, but many still need financial support for their other needs. That is why they decided to extend the help in cash and not kind.

"For me, the satisfaction is from two fronts. First, the poor will have some cash in their hands. Second, with the saplings, we will be helping to build a 'natural oxygen tank' for the future of the city," he said.

Indiatimes

Nishanth said the 'Green Covid' is a chain of action where he started distributing saplings to those around him, and they, in turn, are encouraged to do the same with their friends and families, thus making sure that a good number of saplings are planted and are taken care of.

"I started this with just 25 people and then their friends joined in. Some even distributed up to 70-80 saplings on their own initiative. We are creating a chain. This can be replicated anywhere in India all they have to do is procure some saplings, preferably local species and distribute it among people close to them and ask them to do the same," Nishanth said.

Indiatimes

Amid the gloom and despair from the pandemic, Nishanth said he is still happy that people are slowly realising the importance of what he was saying and doing all these years.

"Nowadays I get a lot of calls from people whom I know saying that only now do they realise the importance of environmental protection and the need to save wildlife and forests. Earlier when I used to speak about the destruction of the environment not many paid attention, but things have started changing now and more people are becoming aware of protecting the environment to prevent another pandemic," he said.