Extra mile for a greener morrow

IN the heart of Southern Railway's Golden Rock workshop in Ponmalai, where the hum of machinery and the clang of tools are a daily rhythm, a technician's hands tell a story of transformation that extends far beyond the mechanical world.

- JOSE K JOSEPH

KC Neelamegam, a senior technician, whose hands are accustomed to greasing machinery and handling railway spare parts, are equally skilled at nurturing the earth. Since 1989, Neelamegam has been using his break hours and holidays to organise workshops and plantation drives.

During the break, with pots of water carefully balanced on his bike, he traverses the city, ensuring that his green offspring receive the nourishment they need to grow and flourish. Often referred to as 'Tiruchy's green warrior', Neelamegam has planted over 3,000 saplings at various places in Tiruchy which have grown into big trees. The green warrior never misses a chance to spread awareness on protecting the environment by conducting workshops in most of the educational institutions in the district.

"I never fix a target; I continue planting as many saplings as possible. Earlier, I used to do all of this alone but over the years many residents are supporting me by watering the saplings planted near their homes and joining my plantation drives," he says with a sense of accomplishment.