Vijay Kumar Katti, a 62-year-old social activist and a bio-medical engineer, from Thane started an in-door tree plantation initiative. Katti has vowed to plant around 75,000 trees till Independence day this year. He asked people to come forward and go for in-door tree plantation, which will benefit them with oxygen capacity inside their house.
Katti who has been working in social services from 1993 has already planted 20,000 trees across Mumbai, Thane, Pune, Bangalore and corporate offices. He says people these days do outdoor planting, but don't take care of it. "I am encouraging people for indoor plantations. Recently, the State Bank of India took up the initiative to plant at least 10 trees in each branch, which will be across Maharashtra. The staff from the branch took a pledge that they will take care of it. I teach them the concept of indoor plantation. Explaining, how from time to time cleaning of trees keeps us busy, in return gaining environmental benefits. Also, it keeps us healthy naturally and helps us to maintain good mental health", added Katti.
Katti who is said to be an green man had rented a row house in Kasheli near Thane, to store the plants. "I pay a rent of 17,000 and have at present 3,500 different varieties of trees. Every sapling has its own significance and environmental benefits. If anyone asks me the benefits, I will suggest that he stay at my rented house. The complete Kasheli area is full of mosquitoes, but if you stay at my row house, it's mosquito free. It is all with cleaning and environmental benefits", added Katti.
FPJ Correspondent
The green man who stays in Thane has 1,200 plants in his 8 by 15 feet bedroom with a bed in the centre. My family doesn't interfere in my bedroom dedicated to me, "I sleep with trees and enjoy the environment. Indoor plantation is the opportunity available for every individual to contribute to the society. Individual contribution collectively can become a total solution to many social issues like global warming, psychological impact and understanding others. People can take trees from me at the cost price with learning the benefits of it," said Katti adding, "Indoor plantation is where you are building a confidence of creating an oxygen capacity and reducing carbon dioxide and getting a flower to cherish".
Katti realized the importance of oxygen for survival amid the pandemic and decided to increase natural oxygen levels in the city by planting 75,000 trees till Independence day.