Date:12/01/2009 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2009/01/12/stories/2009011257760200.htm

Karnataka - Bangalore

Wipro applies green thought

Staff Reporter

BANGALORE: When the health of the country in terms of green cover is in danger, a seed ball revolution might help ease things a bit. . Through “Eco-Eye”, an initiative towards contributing to ecological sustainability, Wipro Infotech, the India and Middle East IT Business of Wipro Ltd., has launched “Mould a Life” campaign with a view to make over 26,000 seed balls across 13 Wipro campuses.

Seed balls are small balls of a mixture of clay and compost in which a seed is enclosed. Mainly used to reclaim degraded soil, the balls are scattered over the ground, not planted. When enough rain has permeated the seed ball, the seeds germinate, and grow fast. The company has used flowering seeds such as sampige as well as seeds to grow trees such as neem. While the flowering seeds will be gifted to Wipro employees a Wipro employee said that scattering of the seed balls to grow trees would be taken up just before monsoon. The seeds have been provided by Altech Foundation, a NGO .

The campaign was inaugurated by Anand Sankaran, Chief Executive, Wipro Infotech, at Sarjapur.