Restoration through Native Plant Nursery Practices - Volunteers from State Street Corp & Sankara College
On 25 January 2026, the Restoration through Native Plant Nursery Practices event was carried out at the Poonthalir Native Plant Nursery located within the KCT Campus. with the participation of 31 volunteers from State Street, 5 students from Sankara College, and the Arulagam team.
This activity marked a meaningful New Year resolution for Poonthalir Nursery to strengthen native plant restoration efforts continuing the work we have done before, but starting this year with renewed commitment and collective action. During the event, volunteers together filled 2,420 soil bags, mixing manure and soil with their hands and experiencing the texture and smell of the earth. While filling the bags many paused in the feel of soil, smell the earth, and reconnect with nature. After the bag-filling activity, all volunteers eagerly inserted Saraca asoca seeds(சீதா) and Terminalia elliptica seeds(கருமருது) into the soil bags, while our team explained the complete journey from soil to seed. Many participants shared a heart-touching connection with the plants and expressed excitement as they waited for the seeds to germinate.
The event was further by the presence of our Chief Guest, Mr. C. L. S. Annadurai, Director, Tribal Directorate and Additional Director, Tribal Research Centre, He spoke about the various initiatives taken by the government for tribal communities and how sustained efforts in education, their livelihood support, and welfare schemes are improving tribal lifestyles. He appreciated Arulagam’s work in tribal education, their livelihood upliftment, environmental conservation, and its continued efforts to act as a voice for the voiceless, especially through wildlife and vulture, sand-dunes conservation and native species protection for future generations. He shared that Arulagam was chosen for its uniqueness and consistency in working at the grassroots level, and highlighted the leadership of Mr. Bharathidasan, Secretary of Arulagam, has ensured that support reaches where voices are often unheard. He acknowledged that this clarity of purpose has helped Arulagam grow steadily along with its committed team.
He also expressed happiness and respect for the volunteers, noting that they chose to spend their free time serving nature rather than resting, and said it was encouraging to see such dedication. Concluding his address, he shared his hope that Arulagam would continue to expand its work for nature and tribal communities and remain committed to its principle of being a voice for the voiceless.
The Arulagam and Poonthalir teams will continue to nurture the saplings, transplant them in suitable locations, and ensure their long-term care. The activity became more than physical work; it turned into a moment of learning, reflection, and quiet responsibility. Conversations flowed easily as volunteers learned from one another and from the nursery team, reinforcing the idea that restoration is built through small, mindful-actions.
The event set a positive tone for the year ahead showing how small, mindful actions, when done together, can grow into lasting impact for native biodiversity and the ecosystems that depend on it. This shared effort reflects a strong beginning for the year rooted in teamwork, responsibility, and a genuine commitment to restoring native plants and ecosystems.
We are grateful to KCT College for providing the space that made the execution of the event possible. A big thank you to all the volunteers for their time, and enthusiasm, and our sincere appreciation to the Arulagam team Mr. Bharathidasan, Mr. John, Ms. Nilitha, and Mr. Anbu, the Poonthalir Nursery team Ms. Kavitha, Ms.Palaniyammal, Ms.Palanaal Palani, Mr.Palani Velan, Ms.Rajamani, and Mr.Kamaraj, and the KCT team—Mr. Paramaguru and Mr. Nethaji, for their constant support and guidance throughout the event.
At the end of the day, Arulagam shared thoughtful giveaways with the volunteers—honey procured from a tribal village, steel water bottles to encourage the reduction of plastic use, and cloth bags carrying the message “நமது சிறுசெயலும் சூழலையும் பாதுகாக்கும்” (Even our small actions protect the environment). The KCT team shared fresh bottle gourds grown on their own campus farmland, cultivated without chemical pesticides, offering to the volunteers a direct experience of healthy, chemical-free food and reinforcing the values of sustainable.More than gifts, these simple gestures left a lasting impression, reminding everyone that small, conscious actions can create real change.
“Step forward, get your hands in the soil, and contribute to meaningful native plant restoration”.