For V. Devaki and K.P. Kannan, the post-retirement phase of their lives is not meant for sitting back and relaxing. Instead, they chose to devote much of their time to propagate awareness of the importance of Neem trees.
Since Prof. Devaki’s retirement in 2012, the couple has managed to plant close to 6,000 saplings on the premises of educational and health-care institutions in various parts of the State.
The couple, hailing from Palakkad, say the neem has several unique features, including the ability to withstand drought. “These plants have a huge role to play in the context of climate change. Besides having medicinal properties, neem trees are capable of withstanding pollution. It is also an excellent shade tree,” says Prof. Devaki, who had been a faculty member of the Department of Commerce of Sree Narayana Colleges.
Mr. Kannan had retired as Exhibition Manager of Kerala Children’s Film Society some years ago. The couple resides at Peroorkada.
A shot in the arm
Their endeavour, being undertaken under the aegis of their non-governmental organisation Neem Green Kerala, received a boost when the Director of Public Instruction (DPI) had issued an order in 2014 which permitted them to plant neem trees on the premises of schools across the State. Ever since, the NGO has been supplying neem saplings which have been obtained from the Social Forestry wing of the Forest Department.
“While neem plants require nurturing during the first two years, they sustain themselves without the need for further care thereafter. Sadly, some schools where we had planted the saplings had failed to nurture them during the initial phase,” she said.
Of late, the couple has been providing saplings to institutions of higher education, including Mercy College, Palakkad; All Saints College, Thiruvananthapuram and College of Engineering, Thiruvananthapuram.
The couple has also planted neem saplings on the premises of various hospitals, including Thrissur Government Medical College.
“The students in these institutions have taken the lead in nurturing the plants. We hope the batches that succeed them continue the noble effort,” Prof. Devaki said.
