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Collective Community Action: Towards a susTainable

fuTure

World Environment Day Special

June 2012 Volume 2, Issue 31

sponsored by:Free

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Editor

Dr. Nandini Murali

Sub Editor & Journalism Manager

Ingelise Jones

Journalism Supervisors

B. Pooja

Archana Sundararajan

Coordinator

J. Venkatesh

Designer & Technical Support

T. Jesuraja

Reporters & Photographers

Marie McEvoy

Ariane Lecuyer

Marco Duranti

Edward Lipztin

Kourei Yoshibe

Rebecca Geiselmann

Ellie Daniel

Cover Photograph

Ingelise Jones

Sivakasi Projects Abroad Pvt. Ltd.,

Contact:

editor@maduraimessenger.org

MADURAI MESSENGER

No. 17, T.P.K Road

Pasumalai

Madurai – 625004

Tamil Nadu

India

Tel. 0452-2370269

ConTEnTSJune 2012 | Issue no. 31

EDITOR’S CORNER

01 Discovering Myself Through BirdsCOVER STORY

02 Community Focus for ConservationFIRST IMPRESSIONS

09 Welcome Stranger, Hello FriendWORLD ENVIRONMENT DAY

10 Towards a Sustainable PlanetISSUES

12 From the Margin to the CentreSUSTAINABLE LIVING

16 Waste Management: A Collective ApproachALTERNATIVES

20 Fuelling InnovationVILLAGE VOICES

24 Koonthankulam: An Avian ParadiseCONSERVATION

28 A People’s Passion for Birds 32 Unearthing Pleasures

PROFILE

38 A Model ManagerCULTURE KITCHEN

41 Recreating the Ritz!A DAY IN THE LIFE OF...

44 Field of DreamsBOOK REVIEW

48 Spread Your WingsFILM

50 A Catalyst for Change!FIRST IMPRESSIONS

52 Across the World in 32 Hours!

The mud track veers towards the left around 20 kilometres from Tirunelveli. We drive past emerald stretches of green paddy and the burnished gold of mature paddy, ready to be harvested. The country road winds a zig zag course as it meanders, slicing through paddy fields scalloped by palm and

coconut trees and silhouetted by the hills of the Western Ghats.

Like a mountain rivulet that turns into a stream, we knew when we had arrived at our destination, Koonthankulam Bird Sanctuary. No, our sign post was not the typical National Highway sign board of the name of the village, but the elemental presence of the birds—the painted storks (Mycteria leucocephalus), which are synonymous with Koonthankulam.

A hushed silence cloaks Koonthankulam like the early morning mist. The palpable silence is punctuated by the guttural cawing and gawking of birds. As our heads scan the tree tops, we see flocks of painted storks roosting on the tree tops of tamarind and neem trees that are a pervasive presence in the village. The acrid earthy aroma of bird droppings permeates the village. I inhale a lungful of its freshness; a long lost memory for my city-weary nostrils.

While Koonthankulam is a haven for resident and migratory birds both within the country and as far away as Siberia, it is especially famous for its heronries of colonial nesting birds such as the painted storks and the spot billed pelicans that often nest in close proximity. Truly, the painted stork is one of the most flamboyant of birds. More than a metre tall, with long slender white legs, a curved neck, its yellow tapering bill and snow-white plumage with shades of pink at the shoulders and wing-tips, give it a distinctive look. I marvel at the splashes of fuchsia pink and black blotches on its rear. It is as if the Great Creator had dipped his brush and streaked it across the birds back in a creative frolic!

Like a privileged insider, I soon begin to witness the secret life of the painted storks. My camera zooms in and zooms out on the birds that glide, swoop and soar across the overcast sky foraging for food or wedging straw between its beaks to build a leafy arbour for its young ones. It was a moment of awe and wonder to watch the adult birds feed their young ones with water and fluff their wings like a canopy to shelter the fledglings against the scorching summer sun. I experience a stillness and a sense of being when I watch birds. The mind disappears like a stone thrown into a pond; and the ripples spread from the centre outwards and merges with nothingness…

In that moment, I discover bird photography. It emerges like the rising sun through the clouds. Every time my camera scans the sky to freeze a bird in flight; and when I press the shutter, an ecstatic energy surges through my body… the bird and I are One.

