Planting on the foot path

My Social Studies text in the 8th Class ( those days ) had lessons on the reforms made by the Kings. Among the many reforms listed, which are mostly common to all the Kings, is about the planting of "cholamarangal ' (shade trees) along the roads and lanes. King of Travancore was no exception. Trivandrum had (and still has) cholamarangal all along the roads ( except those cut and removed by our development agencies). Though many have been cut, our society is particular to replant the trees ( I don't like to see them small !). That's how many tree saplings are seen on the foot path, these days.
They are all planted right at the middle of the foot path. All the plants are given a protective shielding (mostly of expensive metallic meshed) when planted. And that's the end of it. The shield (cages) starts disappearing.. and over an year, nothing is left.
The picture above shows one such plant, right at the middle of the foot path, and very close to the bus-stop. Half the cage is still intact. I am sure, the other half is on the way to the steel recycling plant, through a local scrap dealer.
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