Coimbatore: Four auto rickshaw driver buddies – C. Devaraj, Selvaraj, Suresh, and Ravi – have been working overtime for the last few months to ensure that N. Nithyanandam sends his first consignment of coconut shell ash to Varanasi by the following week.

Nithyanandam founded the Kasi Pasumai Yatra. Devaraj shares that the four friends are auto-rickshaw owners, and are associated with the auto stand next to Shanthi Gears. They visit residences and shops in the area and collect coconut shells from them for free. They then hand these shells over to Nithyanandam, who would reimburse the vehicle’s fuel expense.

Nithyanandam was troubled by the fact that several trees are being cut down for wood to cremate the dead in Varanasi. As a perfect alternative for wood, he had suggested the use of coconut shell ash. The idea was accepted and Coimbatoreans have been contributing coconut shells that would have otherwise found their way to the trashcan.

The four friends had met Nithyanandam during the rain deluge last year. They pitched in then by collecting relief material from residents and commercial establishments, and delivered them to the NGOs in Coimbatore. “We want to help Nithyanandam in whatever way we can. He is a very humble person who never seeks favours from any of us. He insists on giving us the money that we spend on diesel. He wouldn’t call us unless he has the fuel money to give,” Devaraj says.

For the last few months, Nithyanandam and his team have been tirelessly working towards collecting coconut shells from people in the city. The auto-rickshaw drivers visit houses and commercial establishments and collect the neatly packed coconut shells. These are stored in a go-down in the city. From here, they are transported to Vellore. In a unit located in Vellore, the coconut shell is converted into ash, using machines. The ash is sent to Varanasi where it is used as a substitute for wood to cremate the dead. All this, we are told, in a bid to save several thousands of trees.

Supervising the operations at every stage is one of Nithyanandam’s close friends, Ashok.