Dr. nanDini murali Editor

Discovering MyselfThrough birds

ediTor’s Corner

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Community Focus for ConservaTionwith 70 percent of Tamil nadu’s population reliant on agriculture and related activities for their livelihoods, awareness and education about land conservation and organic farming methods are vitally important for a sustainable future. Marie Mcevoy ventures to a rural area near nilakottai in the dindigul district to learn about the Centre for improved rural health and environmental Protection (CirheP), an ngo working at a community level to bring about change, not only for farmers and their families, but also for future generations

By Marie McEvoyEngland

P. Rajkumar (35) leads the training session on Watershed Programmes at CIRHEP

India, a country of contrasts: bustling, dusty cities, arid deserts, snowy mountains, and lush green farmland; intense beauty interspersed with pollution of varying

severity, and a desperate need for clean water. It has a population of around one billion people, where 48 of the world’s billionaires (according to Forbes Magazine 2012 list) share the same air as almost a third of the world’s poor who languish in substandard living conditions. In a place with several social inequalities and ecological issues, it is difficult to

sustainable future. Creating and promoting positive change is often best led by non government organisation (NGOs) who work at a local level with a community focus. The Centre for Improved Rural Health and Environmental Protection (CIRHEP) is a registered voluntary NGO that currently focuses on the integrated development of 32 villages situated around the Kadavakurichi Hills, 4 kilometres southwest of Nilakottai town in Dindigul District, Tamil Nadu.

CIRHEP was set up in 1994 by a group of six passionate people following their involvement in the Palani Hills Conservation Council (PHCC) based in the Western Ghats. Now CIRHEP President K. A. Chandra, 55, a social worker and educationist trained in Sweden, joined together with PHCC founder J. Jeyakaran, CIRHEP Secretary P.M. Mohan, 50, M. Kasuppiah, 50, K.V Ramamaj, 49, and Dhakshina Moonthy, 45. J. Jeyakaran, an authority in biodynamics, and P.M.Mohan, who has over 14 years experience in natural resources management and biodiversity conservation, had known each other already for five years, and would often plant trees and seedlings as a hobby. Mohan also witnessed the conservation activities taking place in Auroville, near Puducherry.

“An NGO is not a single man organisation. It is a group of people running the show,” Mr Mohan explained. CIRHEP works in conjunction with the National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) and Future Earth, a Swedish Group, to deliver a number of different projects such as Watershed Development Programmes (WDPs), Nature Schools, Self Help Groups (SHGs) for Women, and organic and biodynamic agriculture. Mr Mohan said the idea is to “Create a sustainable human – ecology relationship and improve the quality of rural life by striving to alleviate poverty, provide education and conserve the environment with active participation of the rural community.”

Watershed solutionsWatershed Development Programmes (WDPs) are one of the larger schemes, assisted by NABARD and currently covering over 5,000 hectares of land within five main areas in Dindugul district: Kadavakuriciho, Musuvanuthu, Mallanampatty, Kombaipatty and Sivagnanapuram. A watershed is the entire area that supplies water to a central stream or river, or an area that collects rainwater and drains through gullies and streams to one outlet. If not managed properly, it can lead to flooding, causing the loss of nutritious topsoil, micro-organisms and much needed water.

Depending on the needs of the farmers, there are several methods available within a WDP, such as check dams, stone

walls, sunken ponds and rainwater harvesting. These enable ground water levels to rise to help maintain soil health for crop cultivation, and replenish wells for drinking water.

Dry and drought prone villages and those with noticeable soil erosion are selected for the scheme. When people first settled in the Kadadakurichi hills area, they discovered a wealth of fertile soil in which they grew water intensive crops such as coconuts, bananas and rice. These crops, however, are classed as using ‘inappropriate agricultural processes’ and one of the main reasons why the area was identified as requiring assistance.

know which areas to address first, how much aid to give, and on how large a scale these actions should be. Each state has its own individual problems and prospects, and methods of rectifying them.

Agriculture and associated activities provide employment to around 70 percent of Tamil Nadu’s population. The relationship between farming, conservation and health presents both a challenge and a solution for a more

The cow pat pit, as part of the fertilizer production process

Madurai Messenger Cover story June 2012

“An NGO is not a single man organisation. It is a group of people running the show”

David Prabhakar shows volunteer Rebecca Geiselmann (Germany) the vermicompost

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Mr. P. Pandimuni (32) is an advocate of organic farming and biocontrol

Madurai Messenger Cover story June 2012

Nilakottai is P. M. Mohan’s native place, so he wanted to start here and give back to his community by bringing about sustainable change to agriculture in the area. “We wanted to create a model where these degraded wastelands can be made into more productive agricultural lands.”

He believes that WDPs are one of the best methods to help restore the lands. It is basic work that has such a positive impact: “In this area, most of the people migrated to other places because they felt that it was not a good area for living. The only reason that this place became like this [not suitable for cultivation and livelihood] was because of the mismanagement of natural resources.” He explained how native dwellers may move away to bigger cities and towns but, being more experienced in agriculture, they experience difficulties finding employment there, and may be forced to get involved in illegal activities to earn a living. Mohan wanted help farmers be self-sufficient enough to be able to settle in their birthplaces.

