Category Archives: Green Initiatives/ Environment

Tree Bank making waves in the city

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Green Initiatives/ Environment, Nature
For the cause of greenery: G. Mullaivanam, Founder, Tree Bank, giving saplings to residents of Virugambakkam. Photo: R. Shivaji Rao / The Hindu
For the cause of greenery: G. Mullaivanam, Founder, Tree Bank, giving saplings to residents of Virugambakkam. Photo: R. Shivaji Rao / The Hindu

As many as 355 volunteers plant a tree in each of the 155 divisions in Chennai everyday.

G. Mullaivanam, clad in a green shirt, walks down Krishna Nagar Third Street in Virugambakkam identifying the trees, the month/year they were planted and the occasion they were planted for. He also narrates how the residents maintain them with his guidance.

G. Mullaivanam is the proud owner of these and a lakh of other trees that are planted in Chennai. His Tree Bank is making waves in the city with 355 volunteers (including college students and IT professionals), planting a tree in each of the 155 divisions in Chennai everyday.

Tree Bank gives away free saplings to the public who approaches the Bank for one. And its job does not end there; it ensures that the new owner nourishes it with proper care. “Our team inspects the house of the people who takes saplings from us. It looks for an appropriate place for the tree taking into account the MetroWater line and EB line and train them on how deep the pit should be, and how to grow and maintain it. The resident is expected to mail a picture of the planted tree and the team regularly keeps a check on its growth,” says Mr. Mullaivanam. “Thrice a year, the team visits all the places where the trees were planted and help in pruning and other tree care services,” he adds.

People approach Tree Bank to plant trees during an important day in the family, such as birthdays, wedding days or death anniversaries of family members. “Sometimes, we ourselves plant the tree for them in a place mentioned by them,” he adds. Tree Bank has innumerable number of saplings/trees including all varieties from which people can choose the one they want. It has rare medicinal ones too. Mullaivanam, a third generation farmer, collects the saplings from all possible sources, waters them, nourishes them, prunes the trees and even prepares natural manures. He does all this for no monetary benefit. Farming and providing flower decoration services are his sources of income.

Mullaivanam says that he has been collecting and giving away saplings from the age of 13 but formed ‘Tree Bank’ enrolling volunteers in 2008 to take the concept to a higher level. “The idea is to involve the public and sensitise them to the fact that technology is increasing pollution and lifestyle is creating destruction,” he adds. Initially, Tree Bank gave saplings as gifts without any condition, but many came back to them as people could not maintain them. They found trees left uncared for. “People are too busy that they are not able to spare two minutes to water them,” Mr. Mullaivanam points out.

Tree Bank gives saplings to colleges and schools for study purpose and also to plant in their campus. With 7135 volunteers all around the country, it has planted more than four lakh trees and given away more than 13 lakh saplings.

Apart from this, the organisation also conducts environment awareness programmes in schools. It has launched a Child Team with 70 child volunteers. “The tree which the child plants will be named after him/her and fitted with a placard tied to the tree.” The children themselves dig the pit, plant the trees and grow them.

The organisation also conducts awareness programmes to teach the public how to arrest mosquito breeding, the ill-effects of consuming alcohol, etc. “We should not always look up to the Government for solutions. We are the Government and it is everyone’s responsibility to build conducive environment for living,” he adds.

Mullaivanam has requested the Government through a petition to make people plant four trees every time they buy a car and two trees for two-wheelers and to make space for tree planting compulsory for land registration. Anybody who wants to get saplings from Tree Bank should mail their details to treebankofindia@gmail.com or sms 97898 92080.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> Features> DownTown / by R. Keerthana / Chennai – May 01st, 2012

Where dreams grow like mushrooms

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Green Initiatives/ Environment, Nature
Women now cultivate oyster mushroom that fetches them a monthly income . Photo: K.V. Srinivasan / The Hindu
Women now cultivate oyster mushroom that fetches them a monthly income . Photo: K.V. Srinivasan / The Hindu

Thanks to an initiative by students of Ethiraj College and a microfinance company, women from slums become financially independent.

The rear end of Ethiraj College once had a large vacant land which was used for parking. Now, there stands a thatched hut which is changing lives of eight women from Thideer Nagar slum close by .

