WAHEEDA REHMAN TAKES UP THE CAUSE OF NEEM FOUNDATION

by Shrutee K/DNS

Mumbai: Yesteryear actress and unargualbly one of the most graceful stars of all time, Waheeda Rehman will now be seen in a new avatar. Recently appointed as the brand ambassador of Neem Foundation, the yesteryear beauty will take up the promotion of neem. “I was most awestruck by the potential of the neem tree. Not only on its ability to reverse pollution, but also play an important role in protecting and sustaining the environment,” says the septuagenarian actress.

Neem Foundation is a twenty three year old not-for-profit voluntary organisation that has been conducting research and inquiries on the benefits of neem. Established with the primary objective of promoting the Neem Tree as a sustainable solution for global ecological and health concerns, the foundation runs a state of the art research and technology development centre in Maharashtra and has been holding world neem conferences across the globe.

“It is now beyond argument that neem is a wonder tree. While its role as an organic fertilizer is universally acknowledged, the tree itself is a natural air purifier that can withstand high temperatures. Experts say that on a blistering hot day, the temperature under a neem tree can be up to 10 degrees lower than the surrounding area. Most experts also believe that the Neem tree is a sustainable solution to global ecological and health concerns,” says Ms. Pramila Thakkar, Managing Trustee, Neem Foundation.

“With Waheedaji as ambassador of Neem Foundation, our resolve of establishing the Neem tree as the sustainable way forward, ecologically and medically, has further strengthened. We thank her for joining us in this noble cause and agreeing to further entrench the foundation’s efforts at promoting Neem,” she adds.

“The Neem Foundation had been advocating the need for neem coated urea for quite some time and had been approaching all competent Government authorities to consider making it mandatory. The foundation had presented white papers at various levels that established the decision of producing 100 per cent neem coated urea would prove to work in favour of the Government as well as farmers. Eventually the Government realised the importance of taking this route and made it mandatory for fertilizer firms to do so. The decision will lead to subsidy savings of Rs. 6,500 crore annually. The move will help farmers boost their income and benefit the environment too,” says Ms. Thakkar. “We are positive that with a person of Waheedaji’s stature backing us, the Foundation will get the right kind of impetus to carry on its work with more fervour than ever.”

“In addition to being a wonder tree, Neem has its genetic base in India. It is a revered symbol of the Great Indian Civilization like the Ganga, Peacock, Tiger, Mango, Lotus, Himalayas and the Vedas. The Neem tree’s commercial, agricultural and therapeutic uses in India date back to the Vedic times. The various uses of this wonder tree are representative of traditional Indian knowledge and customary practices,” concludes Waheeda Rehman.