Software engineers turn green

'Say it with saplings' has been the business model for two young software engineers from Mysore. They formally launched their venture, Enlen Marketing and Renewable Energy Systems Pvt Ltd, with an offbeat tree planting ceremony at a park in the Vijayanagar 2nd Stage here.

Going in for an approach different from those of individuals and other agencies towards tree planting, Ashwin Upadhyaya and Anil Kumar, alumni of Sri Jayachamarajendra College of Engineering, seek the emotive sentiments and moments in one's life with tree planting.

"Many moments in our life call for celebrations "" birthday, wedding anniversary, daughter's convocation, son's first placement or whatever else. Usually we party, take out newspaper ads, or offer prayers at places of worship. Now, we would persuade people to plant or sponsor saplings to mark such occasions. We will do it for them as a company. We will get saplings, identify a place, plant and have a tree-guard to protect it, all for a small fee," says Ashwin.

The company will plant a sapling in any name, in one of the parks in Mysore with official permission. A green greeting card with details of where the sapling was planted will be sent to the person in whose name the sapling has been planted. It will nurse the sapling and guard it until it becomes self-sustainable. Those who send bouquets to dear ones can make it more special by including a tree-gift certificate, adds Anil.

The company has also drawn up a 'Devara Kadu' scheme. Instead of offering flowers or coconut, people visiting a temple can offer a plant for planting on a vacant space around the temple. The company would arrange to retail saplings outside the temple. If there is problem for space, the company will help planting them in a public park.

'Carbon offset' is another novel offer it is making to those buying an automobile. They could consider planting a few saplings as a meaningful gesture towards their concern for greenhouse gas phenomenon and pollution. Chief guests, invitees and locals, who came for the inaugural function, planted 102 saplings, including sponsored four.

"After the company's launch, we are receiving lots of enquiries from the public for delivery of saplings to their homes. They have logistics problem. Hence, we are planning a package for supply and planting of saplings along with manure and tree-guard," he told Business Standard. They are expected to launch the package for Rs 125 per sapling.

Another green idea in the pipeline is for corporates, which earmark funds under corporate social responsibility.

We want to offer them a package of mass tree planting and nursing or adopt a park and develop it in the name of a corporate.

Ashwin says, "This can be one of the ways for a manufacturing company or an IT industry to reduce its carbon footprint."

"We are not unique in the world; but we think Enlen is the first of its kind in India, when it comes to tree-dedication as a business. Ours is a green company that works in partnership with the government and the people. Together we want to build a 'Greener Mysore' for tomorrow," he adds.