Category Archives: Green Initiatives/ Environment

Destitute women gainfully employed

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Green Initiatives/ Environment, Inspiration/ Positive News and Features
Mount Cantonment CEO Prabhakaran speaking with cross-section of women identified by Loyola’s School of Human Excellence to be hired as conservancy staff at cantonment. — DC
Mount Cantonment CEO Prabhakaran speaking with cross-section of women identified by Loyola’s School of Human Excellence to be hired as conservancy staff at cantonment. — DC

Chennai:

The Military Cantonment Board in St.Thomas Mount has launched a unique initiative to provide employment to widows and destitute women in Chennai’s slums, identified by the School of Human Exce­lle­nce of the prestigious Loyola College.

These women have been employed as conservancy staff to keep the vast cantonment area in the city clean, according to cantonment CEO Prabhakaran. He told DC that women working as housemaids for paltry salaries of 2,000-3,000 rupees a month are now being paid Rs 350 per day by the cantonment board.

“They are immensely happy. With their family incomes going up, their children are not dropping out of schools,” said the cantonment official, adding, “This is the first of its kind initiative undertaken by any cantonment, or for that matter any city corporation, in the country.”

He said the women were assigned only the job of sweeping the streets and there were no menial jobs like drainage cleaning gi­ven to them. “We treat them with dignity. We also make available free medical and education facilities for the families as we have two hospitals and two schools in the cantonment,” Prab­ha­karan said.

He said the programme was launched with just se­ven women workers drawn from different city slums on September 10 and their number went up to 22 now. Interestingly, the ‘spark’ for the initiative was lit at the birthday lunch that the CEO got for his wife Agila.

The couple chose to share lunch with the nearly 100 poor girls housed at the Fr Chirag Foundation, a vocational training centre run by Fr Henry Jerome, Dean, School of Human Exce­llence, Loyola College.

“That experience moved me and I decided I must do something for the poorer sections of our society. Loyola College helped me through its ‘outreach’ pro­gr­a­mme led by Prof Ber­nard Sami. His team was already familiar with most slums in the city and they helped us to identify deserving women,” said Prabhakaran.

Shanti, 38, is among the 22 now happily employed at the cantonment. This wid­ow from Mangalapuram slum in Chetput lost her husband to alcoholism-most women in the group have similar stories to tell-four months back.

“I slogged as a housemaid and needed to frequently borrow at high interest from moneylenders. I was worried for my little son and daughter attending school. Now we feel reassured,” she said.

source: http://www.deccanchronicle.com / Deccan Chronicle / Home> News> Current Affairs / DC / by D. Senthil Natarajan / November 14th, 2013

Oil palm cultivation introduced in Pudukottai

Business & Economy, Green Initiatives/ Environment

Oil palm cultivation has been introduced in Pudukottai district, thanks to the efforts made by the National Agriculture Development Programme (NADP).

The NADP has fixed a target of 100 hectares to be brought under oil palm cultivation. Gandarvakottai being one of the potential blocks for oil palm, the cultivation was taken up at Veeradipatti village in the block on Wednesday.

At a function at Veeradipatti, K.M. Shajahan, Joint Director of Agriculture, said special subsidy would be sanctioned to encourage the practice.

He explained the assured returns from oil palm from the third year of its cultivation.

Lack of awareness about the profitability of the crop was a major hurdle.

Campaign

The department would launch an intensive campaign to motivate farmers. Oil palm cultivation required less labour, he said. The NADP has permitted cultivation in Pudukottai, Sivaganga, and Virudunuagar districts.

Sadanandham, Deputy Director of Agriculture (government of India schemes), said oil palm would be an alternate and viable crop.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities / by Special Correspondent / Pudukottai – November 14th, 2013

A greening project takes root in rural Coimbatore

Green Initiatives/ Environment, Nature
RAAC Secretary R. Raveendran (centre) and N. Nithyanandam (left), President of Thiyana Social Welfare Trust, discuss the Pasumai Panchayat project with a resident of Mylampatti Panchayatin Coimbatore district on Sunday./ Photo: S. Siva Saravanan / The Hindu
RAAC Secretary R. Raveendran (centre) and N. Nithyanandam (left), President of Thiyana Social Welfare Trust, discuss the Pasumai Panchayat project with a resident of Mylampatti Panchayatin Coimbatore district on Sunday./ Photo: S. Siva Saravanan / The Hindu

2,700 saplings planted across ten acres of barren land in Mayilampatti

Around 15 kilometres from the city is Mayilampatti, a dry village with huge tracts of barren land, which is now laying the foundation for a movement to increase the green cover in all the 235 village panchayats of Coimbatore district.

