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The one-man green brigade

Rajiv Ajjibal

HIS MISSION: Vasudev Shet planting a sapling

SIRSI: The path is not new to him, but the mission is. Vasudev Shet, a retired postman of Yadalli Sub-post office, now engages himself in planting saplings by the side of the roads of villages, where he used to walk to deliver mail. He is not tired of this work.

Mr. Shet is a common man with an uncommon vision to serve society in his own way. After retirement, he is now a pigmy collection agent and walks about 25 km a week.

It all began in 2001, the year before his retirement. The villagers of Mundigesar, Karasulli, Yadalli, Bettakoppa, Sirsimakki, who used to receive mail through him, collected a fair amount through donations to help his family.

Mr. Shet had no other source of income other than his meagre salary. Of the amount, he put Rs. 5,000 as fixed deposit in a local co-operative bank as "Hasuru Nidhi" (green fund). From the interest accrued on it every year, he buys saplings and plants them by the roadside of one of the villages.

He has so far planted about 250 saplings along the roads of Mundigesar, Yadalli, Sirsimakki, Karasulli. Usually, he plants fruit yielding saplings such as mango, jackfruit, Kokam and also some medicinal plants. This year, he is planning to plant coconut saplings on the premises of primary schools in Bettakoppa village.

Mr. Shet is worried these days. Due to late onset of monsoon this year, some plants, which he had planted last year, were lost during summer.

This year, he has requested the villagers to adopt the plants — to look after them in summer till the plants grow on their own. The villagers have agreed to his suggestion.

Mr. Shet plans to plant as many saplings as possible in the coming years with local people's participation in and around his village.

One can contribute to the "green fund." He has formed a trust, which includes the president of Yadalli Co-operative Bank, the chairman of Madhyamika Shikshana Samiti and the chairman, Yadalli Gram Panchayati, to enable the work to continue.

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