These women were trained to grow mushrooms , which provides them with a monthly income. Their lives changed when a couple of students of Enactus Ethiraj, a group promoting social entrepreneurship, along with representatives of Equitas, a microfinance group working with people from low-income groups, approached them.

“After a couple of hours of brainstorming, we zeroed in on the project we wanted to take up. We decided to grow mushrooms. We thought of teaching them where they lived. But, who would be interested in buying mushrooms in a slum. That’s when the management of Ethiraj College stepped forward and offered help. They not only decided to offer financial assistance but also gave a small piece of land for growing mushrooms,” says John Alex, programme director, Equitas.

Mushroom cultivation by Enactus Ethiraj Project Agaricus at Ethiraj College for Women. Photo: K.V. Srinivasan / The Hindu
Mushroom cultivation by Enactus Ethiraj Project Agaricus at Ethiraj College for Women. Photo: K.V. Srinivasan / The Hindu

The ground work began in December 2014 and the shed was ready by March 2015. These women were trained by Raghupathi, an expert in mushroom cultivation.

He taught them everything about oyster mushrooms and the conditions they are grown in.

“We built the shed, which is where these mushrooms grow in plastic packets. The temperature is controlled. It has to be humid all the time. Right next door, we have a room where these women do all the preparations. They pack the final product and put it out for sale,” says Kanchi J. Shah, president of the Club.

Sanjana Murali (vice-president), Maduvanthi Birla (joint vice-president), Kavitha Ramesh Kumar (secretary), Vidhyalakshmi C.A. (treasurer) and Kimberly Jane Moses (joint treasurer) and staff member Sumathy Ravi are the core members of the project. Those involved in the project are happy about the way it has panned out.

Forty-two-year-old Lalesh Mary says, “I wanted to do something out of my house, for a long time. When this opportunity came, I grabbed it. It opens avenues for other business opportunities. Moreover, I have learnt to cook mushrooms. Two months ago, I did not know such a thing existed.”

Mushroom cultivation by Enactus Ethiraj Project Agaricus at Ethiraj College for Women in Chennai on March 06, 2015. Photo: K.V. Srinivasan / The Hindu
Mushroom cultivation by Enactus Ethiraj Project Agaricus at Ethiraj College for Women in Chennai on March 06, 2015. Photo: K.V. Srinivasan / The Hindu

Oyster mushroom is healthy and high on proteins.

The college sells these products under the brand En-Kalan at the college premises.

It is also sold at departmental stores. For more details, write to enactusethiraj@gmail.com

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> Features> DownTown / by Vipasha Sinha / March 14th, 2015

Students create natural dye out of almond leaves

Business & Economy, Green Initiatives/ Environment, Nature, Science & Technologies

Madurai :

Students in the apparel and design fashion technology department of Tamil Nadu Agricultural University (TNAU) are projecting almond leaves as potential sources for natural dyes.

The produce from these leaves, which have a great staining capacity, is being tried on cotton fabrics as a more eco-friendly replacement to chemical dyes.

The project was recently exhibited at the Vivasaya Thiruvizha (agricultural festival). The students explained that a component called phenol gave almond leaves a staining capacity, and they were making use of this property to propose a much more safer and eco-friendly dyeing substance.

The colour of the dye depends on the amount of phenyl present in the leaves, they said.

Colours are fixed on the fabric with the help of a ‘mordent’.

Most fabrics have chemical substances as mordants, which could prove hazardous to health. However, the students are using natural mordants like alum and ferrous sulfate. Currently, they are trying out the dyes on cushion covers and handbags.

T Padmini, professor of Textile Department, TNAU, said, “Many of these dye products are also used in dyeing fabrics like Bandhani sarees or salwars. It is called the tie-dye process, wherein the fabric is tied at various ends to leave the color on the fabric. Our idea is to try eco-friendly ways to use farm resources.”

Professors from the home science department in the university said they were planning to introduce the product in the market after related tests were conducted.

“Publishing the product in the market involves a lengthy process, since various tests need to be conducted to understand the fastness of the dye. Thereafter, dye manufacturers will be enlightened on how it is produced,” Padmini added.

The students explained that a component called phenol gave almond leaves a staining capacity, and they were making use of this property to propose a much more safer and eco-friendly dyeing substance.

