45 Native Trees Planted in Mumbai: A Community United for a Greener Future

Our latest Success Story comes from a dearly valued member of our global community, Chhaya Taralekar. You may remember her from previous stories we published, such as Living more sustainably with Chhaya Taralekar, or Nurturing the Love of Inquiry and Sustainability in Children.

On July 14, 2026, a remarkable community effort brought together education, environmental stewardship, and civic engagement at Inampuri School in Mumbai, Maharashtra. Through the joint efforts of the Rotary Club of Navi Mumbai Sunrise, Panvel Municipal Corporation, and Chhaya Taralekar, 45 mature native trees, including Kadamb, Neem, Banyan, and Bakul, were planted to strengthen the local environment and inspire future generations!

A garden of smiles

With 63 enthusiastic participants, the Mega Tree Plantation Drive became much more than a tree-planting event. Schoolchildren, teachers, Rotarians, officers, and staff from the Panvel Municipal Corporation, including the respected Corporator Mr. Tushar Patil (himself a proud alumnus of Inampuri School), came together with a shared purpose: to create a healthier, greener future for their community. The support of Panvel Municipal Corporation helped make this collaborative initiative a meaningful success.

One of the day’s most memorable moments came when the children performed the song “एक झाड करते काय” (“What Can One Tree Do?”), written by Chhaya Taralekar the previous year.

The performance beautifully captured the event’s message, that every tree planted today represents hope, resilience, and a lasting gift to future generations.

As Chhaya reflected: “A small step today towards a lasting, greener future. Environmental care by all is needed for future generations’ survival. We Rotarians are committed.”

Thank you so much, Chhaya, for sharing this wonderful story with us! We appreciate all that you and your community do. Thank you for inspiring us!

To our global community: Are you inspired to make a difference in your own community? Join us, by planting and dedicating one or many trees in honor of a loved one, your school, workplace, or organization, and remember to tell us about your story!