Mayilampatti has become the first village to be chosen for executing the ‘Pasumai Panchayat’ project, a mass sapling-planting initiative launched by Former President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam in May.

This project has brought together many stakeholders right from NGOs such as Siruthuli, Residents Awareness Association of Coimbatore (RAAC), Thiyana Social Welfare Trust, to corporate firms such as Coimbatore Textile Club, besides Government agencies such as panchayats and District Rural Development Agency.

As many as 2,700 saplings have been planted across ten acres of barren poromboke land at Mayilampatti.

The main objectives of the project are to increase the green cover, provide roosting place for birds, and create a research field to help students pursue studies in agriculture, horticulture, photography and bird-watching, says RAAC secretary R. Raveendran.

Further, two ponds will also be dug at Mayilampatti, which has a significant peacock population.

Technological tools such as global positioning system(GPS) have been adopted for systematic planting.

The area, soil nature and ground water level were scientifically tested to find out the kind of plant species most likely to thrive on the land. Further, drip irrigation has been adopted, he says.

The growth data will be recorded with suitable picture support from an aerial view and posted on the web.

N. Nithyanandan, president of Thiyana Social Welfare Trust, says a lot of time was spent on convincing all the local stakeholders as the residents have to take ownership for the project to succeed.

While the Mayilampatti Panchayat accorded the necessary approval expeditiously, volunteers from Siruthuli, RAAC and Thiyana Social Welfare Trust, besides students from National Model School’s Nature Club, National Institute of Fashion Technology, Tirupur, and Kathir Engineering College, planted the saplings.

The Coimbatore Textile Club came forward to fund the drip irrigation while the Forest Department gave the saplings. The DRDA has suggested that MNREGS workers also be utilised for the project, he says.

With the project proving successful, he says many other Panchayats have approached them to initiate similar projects in their villages.

Already six acres have been identified in Neelambur Panchayat besides another 14 acres at Vagarayampalayam.

A view of the Pasumai Panchayat underway at the Mylampatti Panchayat in Coimbatore district on Sunday./ Photo: S. Siva Saravanan / The Hindu
A view of the Pasumai Panchayat underway at the Mylampatti Panchayat in Coimbatore district on Sunday./ Photo: S. Siva Saravanan / The Hindu

Mayilampatti Panchayat president Radhamani Selvaraj says around 30 people including several children work in the project every day from 6 a.m., an indication of the positive reception for the project from the residents.

A.V. Govindaraj, president, Arasur Panchayat, says that through this project they can leave behind a better place for the next generation.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Coimbatore / by R. Sairam / Coimbatore – November 11th, 2013

IIT-M working on battery to store solar power

Education, Green Initiatives/ Environment, Science & Technologies
IITcf19nov2013
Chennai:
 Tasting success in the solar technology, the Ind­ian Institute of Techn­ology (IIT), Madras, will soon come out with a cost-effective battery technology, which could be used to store large quantity of electricity.
Speaking to DC on Satu­rday, IIT-M director Prof. Bhaskar Ramamurthi said that several faculty at the institute had started their research on optimisation of electricity and appropriate battery technology.
“We are working on lower life cycle cost. We are looking at bulkier, non portable, batteries, which would be used for fixed use. Centre for decentralised photovoltaic systems in our institute is working on how to handle problem of load shedding and harness solar power locally,” he said.
Prof. Ramamurthi says that India en­joys solar power for over 300 days in a year from 9 am to 4 pm with variations. Pointing out that the present solar tech had mismatch of production and storage (battery) of electricity, he said that a person had to spend Rs 14 to store one unit of power in the battery.
source: http://www.deccanchronicle.com / Deccan Chronicle / Home> News> Politics / DC / by N. Arun Kumar / November 17th, 2013

Jaya inaugurates Pennycuick memorial

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Green Initiatives/ Environment, Historical Links, Pre-Independence, Records, All, Science & Technologies

jayallaithaaCF16nov2013

Theni (TN):

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa on Tuesday inaugurated a memorial for Colonel John Pennycuick, the British engineer who built the century-old Mullaperiyar Dam to solve the drought situation in the Vaigai delta region in the 19th century.

