In the heart of Tamil Nadu, a 30-acre stretch of lush green land in Cuddalore is rewriting the script of ecological restoration. The Cauvery Calling Cuddalore Nursery is not just a plantation site—it’s the powerhouse behind one of Asia’s most ambitious environmental movements to Save River Cauvery, the lifeline for over 8.4 crore people across southern India.

This nursery, one of the largest single-site nurseries in Asia, produces a staggering 85 lakh saplings every year, spanning 54 species of trees. Among them are 21 high-value timber varieties such as teak, mahogany, rosewood, and red sandalwood—trees that can transform both landscapes and livelihoods. In 2024–25 alone, 1.36 crore saplings were planted across 34,000 acres, taking the total count to over 12.8 crore saplings planted since the initiative began—a milestone in restoring the ecological balance of the Cauvery basin and advancing the movement to Save River Cauvery.

Women at the Helm: Empowerment Rooted in the Soil

What truly makes this green revolution remarkable is the community behind it. The entire nursery is run and managed by over 200 local women, whose lives have been transformed through meaningful, sustainable employment—proving that empowerment and action to Save River Cauvery can go hand in hand. Once dependent on irregular daily wage work, these women now lead sophisticated operations—overseeing seed selection, propagation, quality control, and large-scale dispatch. Through intensive training programs, they’ve become experts in nursery management and eco-entrepreneurship.

“We used to depend on daily wages that were never stable. Now, we are not just earning regularly but also helping revive our river,” shares one of the women proudly. “

This initiative by Cauvery Calling has not only created stable livelihoods but also built confidence, technical skill, and leadership among rural women—making it a model for gender-inclusive environmental action and community-led efforts to Save River Cauvery.

From Saplings to Sustainability: Farmers Join the Green Revolution

Each year, the nursery provides saplings to more than 25,000 farmers, empowering them to adopt tree-based agriculture—a practice that benefits both the environment and their incomes. By integrating trees with crops, farmers improve soil health, water retention, and long-term yield, all while contributing to river rejuvenation and the larger goal to Save River Cauvery. This model also enhances local biodiversity, helps mitigate drought risks, and promotes sustainable livelihoods for generations to come, strengthening the connection between people, nature, and prosperity.

Through Cauvery Calling’s extensive training network, many farmers are now turning into eco-entrepreneurs—establishing their own sapling units and distribution networks. This transition ensures that sustainability is not just an environmental choice but an economic opportunity. The model exemplifies how climate action, rural prosperity, and the mission to Save River Cauvery can converge into one unified movement for change.

A Blueprint for India’s Green Future

The Cuddalore Nursery is more than a project; it’s a living example of how collective action and local leadership can restore ecosystems at scale. By placing women at the center and farmers at the forefront, it has proven that environmental and social development can go hand in hand—both vital to the mission to Save River Cauvery.

Each sapling planted here carries a promise—of cleaner water, richer soil, and empowered communities. It’s a reminder that river rejuvenation isn’t just about saving a natural resource; it’s about reviving the lives connected to it. As the Cauvery Calling movement continues to grow, the Cuddalore Nursery stands as a symbol of hope, resilience, and regeneration—showing how a community’s collective hands can heal the land and Save River Cauvery, one sapling at a time.

The Logical Indian’s Perspective

At The Logical Indian, we believe stories like these show the transformative power of collective compassion and purpose. The women nurturing millions of saplings in Cuddalore are not just restoring a river—they are restoring hope, livelihoods, and harmony with nature. Their work reminds us that ecological balance is not achieved through grand declarations but through quiet, consistent acts of care. Similarly, Copenhagen’s cycling revolution shows how empathy in policymaking—putting people and the planet first—can reshape cities and societies for the better. As India stands at a crossroads of climate and urban challenges