Tree census (Beautify my Neighbourhood)
The freedom and right to improve our surroundings and reshape it for the better is one of the most precious yet most neglected of our human rights
As part of the foundations’ Cleaner Greener India initiative, project focusses on improving India’s urban landscape. As a pilot project, Saket colony (post code 110017), in South Delhi has been identified for infrastructure improvement. In particular, upgrading infrastructure of PVR Saket community complex, cleaning and maintaining open drain passing through Saket, improving public toilets and accelerated tree plantation activities are the focus areas.
As a starting point, we are carrying out a scientific volunteer driven tree census throughout the saket neighbourhood. Critical data output from the tree census will help us -
| Project Status | Ongoing |
| Estimated end date | February 2024 |
| Geographic coverage | New Delhi |
| Focus area | Waste Management Urban Landscape |
| United Nations SDG’s Impacted |
  
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| Related Ministry | Ministry of Housing and Urban affairs AMRUT (Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation) SMART Cities mission |
Over time, underlying systems and processes of civilization – from uncoordinated and unplanned urban growth to irresponsible digging for laying cables, sewers etc, loss of green areas, encroachments and illegal construction, neglect, and non-maintenance of infrastructure – slowly turn the landscape ugly. To top it all, institutional, systemic and process barriers—including financial constraints, overlapping jurisdiction among different agencies, multiplicity of governing agencies, skewed development patterns, and socio-political will - are major challenges in the efficient implementation of infrastructure upgrade. These result in poor implementation of urban infrastructure improvement initiatives.
In addition to approaches offered by government and its civic agencies, there are more effective ways of tackling issue of regenerating and improving urban spaces, including tackling of unplanned and illegal urban sprawl. And that is through corporate & community led initiatives. When executed with honesty and integrity, the outcome of suchinitiatives can be truly beautiful and worthy of emulating.
