If Annai Colony of Sundarapuram Coimbatore sports a nice look today, it is because of the efforts of S. Rajendran, who is an engineer by profession. He is also the founder of the Pasumai Desam Trust, which works towards planting trees in and around the city.

Rajendran, a resident of the colony, was saddened by the way the residents maintained and this street. He took up the task of beautifying the street, and he is happy that other residents of the street have joined hands with him in order to keep their street neat and tidy. The activity started in April this year and it has gained momentum. People who visited Annai Colony before and after the launch of the movement, laud about the transformation. Annai Colony comes under ward #97.

“I began by educating the residents to segregate the waste from their homes into recyclable and non-recyclable items. We collect the non-recyclable waste, take them to the scrap dealer, and exchange it for useful stuff like dustbins or pots. This ensures that the residents get what they want. And, our road is clean and tidy too,” Rajendran says.

Also, in April, Rajendran started planting saplings on the sidewalks of Annai Colony. He noticed the serious dearth of trees on this road, and he, along with a few residents, planted saplings like guava, neem, and papaya, among others. The saplings are now as tall as Rajendran is. “It is very encouraging to see the residents of Annai Colony watering these saplings. Recently, we have planted some flowering plants. Once they start to bloom, our roads will look very colourful and beautiful,” Rajendran says, all excited.

Drawing inspiration from Annai Colony and its activities are several of its neighbouring streets and colonies. Rajendran tells us that he has been approached by the residents of MGR Nagar, Malumichampatti, and Eachanari for ideas on how to beautify their wards too.