OREANDA-NEWS. August 23, 2012. Tata Power, India's largest integrated power player organized a unique program called 'Forest Home Garden' in Bhivpuri Village to ensure income generation support as well as nutrition and health needs for the village community is taken care of.

In its first phase, 50 families from 7 villages have been identified and provided with 25 varieties of Plants and vegetables. Members from each family were trained and given the inputs on plantation skills, this enables them to earn around Rs. 5000 per year to start with going on to Rs 15000 per year in the long term. This initiative will also take care of their nutrition and primary health needs along with helping the environment.

The 25 different varieties of plants distributed to each beneficiaries comprised of a mix of Medicinal plants like Awala, Aloevera, Tulas, Fruits plants like Mango, Cashewnut, Limbu,Chiku,Peru, Sitaphal etc, Spices  like Dalchini, Miri, Kadi Patta, Forest plants Bamboo, Sag  and  vegetable seeds  like Dudhi, Karle, Bhendi etc.

Speaking on the occasion Mr. M.D. Paranjpe, Head - Hydros Division said,"We appeal to the various communities to come forward and utilize this opportunity. This initiative will result in not only improving their nutritional value and personal health but also help them in income generation."

Forest Home garden is a multi-storied cultivation practice where trees are grown for fruits, fodder, and fuel. Climbers like spices and vegetables like gourds are used  for medicinal and dietary consumption, trees like Bhend, Shivan and Sag are used to yield timber wood and other medicinal plants like Aloe Vera, Tulsi, Awala are used for maintaining good health.

Mr. Mhatre, Manager Operations, Bhivpuri and Mr. Atul Karwatkar, Head Community Relations, Maval from Tata Power were present on the occasion.