'Bhishis' or chit funds are used by informal, closed groups for small monthly savings and to ensure convenient access to credit for members. Here though, members contribute money to plant trees and take care of them.
A group from Kolhapur has launched a bhishi scheme to extend the green cover in the city.
Located 380km from Mumbai, the city is cradled in the western ghats. To protect the green cover and extend it further, Green Vision, Kolhapur, which comprises 47 members including businessmen, salaried employees, politicians, students, senior citizens and homemakers, was born of a WhatsApp forward calling on like-minded people to join the cause.
'Bhishis' or chit funds are used by informal, closed groups for small monthly savings and to ensure convenient access to credit for members. Here though, members contribute money to plant trees and take care of them.
"We started a bhishi with every member contributing Rs 200 per month. Once a month, when we decide to plant trees, we draw three chits and these shortlisted members identify locations to plant saplings, source them, dig pits and arrange for water and tree guards," said Avnish Jain, who founded the group.
Green Vision, Kolhapur, has been conducting plantations since June. So far, it has managed to plant over 500 trees at locations like Sadar Bazar, Shivaji University, Collector Office Road, Vikram High School and Zakir Hussain High School. It plans to plant 1,000 more saplings by October-end.
After the rains, members will arrange for tankers to water these plants. Jain said Vikram high school had agreed to take care of the trees planted in their vicinity.
"The motive is not just planting trees but preserving them. Post-monsoons, we plan to split then in groups to maintain them, and also appoint caretakers. We will also create awareness in schools," said group member Pallavi Jajoo. She added that they had selected shade-giving and fruit-bearing varieties like saag, cherry and chapha.
"If we get a large plot of land, we can create a botanical garden with herbs and rare species," said Jajoo, adding that they planned to raise funds for it.
Jain said acquaintances of a group member had agreed to let them plant trees on their land. The group plans to plant over 1,000 saplings, including flowering varieties on this plateau.
Green fund
‘Bhishis’ or chit funds are used by informal, closed groups for small monthly savings. Here, members contribute money to plant trees and take care of them.
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