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / Home> City> Madurai / by Karishma Ravindran, TNN / February 28th, 2015

The history of water management

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Green Initiatives/ Environment, Historical Links, Pre-Independence, Leaders, Records, All, Science & Technologies
The dam constructed by Parakrama Pandian in Kuruvithurai. Photo: Special Arrangement
The dam constructed by Parakrama Pandian in Kuruvithurai. Photo: Special Arrangement

Inscriptions dating back to 12th Century, found along river Vaigai, talk about the efficient water management system devised by the Pandiya Kings

With summer round the corner, most of us are already worried about water scarcity this season. Experts have done their bit by sounding the alarm on the depleting water table. But have you ever wondered how are ancestors used, managed and conserved this elixir of life?

When it comes to effective conservation, distribution and management of water, one cannot dispense the role of King Karikal Chola, who built the Grand Anaicut across River Cauvery. There are several historical evidences to prove that ancient Tamil rulers had effective water management systems in place in their respective kingdoms.

The Pandiya kings constructed check dams across River Vaigai. King Maravarman Arikesari, also known as Koon Pandiyan, who ruled Madurai during Seventh century built a check dam across Vaigai and named it after himself. It is near the Kuruvikaran Salai road and archaeologists have found a stone inscription there. Likewise, King Parakrama Pandiyan constructed a check dam Sitranai in Kuruvithurai near Madurai. He also extracted granite from the nearby hill Kuruvikal and built a stone quarry. Stone inscriptions in Kuruvithurai Perumal Temple record this.

The stone inscription in the Kuruvithurai Perumal Temple. Photo: Special Arrangement
The stone inscription in the Kuruvithurai Perumal Temple. Photo: Special Arrangement

In the olden days, exclusive groups were constituted for the upkeep of the water bodies. These were theyeri variyam (lake board) and kalingu variyam (sluice board). According to B. Thirumalai and R. Sivakumar, authors of ‘Vaiyai Thadam Thedi’, the landmark ruling of Sri Vallabha Pandiyan, who established the riparian rights of the lower ayacut farmers, is remembered even today. “The case of a landlord cutting off the main channel by digging a channel upstream and depriving farmers of the lower areas was brought to the King,” says Sivakumar.

“The practice of creating a water body to help people has been there for ages,” says C. Santhalingam. Secretary, Pandya Nadu Centre for Historical Research. Tamil Brahmi inscriptions recovered from Nadumuthalaikulam near Vikkramangalam give evidence of existence of a 2000-year-old man-made lake. “Kings created water bodies and collected land tax from people. Pallavas constructed lakes across their kingdom and named the lakes after them. Some of the man-made lakes are Chithiramega Thadagam and Vairamega Thadagam,” he says.

There were also several lakes like the Thoosi Mamandoor Yeri near Kanchipuram, the biggest of the lot. “The rulers did not end with that. They appointed guards to stop people from polluting and created a corpus fund for the maintenance of the water body. The board used the money to desilt the lake and to distribute food and clothes for victims of floods. They also let the lake on contract for fishing and for ferrying people on coracles to generate funds. Many rich people also donated liberally,” he says.

“For effective distribution there are different types of sluice gates like Pulikan madai (which has three outlets). Depending upon the storage the water is released through these outlets. The one with seven outlets is located near Srivilliputhur. It is constructed by the Koon Pandiyan and to control the flow a pillar is erected at the centre of the main sluice gate,” he says.

Lakes were given much importance in those days. They were quoted in Sangam literature to identify the geographical division of that place, like the Madakulakeezh which refers to the land irrigated by the Madakulam Lake.

“Predominantly an agrarian community dependent on water source, our ancestors knew the importance of conserving water. They were farsighted, sensitive to environmental issues and better equipped than the current times,” concludes Santhalingam.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> Features> MetroPlus / by T. Saravanan / Madurai – March 04th, 2015

Record clean-up begins as Coimbatore eyes Guinness entry

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Green Initiatives/ Environment, Records, All, World Opinion

Coimbatore :

The civic body began its Coimbatore Guinness Championship Campaign on Sunday to clean up the city. Despite facing a shortage of sanitary workers and push carts, the civic body officials roped in hundreds of volunteers and college students to go around the city collecting litter and promote source segregating.

