#GoodNews: Four Transgenders Save Mumbai’s Trees by Adopting Them

The initiative isn’t limited to just the transgenders as nearly 1,000 citizens have adopted 5,000 trees in 15 days. (Photo: iStock)

Four transgenders from Mumbai are setting an example for the rest of the country with their kindness towards the environment.

The transgenders, who earn their livelihood by begging at traffic signals, showed their magnanimity by saving trees from getting axed by undertaking the citizen initiative – Adopt a Plant, as Mid-Day reported.

The Metro-III corridor was set to uproot thousands of ornamental plants growing between Dahisar and Andheri. 16 March saw the launch of the Adopt a Plant initiative that proposed the adoption of plants and giving them homes in new housing societies.

The initiative received tremendous response and residents from far-off areas like Dombivili, Ghatkopar and Wadala have come forward to adopt these plants.

Dr Subhajit Mukherjee, an environmentalist associated with the initiative has been helping the forest department with this year’s Van Mahotsav celebrations.

On reaching the spot, they found four transgender persons, who make a living by begging at the traffic signal, helping other members of the initiative dig out the plants, and later adopting a few of them.

Dr Subhajit Mukherjee

The quadruplet then assured other members that the plants will be cared for near their residences. And the four aren’t alone as Dr Mukherjee revealed that nearly 10-15 members of the community have adopted 200 plants from between New Link Road between Kandivli and Malad.

It’s good to see Mumbaikars from across communities caring about the environment and helping out in whichever way they can.

The initiative has picked up pace as nearly 1,000 citizens have adopted over 5,000 plants.

As part of the initiative, over 200 citizens and officials, including environmentalists, social workers, as well as MMRDA, Delhi Metro Rail Corporation and BMC authorities, met at Malad on 8 April to chalk out a plan on additional measures for saving these plants.

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