Birth of Green Umbrella Organisation
Green Umbrella Organisation is founded out of sheer passion and compassion towards Mother Nature. The story of Green Umbrella's birth is as endearing as the rescue work it undertakes.Vikram loved trees immensely ever since his childhood. He belongs to that generation who has witnessed greenery in City life. Whereas today's young children don't have that privilege to befriend with trees.
But eventually Greenery in cities like Mumbai and Thane kept on vanishing because of fast rate of development. Giant trees were cut down in order to build roads, highways or skyrocketing buildings. Government and bureaucrats rarely care to compensate by re-planting trees in equal number.
Vikram on the other hand started rescuing native trees growing on concrete structure or on the sideways. He was just 17 year old (in year 2002) when he started nourishing these rescued saplings on the terrace of his building. Initially when there were only 18/20 trees, no one bothered about it. But when number of trees increased to 50 or more, society people objected on his work. So he shifted those saplings from terrace to compound of his building. But again few days later, society people made him to shift his rescued trees from there as they were having problem in parking their vehicles.
Vikram used to plant these rescued trees in public places, side of the road, in Railway Colony at Kalwa etc. He was doing his bit as duty-bound citizen like a lone warrior but no one helped him in those days and he constantly remained in search of shelter for his tree saplings.
Few of his like minded friends joined him in his rescue work. They formed a rescue team and kept on rescuing and re-planting trees as their social responsibility. Group of these young people were balancing their personal and professional life as well as dedicating their time and spending money from their own pocket for this social cause.
By 2009, this Plant Rescue Team earned a name in Mumbai and Maharashtra as few articles about their work got published in news papers. People appreciated their rescue job and Vikram found it necessary to do his work in organized form.
Thus Green Umbrella Organisation was born in 2010.
Fortunately Vikram's goodwill at local municipal corporation office came to his rescue and helped him to build a nursery to shelter his trees. Officials from Thane Municipal Corporation allowed him to use small piece of land as it was meant to have public garden. Over the period of time, Vikram offered to develop Astral Garden on that land which was approved by local officers.
Today Green Umbrella is proud on this achievement. Vikram's Astral Garden (NakshatraVan) is flourishing day by day and citizens from all age groups love to spend time there. It was opened for public on 19th May 2013 and inaugurated by agricultural minister Mr. Sharad Pawar.
Green Umbrella's work was recognized by few socially aware people among whom Mrs. Sarika and Mr. Atul Nagrath must have a special mention. They contacted Vikram after reading about him in a news paper. They not just only praised his efforts but also offered financial help which was very much necessary for the organisation.
Green Umbrella is eternally thankful to Sarikaji for the help and guidance she provided from time to time. She herself is a tree lover and cares for our environment.
In last 3 years, Green Umbrella was fortunate to have supporters like Mr. Rajiv, Ms. Mandira Nagrath, Mr. Deepanjan Sengupta, Mr. Girish Mokashi and Mr. Nishidh Patel who always offered financial help.
Today Green Umbrella is doing work of plantation and also spreading awareness as much as possible.
- Jyoti Gangurde
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