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Project Pasumai Payanam is nothing but a redefining of our afforestation goals in the form of an ambitious project. As mentioned, Siruthuli’s long term goal on afforestation is to plant 1.5 million trees across Coimbatore city, thus ensuring one tree for every citizen of Coimbatore. The same was transformed into an executable task by identifying it as “Pasumai Payanam”, which literally means "a green journey". This project is aimed at making Coimbatore the “Green City” of India. Project Pasumai Payanam aims to motivate the fact that just like employment, education and healthcare, pure air and green cover is the need of every individual.
Formal Launching of "Pasumai Payanam" by Dr.A.P.J.Abdul Kalam
6th July 2005 was truly a memorable day for Siruthuli. It was on this day that our lovable the then President of India, His Excellency, Bharat Ratna Dr.A.P.J.Abdul Kalam honored Siruthuli by duly participating on our special event as our V.V.I.P. guest. Honorable President along with the Governor of Tamilnadu, Mr. Surjeet Singh Barnala inaugurated our prestigious greening project “Pasumai Payanam” by planting our symbolic tree “Pachai Naayagi – The Kalpaka Vriksham of Coimbatore”.
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This event was well attended by the student representatives from many educational institutions within Coimbatore. On his special address to the students, Honorable President imparted knowledge over the importance of water bodies and its vitality over eco-development. During that very moment, our President widely appreciated the sincere efforts taken by Siruthuli by desilting various tanks in and around Coimbatore and by restoring those supply channels that brings water to River Noyyal. He further continued expressing the importance of tree planting and requested all the students to take an oath of planting at least 5 fruit bearing trees on their life time. During that occasion, Governor of Tamilnadu Mr. Surjeet Singh Barnala also expressed his ecomiums to Siruthuli and shared a few encouraging words to the students and the audience present over there.
Thereafter, Honorable President Dr.A.P.J.Abdul Kalam made a golden impression in the green history of Coimbatore, by planting “Pachai Naayagi – The Kalpaka Vriksham of Coimbatore”, thus formally inaugurating Siruthuli’s journey towards the green that was being blessed by the first citizen of India. Soon after that, His Highness unveiled the stone tablet as a permanent mark highlighting such an historic event.
Transplanting Pachai Naayagi to VOC Park
During the year 2005, on the auspicious day of Aadi Perukku (ie. 3rd August 2005) Siruthuli transplanted the "Pachai Naayagi" to VOC Park. Corporation Mayor T.Malaravan was our chief guest for this occasion.
Siruthuli symbolized this specific tree as “Kalpaka Vriksham of Coimbatore”. Being so much related to the people of Coimbatore, Siruthuli wished to place this specific tree at a public location where the public can access and hence, it was decided to transplant it in a marked area within VOC Park. Towards spreading further awareness on Afforestation and tree planting, Siruthuli wished to celebrate this specific occasion along with a wide publicity. Hence, a students' rally was organized starting from Mani Higher Secondary School at Pappanaickenplayam, to VOC Park, for a distance of almost 2.3 kms.
Pachai Nayagi tree was carried in a traditional bullock cart. Thousands of students from various school participated on that rally. Along with the students, Trustees of Siruthuli, Apex members of Siruthuli and Volunteers of Siruthuli participated in the rally. The rally was aptly titled “Pachai Naayagiyin Pudhumanai Puguvizha Kondattam”, which literally means "A house warming ceremony for Pachai Naayagi".
Upon reaching VOC Park, six students, who were the recipients of awards (for the eco-quiz competition) from the then President of India Dr.A.P.J.Abdul Kalam transplanted Pachai Naayagi. Thereafter, trustees and apex members of Siruthuli watered the new inhabitant of the VOC ecosystem. Besides Siruthuli members, even public whoever gathered over there were also requested to water the Kalpaka Vriksham of Coimbatore. Thereafter a variety of cultural programs were held. The event successfully concluded with drops of bliss from the clouds above, sent by Mother Nature.
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Today, Pachai Nayagi is home to many birds and insects, and to see the healthy existence of our symbolic tree “Pachai Naayagi” is indeed a morale booster for all admirers of Mother Nature.
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