The championship will begin on Wednesday after officials purchase push carts and begin to evaluate workers, said K Vijayakarthikeyan, corporation commissioner. The challenge will end on March 11, he added.

On Monday, officials inspected six wards and instructed sanitary workers to begin the championship. “Around 20 volunteers from NGOs have been allotted to each ward. Each zone will have a non-governmental organisation leading the effort. A team of sanitary inspectors and corporation officials will monitor them and evaluate their work.

“A jury will judge the best zone, best ward and best team,” said Suresh Bhandari, co-ordinator of Clean Cities Foundation.

Each ward would require at least 15 push carts but have been provided only seven push carts, said an official.

The civic body aims to create awareness about source segregation through this championship, as volunteers will go door to door to educate residents on segregating waste at source into three parts-wet, dry and hazardous. “The dry waste which is plastic waste will be weighed at collection centres such as ward offices and sold to companies. Workers will earn 4 per kg. The wet waste will be transported to Vellalore dump yard,” said Sri Rangaraj, sanitary inspector, central zone. Officials will evaluate every sanitary worker based on five criteria such as appearance, work skills, segregation, weighing and cleaning.

The volunteers have informed hotels, residents of apartments and other commercial complexes to segregate waste and hand it over to workers. “We have distributed around two lakh contest cards to school students who will get it signed by their parents. They will receive certificates from the corporation at the end of the championship,” said a higher official.

Registrations are taking place through a website and a missed call service-814436000-has been activated. As on Sunday evening, 2,500 residents had registered on the website and 300 had registered through the missed calls service. “We have already reached the two lakh mark so far. If the numbers increase, it will help us win with a bigger margin,” said Suresh.

On March 5, Dr Sanjay Gupta, coordinator of the Guinness Book of World records will visit the city to instruct them on the methodology. “Since the verification of two lakh contest cards will take a few weeks, we are hopeful that by the end of March, we will get the results and will enter the Guinness Book of world records,” added an official. While activists said that the championship was a gimmick to divert attention from the Vellalore dump yard issues, corporation officials maintained that they were planning to set up at least 15 segregation sheds after the championship ends.

“We will make sure that the drive continues even after the championship ends,” said a higher official.

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / Home> City> Coimbatore / TNN / March 03rd, 2015

Seed bank to revive medicinal plant

Green Initiatives/ Environment, Nature, Science & Technologies

Coimbatore :

Medicinal plants on the verge of extinction may get a shot in the arm with the Institute of Forest Genetics and Tree Breeding (IFGTB) in Coimbatore setting up a repository of seeds. The institute plans to grow the plants within its campus, create a seed bank and sell the seeds.

“We are trying to save medicinal plants using the tissue culture method. If we are successful, we will give seeds to farmers and medicinal plant lovers,” said a senior scientist at the institute. “They will be stored in a seed bank, which is a room with sections for chryopreservation, germination and x-ray facilities to check if the germ is alive,” said A Karthikeyan, senior scientist of IFGTB.

This is part of their plan to keep tabs on disappearing medicinal plants and preserve the ecology of the region. Three of the plants the institute is looking at are vishnukranti, veldt grape and morning mallow or kurunthotti.

The roots of the kurunthotti plant, found in the state’s western region and Kerala, can be crushed to make oil which is used to cure fever, asthma, join pain and cough. Vishnukranti, which is found on the red-soiled plains in the western region, is used with cumin and milk to cure fever, nervous breakdowns and memory issues. Veldt grape is used to in Ayurveda and Siddha to heal fractures and ligament tears.

The plants grow on waste land and road sides. “These plants grow in Mettupalayam, Madhampatti on the way to Siruvani, Thudiyalur and Anaikatti. They thrive in red soil,” said C Kunikannan, senior scientist at the institute. “But now their numbers are dwindling,” he said.

Clearing of weeds to widen roads, large-scale plucking by Ayurveda practitioners and spread of invasive species has led to the decline of the species.

“Many medicinal plants are rhizomes so the roots and stems which grow underground are valuable. People pluck out 10,000 to 20,000 plants with the roots for Ayurveda and Siddha, which have become industries,” said T Rajamani, professor, department of medicinal plants, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University.

“Invasive species also block sunlight from reaching these plants. “There is a fear that these plants will slowly become seasonal and later when a drought comes become unavailable,” adds Rajamani.

