BCIC and Corporate Giants Join Hands with Army to Launch Mega Plantation Drive

BENGALORE:
The Bangalore Chamber of Industry and Commerce (BCIC) as a CSR under the aegis of Agro & Food Processing expert Committees, BCIC in collaboration with leading corporate partners, successfully concluded a three-day “mega” plantation drive spanning recently. The monumental joint effort involving Volvo Group India, Bosch Limited, Biocon Group, TVS Motor Company Limited, and Orange Seva Samsthe undertook plantation of 7,500 saplings inside Army Service Corps (ASC) Centre (North) in Bengaluru.

A Collective Commitment to Green Bengaluru
The initiative, led by the BCIC was a direct response to the loss of green cover in ASC Centre(North) due to infrastructure development. The event brought together over 800 passionate volunteers from various member companies, united by the goal of significantly expanding Bengaluru’s green canopy.

K. Ravi, Senior Vice President of BCIC, welcomed the dignitaries and underscored the purpose of the drive. “The main focus is a mega CSR initiative to ‘Green Bangalore’ and counteract the loss of trees from projects like the Metro and ring roads,” he stated. He stressed that the sustainability of the plants is more important than the planting numbers, as greenery is an investment for the next generation to enjoy and to combat high pollution levels.

The ASC Centre(North): Bengaluru’s Vital Green Dot
The plantation took place on the vast, pristine land of Army, a facility Commandant ASC Centre (North), Brigadier Vikram Shekhawat, SM referred to as the “Lung Space for Bangalore.” He used an analogy, noting that on a Google map of the predominantly concrete city, this area appears as a crucial “green dot”. The Commandant along with Lieutenant Colonel Shaji, welcomed the civil volunteers, expressing appreciation for the joint civilian-military effort. Lieutenant Colonel Shaji highlighted the dual significance of the campus as a significant green patch in the Bangalore urban area and as a key training establishment that trains approximately 5,000 Agniveers for the Army’s logistics operations. Brigadier Shekhawat assured all attendees that the army institution would look after the saplings to ensure they convert into trees, leaving a lasting, positive memory for the participants.

Corporate Voices on Sustainability and Collaboration
G.V. Rao, Chairman, CSR Expert Committee, BCIC & Director, Volvo Group India Pvt Ltd addressed the volunteers, describing trees as our “lifeline” and “extended lungs.” He emphasized that “every action counts” and cited a sanskrit shloka to illustrate the divinity of trees, underscoring the drive’s spiritual and practical significance in combating the city’s transformation into a “concrete jungle.”

Dr. Anupama Shetty, Co-Chair, CSR Expert Committee, BCIC & Mission Director of Biocon Foundation, hailed the ASC campus as a vital “lung space” and appreciated the facility provided by the ASC Centre (North) for the ambitious initiative that targeted 2,500 to 3,000 saplings on the first day alone.

Dr. S. Devarajan, ex President, BCIC and Senior Vice President TVS Motor Company. outlined TVS’s extensive sustainability achievements, including utilizing 100% green energy and replenishing over 212% of water back to the ground. He called for sustainability to become a daily movement rather than a one-off effort.

NarasimhaNakshatri, Mentor, Agro & Food Processing Expert Committee, BCIC representing the collaborative efforts, particularly from Orange Seva Samsthe(OSS), detailed the project’s inception and execution. He specifically appreciated the contributions of young volunteers who dedicated their time to the cause.

Sakina Baker, Head CSR, Bosch Limited & Bosch India Foundation highlighted the environmental initiative showcasing unprecedented collaboration among major organizations like Volvo, BCIC, the Defence team and Biocon. This effort is notable, as corporations usually operate independently. Bosch’s commitment is emphasized, aiming not only to initiate projects but to nurture them, exemplified by their previous environmental efforts like planting 350,000 trees.

The successful three-day initiative exemplifies the power of corporate, civil, and defence collaboration in driving large-scale environmental action, setting a robust model for urban greening in India and culminated in a shared commitment for a green future.