The memorial has a bronze statue of Pennycuick, and has been constructed amid the scenic Western Ghats at Lower Camp here at a cost of Rs 1.25 crore. The dam is said to have been completed in 1895.

Tamil Nadu and Kerala are locked in a bitter row over the 118-year-old dam, with the latter wanting to replace it with a new one citing safety reasons while Tamil Nadu has held that the dam is strong. A case is on before Supreme Court.

During the simmering row with Kerala over the safety of the dam last year, Jayalalithaa had announced constructing the memorial for the Britisher over 2500 sq.ft.

She had then said people had placed a demand for constructing a memorial for Pennycuick to show their gratitude since the dam had been functioning well.

Jayalalithaa expressed confidence of a favourable verdict from the apex court in the wake of its appointed empowered committee vouching for the safety of the dam.

“In its report (the committee) has clearly said that the dam is safe and the storage level could be increased to 142 ft (from 136 ft) and then on upto 152 ft after taking up necessary works. I believe Supreme Court will rule in favour of Tamil Nadu based on this report,” she said in her address.

The Chief Minister noted that Pennycuick had sold his property back in England for completion of the project amid lot of difficulties including stoppage of funds from then British administration and natural calamities.

She also announced naming the upcoming Bus Stand at Theni after the British colonel.

Jayalalithaa refuted DMK chief M Karunanidhi’s charge that her government had not taken up maintenance of the 133 ft tall Thirvuvalluvar statue at Kanyakumari, saying chemical coating was given in 2004 and 2008.

The foundation stone for the statue of the Tamil saint-poet was laid by former Prime Minister Morarji Desai in the presence of then chief minister M G Ramachandran in 1979 and even during her rule in 1991-96 Rs 1.28 crore were released for various works connected with it. Karunanidhi cannot claim
entire credit for erecting the statue, Jayalalithaa said.

She also announced constructing a memorial for legendary Tamil king Karikal Chola for building the 2000 year-old ‘Kallanai’ (dam) over Kollidam river,which is still strong. She described the dam as an “engineering marvel.”

source: http://www.deccanchronicle.com / Deccan Chronicle / Home> News> Politics / DC / January 15th, 2013

Bronze statue of Chola king to be installed in Thanjavur

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Green Initiatives/ Environment, Historical Links, Pre-Independence, Leaders, Records, All, Science & Technologies
Karikala Cholan statue.
Karikala Cholan statue.

Chennai:

An eight-foot-high bronze statue of Karikala Cholan, seated on an elephant, which was made at a studio here, is all set to be in­sta­lled in Thanjavur district.

Following chief minister J. Jayalalithaa’s announcement, the government took up the task of making the statue to perpetuate the memory of the king who built the Kallanai dam for irrigation in the Cauvery delta region.

Jayalalithaa had announced the statue for the king while inaugurating in January this year the memorial of John Pennycuick who built the Mullaiperiyar dam.

“The 2,000-year old Kallanai dam which stands stronger than many other dams in the state was built by the Tamil king, and hence, his statue is being readied to stand majestically at his memorial near the dam,” said Kishore. J. Nagappa, who sculpted the statue.

“It took us around three months to finish the statue,” Nagappa said.

“The statue has been so designed that it can stand the test of time and remain a subject to be talked about. Hence, it is meticulously done,” he added.

The memorial will be constructed at a cost of Rs 2.10 crore along the banks of the Cauvery on an area of 4,090 sq ft.

source: http://www.deccanchronicle.com / Deccan Chronicle / Home> News> Current Affairs / DC / November 10th, 2013

Madras Christian College hosts conference on tribal development

Green Initiatives/ Environment, Historical Links, Pre-Independence, Nature

Chennai :

Tribal children from Wayanad got their first experience of a train ride when they travelled from Nilgiris to Chennai on Thursday to give cultural performances in front of academics and biodiversity authorities at a national conference on Forest, Livelihood and Tribal Development.

The conference, organized by the department of social work at Madras Christian College in Tambaram here saw researchers, academics and students from 15 states, including the northeast, Madhya Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh and Kerala, discuss issues impacting tribals in different parts of the country.