Dr Joseph T Varghese of Indian Ayurvedic Hospital and Research Centre said suppliers has said there is a decline in the number of medicinal plants. “We use kurunthotti extensively in our hospital, but suppliers have been saying that fewer plants are being found,” he said.

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / Home> City> Coimbatore / by Pratiksha Ramkumar, TNN / February 25th, 2015

College students document lives of palmyra climbers, push for conservation

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Business & Economy, Green Initiatives/ Environment, Nature

Madurai :

The decline in the population of palmyra trees, the official tree of Tamil Nadu, has raised concern among a group of college students here, who have released a documentary in a bid to promote awareness on the need to conserve these species.

About 30 students from the English department of Fatima College here travelled to Kovilpatti in Tuticorin district under the guidance of Dhan Foundation, an NGO and filmed the lives of palm climbers. The final documentary, titled ‘Waning Wealth’, was released recently.

R Arunadhi, a student of MA English, said, “Through the documentary, we are aiming to create awareness regarding palmyra trees. It portrays the life of palm climber and also speaks in detail about the products that we get from these trees, like the palm drink and palm sugar.”

The group picked Kovilpatti since the place is known for its significant palmyra tree population. The students travelled all the way to Kovilpatti taluk and started their shoot at four in the morning.

A J Bermita, another MA student, said, “Palmyra tree climbers wake up as early as 4am, so we started our day along with them. Out focus was basically on the disappearance of palmyra trees from Tamil Nadu.”

These trees were originally found in African tropical forests. In the state, palmyra trees have great significance since the leaves of these trees were earlier used to write Tamil scripts. However, a reported lack of state support, financially and technologically, to the labourers has caused the trees to disappear as less farmers opt for palmyra cultivation these days.

Kumari Ananthan, former president of Tamil Nadu Palmyra Workers Welfare Board, suggested that leaves of the trees be used to print wedding invitations, to raise more awareness about the trees.

“It is our duty to preserve the palmyra trees, since they are considered Tamil Nadu’s state tree,” she said.

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / Home> City> Madurai / TNN / February 22nd, 2015

‘Farm-field school’ training for farmers

Business & Economy, Education, Green Initiatives/ Environment, Leaders, Nature

Veterinary College and Research Institute, Tirunelveli in co-ordination with Agricultural Technology Management Agency conducted a ‘farm-field school’ on ‘improved animal husbandry practices’ at Kalakkudi near Manur for six weeks from last January 7.

A total of 25 progressive farmers from Manur block benefited. Faculties of VC & RI conducted demonstrations including preparation of concentrate feed, conservation of fodder – silage making, cultivation of Co-4 feed, using the milking machine, de-worming and de-ticking for sheep and goat and oral pellet vaccination for Ranikhet disease in desi birds for the select team of beneficiaries.

In the valedictory function on Thursday at Kalakkudi, S. Prathaban, Dean of VC &RI released the training manual, distributed certificates and inputs package consisting of TANUVAS Smart Mineral Mixture, video lessons on dairy farming, sheep and goat farming and desi fowl rearing to the beneficiaries.

In his address, Dr. Prathaban stressed the importance of using scientific techniques in livestock farming to reduce production cost.

V. Saraswathi, Assistant Director of Agriculture, Manur block, narrated the activities of ATMA scheme. C. Manivanan, Professor and Head, Department of Veterinary and Animal Husbandry Extension Education, VC & RI, Tirunelveli presented a report on the farm field school.

S. Senthilkumar, Assistant Professor, Department of Veterinary and Animal Husbandry Extension Education, and Manivannan, a progressive farmer from Kalakkudi, also spoke.

Importance of using scientific techniques in livestock farming stressed

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> National> Tamil Nadu / by Special Correspondent / Tirunelveli – February 22nd, 2015

Biogas from Koyambedu market to fuel households

Green Initiatives/ Environment, Science & Technologies

Chennai :

The wholesale market complex in Koyambedu which supplies fresh produce for the city will soon supply fuel to cook the produce.

The biomethanation plant, which has been generating electricity from vegetable waste, will now also use waste from slaughterhouses, hotels, treated sewage sludge and banana stems to supply biogas to neighbouring houses.

Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority (CMDA), which set up the biogas plant along with CSIR-Central Leather Research Institute, will work on upgrading the existing plant. The upgrade, which will be done after feasibility tests, is expected to cost around 10 lakh.

“We have suggested to Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board and Corporation of Chennai on setting up an integrated solid waste management plant where we can use other waste from hotels along with the existing waste. We will also explore the feasibility of using banana stem to produce biogas,” said P Shanmugam, principal scientist, CSIR-CLRI.

The plant, which started in 2006 and operated through a private agency, had been generating biogas which was converted into electricity through an engine. With the market complex generating 30 tonnes of waste daily, the plant was producing between 500 units and 4,000 units of electricity. But since its launch, the plant faced glitches with the engine failing and for a few years, the biogas was not put to any use.

“The engine will be removed and the biogas will be supplied to people. No other plant in the country has made such an attempt to supply directly to households,” the scientist added. “In Delhi, biogas is being bottled for use in vehicles but not houses.”

With the present 30 tonnes of waste generating about 2,400 cubic meters of biogas, a CMDA official says the fuel can be supplied to about 2,000 households.

“It is a concept of developing wealth from waste.

We took up this initiative and submitted a proposal to the CMDA. The effort will help bring down the greenhouse gas emissions, groundwater contamination and odour problems due to open dumping,” said CSIR-CLRI director Asit Baram Mandal.

Apartment complexes near the plant have been identified for the direct supply of biogas and officials plan to approach the residents and conduct a workshop. They will also check the feasibility of supplying gas either through pipeline or bottling it. Officials said the corporation also showed interest in converting slaughterhouse waste and hotel waste to biogas fuel. Before it can be supplied to households, biogas will be subjected to a procedure where the carbon-dioxide and hydrogen sulphide content is removed and the overall pressure compressed.

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / Home> City> Chennai / TNN / February 19th, 2015

Buddha-era Rice Among Rare Varieties on Display

Business & Economy, Green Initiatives/ Environment, Nature, Records, All
Pics: Albin Mathew
Pics: Albin Mathew

Chennai :

Ancient Tamils are known for producing and consuming several varieties of paddy and millets, which kept them hale and healthy. Their daily food even doubled up as medicine and kept them free of diseases. As part of the Sangam Four literary Festival which began on February 13, stalls showcasing ancient varieties of rice and millets have been opened. Apart from these, cookies made of millets and other savouries are also available at these stalls.

BuddhaEraRiceCF22feb2015

Some of the rare varieties of rice are on display at a stall put up by Aral Organics.  Among the rice varieties, Kala Namak, known for its aroma and distinct taste, and rich in 40 minerals, is the cynosure of all eyes as this rice variety is believed to have been consumed by Lord Buddha several thousands of years ago.

Kala Namak rice had derived its name from black husk (kala) and a mild salty taste (namak). It is considered one of the finest rice varieties in the international market.

Kala Namak rice is said to be good for the brain cells and prevents cancer. People suffering from kidney problems and those with skin and blood-related ailments are advised to consume this variety of rice. The next important rice variety is Moongil Arisi (Bamboo rice), which interestingly, is not grown in paddy fields. Bamboo blossoms once in 40 years and the flowers of bamboo produce this rice variety. It looks like the miniature version of wheat and  is the staple food for tribals. This rice adds immunity to one’s system and helps those having infertility problems.

The other important varieties of rice on display are: Maappillai Samba, Sivappu Kavuni, Kothamalli Samba, Poongar rice, Seeraga Samba, Sona Masoori, Koliyan Samba, etc. Each variety of rice has distinctive medicinal purposes.

Many varieties of millets are also on display.  Millets are more nutritious than any other cereals and can be a worthy addition to one’s diet.  Cookies made of millets, ragi, kambu, samai, varagu, kuthiraivali and palm candy cookies, using only country made sugar, are available here.

The kodo millet reduces cholesterol levels, enhances kidney function, reduces joint pain and diseases that damage optic nerves, and regulates lymp glands and menstrual disorders. Little millet contains more micro nutrients and regulates the blood flow in the body, reduces cholesterol levels, helps bone development and overcome problems related to the intestine,  besides reducing the effects caused by fever and easing constipation.

source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> Cities> Chennai / by Express News Service / February 19th, 2015