He shared one of his proudest moments at CIRHEP so far: “For one watershed, we spent Rs. 450 lakh, but the return that we get now from the WDP is almost Rs. 6 crores (6 million).”

Another commendable achievement was highlighted by P. Ramesh Pandyan, 29, Training Co-ordinator at CIRHEP. He explained that in Tamil Nadu, the centre was the first organisation to pioneer watershed development programmes. Now, there are more than 150. After people came and saw examples within the model farm, they started replicating the methods in their own native villages.

Between 1998 and 1999, just before WDPs were rolled out, CIRHEP also started a drip irrigation project. Every farmer in the area now uses this simple, cost effective method. For an hour every morning from 6:00am – 7:00am,10,000 litres of water from a tank flows through tubing dotted with small holes hydrating crops for up to 5 days. It has proved particularly effective because it is not labour intensive and requires little maintenance. In fact, tests have shown that more than 40 plants can be watered with just 10 litres.

Keeping it natural CIRHEP’s progress so far has been separated into two decade long stages: 2000-2010 and 2010-2020. In stage one, they formed ‘the people’s organisation.’ Mohan said that they succeeded in, “Converting land that the people thought was barren into workable areas that they can cultivate and from which they can make a living and profit. We have set a foundation now for the future, and we have created a system to work towards that.”

To achieve their aims for the next 10 years, he states, “We will concentrate on the farmers and make them self reliant, increase the fertility of the soil and improve the technologies and products that they are using.” They hope this will take the people of the local villages “to the next stage in life.”Mr. P. Pandimuni, 32, educates farmers about using organic methods and biocontrol. One of the benefits of these methods is low input costs. Previously, when using chemically based fertilizers and pesticides to cultivate one crop cycle,

it would cost a farmer between Rs. 7,000 and Rs. 9,000, meaning that once they had garnered the produce, they would just about break even. By using natural methods, he said, the costs are reduced to around Rs.3,000 and, although the size of the profit made is relative to the size of the farm, farmers are now more able to meet additional expenses such as medicine and education for their children.

He also helps provide seeds to farmers, depending on what they want to cultivate, the expanse of land available to them, and the type of soil. Someone from the NGO will go to the field and assess the soil, check the water sources and levels, give training, and support the management of the land accordingly. About 75 percent of the work is done during follow up checks to give continual feedback on progress to alleviate doubts and concerns of dubious farmers. Ironically enough, he said that they were worried about incurring losses by using natural methods, but once they become more aware of the problems caused by chemical farming, which is essentially like slow poisoning, they become more responsive.

Enhancing yieldsBiocontrol is a way of diverting insects and harmful creatures away from crops using no poisonous, expensive pesticides. A recommended strategy is to grow castor seeds around the healthy plant to act as a diversion. Another approved method is creating a deterrent mixture made with cow urine and the leaves of five medicinal plants, crushed, mixed and left for five to seven days, at no real cost to the farmer. The point of organic farming is a simple, peaceful one: to keep things natural, follow the food chain, and not kill anything.

Before informing villagers about any scheme, CIRHEP will first test it, and only when they are satisfied that it meets their standards will they tell people how to implement it. Trialing organic farming methods takes two to three years.

Different kinds of manures are applied to see what works best. The main success stories are vermicompost, which uses earthworms, and Panchakavya, an organic fertilizer made from five types of cow products: cow dung, curd, cow urine, milk and ghee. The cow derived concoction is mixed together with coconut, water, banana and jaggery, and allowed to ferment before being applied to crops in particular saporta and jasmine flowers.

The organic fertilizer helps improve the quality of the yield. Previously, once a crop had been harvested, farmers would burn whatever was left in the field, seeing it as a waste product. As part of their training, CIRHEP teaches farmers that this material can be used to nourish the next set of produce, and the land becomes accustomed to housing more than one sort of crop. Organic fertilizer helps enhance the fragrance of flowers such as marigolds and jasmine, one

of the main exports of the village, enabling farmers to fetch higher price at local flower markets.

Unfortunately the products are not certified organic, because it costs Rs.25,000 to obtain this classification. It has, however, been noted that shoppers can tell the difference in quality. There is not yet enough widespread knowledge with regards to organic farming to justify the expenditure of certification, even if several local farmers were to group together to gain it.

