V. Selvaraj, a resident of Chokkanathan Nagar in Maduravoyal and vice president of the enclave’s residents welfare association, has a plea for Greater Chennai Corporation: “trim the trees, please!”. There is a sense of urgency in that polite but firm imperative and also an unstated pride. He has seen those trees in their “toddler” years, as defenceless saplings. Those days are only 15 years into the past, when a tree-planting campaign swept across Chokkanathan Nagar. It was powered by around 30 NSS students from The Hindu Theological Higher Secondary School in Sowcarpet under the guidance of the school’s NSS officer V. Kalaiselvi and the headmastership of V. Selvaraj.Planted by tender hands, the initiative has photosynthesised into a powerful statement about community service. And the reason to revisit this initiative now? May 31 marks Kalaiselvi’s day of retirement. (She served as biology teacher at The Hindu Theological Higher Secondary School for 18 years, and in the last two years, at WPA Soundarapandiyan Higher Secondary School in Ayanavaram on compulsory deployment). As she bows out of service, one believes, the saplings she helped plant, and which are now strapping big trees, at Chokkanathan Nagar in Maduravoyal will sway in appreciation.What was an effort lasting days by NSS student volunteers from this school in Sowcarpet has translated into a gain that continues across years for residents, making summers more bearable and the locality more environmentally sustainable. D. Narasimhan, secretary of the RWA at Chokkaanathan Nagar, points out that a majority of trees from that initiative are Indian beech tree (Pongamia pinnata).“The main aim was to increase the oxygen supply and educate the future generation about the importance of nature and the need to protect it,” says Kalaiselvi, thrilled at the opportunity to recall and reconstruct the exercise from the ground up.Funding and logistics demanded meticulous planning, notes Kalaiselvi, adding hands stretched out with generosity, and some of those belonged to the residents. A good amount went out from Kalaiselvi’s purse.From the word go, the exercise had one component going for it: collective community effort. Residents of the locality reportedly welcomed the students wholeheartedly and contributed to the initiative in various ways which included arranging food and ensuring an interactive and pleasant experience for the students. The collective contribution transformed the planting initiative into a source of inspiration. Kalaiselvi also acknowledges the contribution of then deputy mayor P. Benjamin, whose support helped the campaign handsomely.Kalaiselvi has been involved in several social service initiatives over the years, and she clubs this one among those marked by long-term social responsibility. Service of this kind does not bring immediate recognition, as the full extent of its impact is known only years later, and its benefits usually enjoyed only by following generations. “Duty is more important than recognition,” says Kalaiselvi, underlining her philosophy of meaningful service.The once small saplings now provide shade, contribute to cleaner air, and continue to be proof of what sustained community efforts can achieve. However, as the trees have grown larger over the years, a few branches have extended towards the power lines, raising a safety concern among residents. Hence the plea from Selvaraj to Greater Chennai Corporation to have the trees trimmed. Tree trimming is not just for people’s safety, but for the trees’ health as well: timely and scientific trimming can keep the trees from getting top-heavy. Therein lies an important lesson; planting trees is only the beginning of environmental stewardship. Preservation demands continual care, and the civic body’s support in this area with its tree-trimming equipment cannot be replaced.Lakshmy Harikrishnan is an intern with The Hindu Published - May 30, 2026 10:19 pm IST