Speaking on the Tribal Rights Act and its Implementation on Forest Dwellers, former Tamil Nadu principal chief conservator of forests C K Sreedharan said that if the concerned machinery expected to implement the Act did not believe in it, then the whole thing was bound to be a failure. “After a policy decision is made, the officials in charge of implementing it should accept the decision. Tribals need a lot of support from everybody. A lot depends on the sincerity and commitment of civic servants and local implementation organizations,” he added.

Responding to a question from the audience after his talk, Sreedharan said there were no loopholes in the Forest Rights Act 2006 but a lot had been denied to the tribals for a number of years.

Conference coordinator D Prince Annadurai said that the tribal population in India was at the receiving end because of several big corporate projects and that there was an increasing need to bring them to the limelight to provide intervention so that they could reap the benefits of development and to learn from their practices and ways. It was not an attempt to change their lifestyle overnight, he said.

Peter Ronald, project manager of the Nilgiris Wayanad Tribal Welfare Society, said that the trip gave the children, representing Paniya and Kaatunayaka communities of Wayanad, exposure to the world outside their communities. “After seeing the college, one of the children told me that he wants to study in MCC after he finishes school. That’s the kind of experience we want to give these children,” he said.

source: http://www.articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / Home> City> Chennai> Tribals / M. Ramya, TNN / October 03rd, 2013

Solar photovoltaic plant for Rs 50,000

Green Initiatives/ Environment, Science & Technologies
Picture for representational purposes only.
Picture for representational purposes only.

Chennai: 

Fed up with power cuts?  There could be a way out as it may be possible to install a solar photovoltaic plant of one kilowatt capacity on your  rooftop for as little as Rs 50,000 under the new guidelines iss­ued by the energy de­partment on October 18.

Coming a year after the  government anno­un­ced its solar energy policy, the guidelines provide for a subsidy of Rs 20,000 for consumers looking to install a grid connected battery- less solar system on their rooftops.

While a one kW solar system without battery costs Rs 1 lakh, the consumer will have  to invest only Rs 50,000 and the rest will be borne by the state and Union governments. His power troubles too could be over as a solar system of one kW capacity can generate approximately 1,600 units a year.

“If the  bi-monthly electricity consumption of a consumer is more than 500 units then the total annual saving is likely to be Rs 9,200 which is higher than returns from conventional investment,” said the department in its order.

In the first year, the subsidy will  be provided to 5000 solar systems at a cost of Rs. 10 crore and the next year to 10,000 systems. With the Tamil Nadu Ele­ct­r­i­city Develop­ment Agen­cy (TEDA) acting as a nodal agency, consumers can either apply online through the TEDA website or  manually.

If applying online, a signed printout will have to be submitted to the TEDA office in Chennai within three months. Domestic consumers, whose existing electricity connection is in the tariff class LT-1A with Tangedco, will be eligble and will be selected on a first come first serve basis.

They will, however, be expected to buy the solar plants from suppliers listed by TEDA. In case of apartments, flat owners can submit applications either individually or collectively.

source: http://www.deccanchronicle.com / Deccan Chronicle / Home> News> Current Affairs  / October 25th, 2013

Donkey’s milk still in demand in Chennai

Green Initiatives/ Environment, Nature, Science & Technologies
The sale of donkey’s milk is now limited to a few pockets in the city such as Perambur, Royapuram and Mylapore. But the milk is expensive and a few millilitres cost Rs. 200 to Rs. 400. / Photo: B. Jothi Ramalingam / The Hindu
The sale of donkey’s milk is now limited to a few pockets in the city such as Perambur, Royapuram and Mylapore. But the milk is expensive and a few millilitres cost Rs. 200 to Rs. 400. / Photo: B. Jothi Ramalingam / The Hindu

Many continue to believe that donkey’s milk boosts immunity in newborns; doctors disagree

Vijaya, a resident of Perambur, recently gave her five-day-old great grandson donkey’s milk believing it would clear his throat and cure his cold. She said this was an accepted practice with her family.

Like Vijaya and her family, many others in the city hold on to this age-old “belief” that donkey’s milk boosts immunity and gives clarity of voice to newborns. Doctors decry this practice.