Growing prosperity K. G. Ramachandran, 60, has 25 years experience in tackling environmental issues, and praised CIRHEP’s work in the area. “When I visited this place for the first time in 2000, it was a desert, completely covered by brown sand. Nothing was grown here. There was no prosperity at all. Now the villages are most prosperous,” he said. “This is one of the most successful watershed programmes in India.”

He comes to the centre to provide information for the presentations, and to talk about climate proofing. “Protecting farmers from the effects of climate change by educating them about it and what steps they can take to prevent and deal

“We will concentrate on the farmers and make them self reliant, increase the fertility of the soil and improve the technologies and products that they are using”

Drip irrigation, one of the oldest and most economic methods used by farmers

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Madurai Messenger Cover story June 2012

Organically grown red chilies

“If we don’t start organic farming now, then we are not going to have any lands left, and the whole soil is going to be wasted”

A. Venkatachalapathy (43) explains how organic farming has helped him, and shares his plans for a fully organic farm in the future

with it. They are not fully protected by the watershed alone – watershed is first aid.”

“The environment is not an isolated subject,” he continued. “In order to understand the environment, you need to understand biology, evolution, sociology, microbiology... the subjects are infinite.”

His take on organic farming, however, was a little more pessimistic. He believed in it, he said, but a totally organic future was highly unlikely. “India is a densely populated country. When you have a big population, you need to feed them. And when you feed them, you have to practice some sort of monoculture; you cannot do organic farming in monoculture. Otherwise we have to change our food habits. Yet the government is promoting rice eating; rice is very heavily subsidized and very freely distributed to poor people. Every family gets 20 kilos of rice, so they’re not going to change.” This is in addition to the fact that the Government subsidises about 30 percent of pesticides, he informed us.

Farming for a FutureAyyanan, 83, and his son A. Venkatachalapathy, 43, are farmers in the Veelinayakampatti village, where the first biogas plant in the area in being trialled., Funded by Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK) and NABARD, the hole is filled with a mixture of cow dung and water, and covered with a drum. Once formed, the biogas is transferred through an underground pipe to the kitchen of the family house where it is used for cooking. So far, enough biogas is produced to cook food for five members of the family.

Ayyanan has been working in agriculture since he was ten years old, and can recall a time before chemical fertilizers. It is almost as though the process is turning full circle. “We just used cow dung. This is the only method that was good.” His son, A. Venkatachalapathy, followed his family footsteps into farming, and was dismayed at the condition of the lands when he first started out aged 20. There were no clean drinking water facilities, he explained, and the land was very dry. They would go about 10 km from their farm to Anaipatti, near the Vaigai River in Madurai, to get water. The education

system was also so poor that the people of the village used to pay each student Rs.5 to make them go to school, and the teachers were paid Rs.150 to teach.

Now, as owner of the lands and head of the family, he is concerned for the future. “Even in our time, this place is very bad; maybe in our children’s time there is a possibility that this place could change into a desert.” With this in mind, he joined hands with CIRHEP, and got actively involved in the NABARD Farmers Clubs, where they run evening school schemes for children and older people.

His wife is also part of a CIRHEP self-help group, and looks after the farm whilst he takes care of the watershed. The whole village is involved in the watershed programme, and he said their lives have improved significantly, with all the children in the village going on to complete their schooling. In some families, members have even progressed enough to receive their Bachelors degree. On a personal level, Venkatachalapathy said, his family have, “A very good status, and that is because all the people in the village are good. If others are good, we will also be.”

He is fully in favour of organic farming too. He can grow chilies, chrysanthemums and coffee, as well as taking fresh honey from his beehive. In the next few years, he wants to cultivate his crops using solely organic methods, if only for health reasons. There is a concern that he and younger generations will not enjoy the same life span as his father, due to the quality of the food they have consumed for most of their lives, most of which has been grown and treated with chemicals. Now he only cooks what he grows himself. “I just thought about it one day – already my longevity is going to be less; how will it be for my sons and daughters if this chemical process goes on?”

He has been receiving training from CIRHEP for the past ten years, and in the future, he is adamant that the term ‘chemicals’ should not be heard anywhere. “If we don’t start organic farming now, then we are not going to have any lands left, and the whole soil is going to be wasted.”

Mr. Mohan also believes that India can become a wholly organic nation. He acknowledges that it will not be a hasty process, but the benefits will be much more long term. “We are looking 100-1000 years ahead. Chemical farming has had a very negative impact, and we should try to change the mindset of the people and create awareness about organic farming,” he said. Through the promotion of these methods, CIRHEP’s aim is to,“Maintain the natural resources, for the future generations to come. We don’t have a right to spoil natural resources just because we want to increase productivity.”