K. Githa, former professor of neonatology of Madras Medical College, said donkey’s milk had no proven benefits. Many other doctors agree with her. They have come across newborns with complaints of infections due to poor handling of the donkey’s milk administered to them.

“Some say donkey’s milk is equivalent to mother’s milk but unhygienic handling could lead to infections. I have heard of babies getting aspirated when the milk is forcibly fed by elders,” V. Kalaivani, superintendent of Government Raja Sir Ramaswamy Mudaliar (RSRM) Lying-in Hospital, said.

“Mothers should feed colostrum (first milk) to their babies. The constituents of donkey’s milk, such as proteins and sugar levels, vary. There are chances of the newborns developing infections. We advise them not to give donkey’s milk, sugar water and honey,” Dr. Githa said.

The infections could manifest as diarrhoea leading to dehydration especially if the baby was not exclusively breastfed, said T. Srikala Prasad, senior assistant professor of Government Kasturba Gandhi Hospital for Women and Children.

The sale of donkey’s milk is now limited to a few pockets in the city such as Perambur, Royapuram and Mylapore. But the milk is expensive and a few millilitres cost Rs. 200 to Rs. 400.

The family of Duraikannu, who works at the Chennai Corporation’s dhobi ghat on Veeraperumal Koil Street in Mylapore, sells donkey’s milk regularly.

“My uncle’s son owns a donkey and we sell milk in the morning. A “paladai” (a small feeding device) of milk costs Rs. 350 to Rs. 400. On certain days, we get five customers and there are lean days when we get just two,” he said. He cautioned that some unscrupulous sellers mixed donkey’s milk with cow’s milk.

Porkodi of Washermenpet regularly sells donkey’s milk near RSRM Lying-in Hospital in Royapuram in the early hours of the day. “I milk the animal in front of the buyers. Sometimes, there are 10 customers, mainly from the nearby maternity hospital,” she said. She claimed the milk was good for children suffering from fits and cold.

A resident of Mylapore said two families owning donkeys regularly sold the milk on P.S. Sivasamy Salai, Mylapore, but stopped recently. “Several persons used to come for the milk. Some sellers purchase milk from Perambur and sell it here. Nobody knows if it is donkey’s milk,” he said.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Citites> Chennai / by Serena Jospehine. M / Chennai – October 24th, 2013

Tamil Nadu Agricultural University releases 4 new maize varieties at national level

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

Coimbatore :

Four maize varieties have been recently released by the maize department of Tamil Nadu Agricultural University (TNAU) at the national level this year.

All of them have passed rigorous field trials held across various states. “These varieties have passed tests proving that they have a higher productivity than 4 high varieties,” said G Nallathambi, professor of maize breeding, department of millets at TNAU. These maize varieties were developed with the support of the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR). A variety tested successfully in 4 states can be released at the national level.

Nallathambi said that maize is considered to be a crop which would replace rice at the global level. “With temperature rise, paddy is becoming tough to cultivate, whereas maize is an ideal substitute,” he said. Moreover, without any support mechanisms, farmers are able to get attractive rates.

Thousands of products can be developed from maize. This includes food, poultry feed and industry products. “The uses of maize are growing. Glucose and starch can be made from maize. Maize is even used to build the outer body part of airplanes. United States is focusing on developing bio-fuels from maize. Maize takes around 75 to 110 days to mature.

In 2005-06, maize was cultivated across 2 lakh hectares in Tamil Nadu, generating an annual production of 2.41 lakh tonnes. In 2011-12, when the latest study was held, the cultivation area was 2.81 lakh hectares and productivity stood at 16.95 lakh tonnes. While in 2005-06, the average productivity was 1,189 kilos per hectare, it increased to 6,042 kilos per hectare in 2011-12. “This jump in the productivity levels can be attributed to improved varieties of crops from both the public and private sectors.

Nallathambi said that many crop varieties are in the pipeline. Meanwhile, one of their varieties released last year, CO6, which is known as CMH08-282 at the national level has begun to receive acceptance from other states. Two weeks ago they received a letter from the Gujarat State Seeds Corporation (GSSC) saying that they wanted to take up the production of CO6 variety of seeds and sought seeds from the centre. “We hope our efforts will help fulfill the food requirements of the nation,” he said.

source: http://www.articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / Home> City> Coimbatore> Maize / by Arun P. Mathew, TNN / October 07th, 2013