Supporting self-sufficiencyWhen we visited CIRHEP’s training centre, a day – long tutorial was underway. In attendance were approximately 23

people from the village of Konnkkonnad in Kerala, where one watershed development programme is ongoing. As it is a hilly and therefore considerably more sloped area than the flat plains of Tamil Nadu, they had come to the area to compare water flow. There were several women within the group who claimed they had come to learn to be self-sufficient with support from SHGs.

One member, Mini Matthew, has a poultry farm, breeds cattle, and is involved in banana cultivation. Some women had even climbed the ranks to become heads of their villages, thanks to an elevated status as a result of leadershihp skills developed through self – improvement. One of CIRHEP focuses, as Mohan explained, is “Showing the people that they can solve their problems on their own.”

In the Kadavakurichi Hills area, there are 100 women in SHGs, where they are advised on how to open bank accounts and given awareness about financial loans. P. Rajkumar, 35, a trainer at the centre since 2004, said, “This is a temporary solution.” The logic behind their approach is that once a person is aware, they will then be in a position to come out of poverty and support themselves financially. “Other self help groups provide loans, this one provides awareness.”

Ayyanan (83) prefers the traditional methods of farming as opposed to the use of pesticides

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Through SHGs, groups of up 10 women and some individuals will take a lease on a portion of land for a specific number of years, on which they will cultivate crops and earn a living. After six months to a year, they will take the profits from the yields and share it amongst themselves. Every group has a president, secretary and treasurer, ensuring that they obtain book keeping and accountancy skills, and realise the importance of being thrifty.

Mr. Mohan said, “Women must be able to handle money, and they can use that money for their children’s education, and for their personal needs. This is why CIRHEP is providing them with options such as revolving funds provided by NABARD.” Revolving funds support the ongoing programme of SHGs. Money is given to groups, and once a profit has been earned, the funds are then replenished back to the benefactors, who then invest the funds back into other SHGs. Other income generation programmes include beekeeping and honey processing, garland making, and mushroom cultivation, all of which help women improve their skills, become more independent, and advance their status. These methods also mean that borrowing has decreased, and that they can send their children to school, thus increasing the quality of life for future generations.

CIRHEP also houses 21 pharmacy laboratories to teach people about new pharmaceutical methods, so that they may move on from using traditional ways of advancing their health and sanitation. They are planning to increase the number of laboratories by way of a project called CRL – a new scheme started in collaboration with DATA, an NGO based in Madurai.

Children are the futureCIRHEP is also concentrating on supporting and educating children, both in life skills and the environment. In 2010, a new project was founded to raise awareness about issues affecting adolescent girls. Groups of 15 teenage girls make up forums for discussions on issues such as reproductive health and hygiene, early marriage and pregnancy, and gender equality. There are forthcoming plans to establish similar groups for boys.

In 2000, with funding from Future Earth, a Nature School was founded to teach children ways to lead a more conservation aware life through activities and play. People who have completed high school or done teachers training, a bachelors or masters degree, or even those still in high school but who have a lot of knowledge in a particular field, teach the children. Topics covered include: how to conserve energy, methods of organic farming, protecting and maintaining watersheds, and decreasing water wastage.

The team at CIRHEP believe that the children are the future of any country, state or place, so values are being ingrained in them from as early an age as possible. Free eco-clubs run on a daily basis, where older high school children teach approximately 20 of their juniors. Special attention is also paid

to ‘dropouts’ – those that have left school due to financial reasons, but still want to study.

Continuous learningCIRHEP sees the bigger picture by valuing and encouraging the cycle of continuous learning. Farmers who have been taught the new techniques and shown new technologies, then pass on what they have learnt to other farmers. ,Even heads of NGOs and government level officers from NABARD attend training days at CIRHEP. With guidance and leadership from organisations such as CIRHEP, India and its people will continue to learn that ‘the environment’ is not restricted in meaning to just flora and fauna. ‘The environment’ is the culmination of all living things, and the way in which they must coexist in a sustainable way for years, decades and centuries to come. Education is not just about acquiring the skills for the modern workplace, but rather for the modern world and all it encompasses. People are learning that co-operation with the land will create a better life for themselves. At the heart of this approach is the concept of working together as a community on a local and global scale.

With mutual understanding, positive thinking and patience, the small steps taken now will hopefully yield significant and sustainable results for the earth and its population. As K. G. Ramachandran pointed out earlier, to truly understand the environment, you need to have a wider scope of knowledge on subjects that influence it. But with improved education comes improved awareness. After all, Rome wasn’t built in a day.

despite a few unsettling encounters, ellie daniel instantly feels at home in Madurai, thanks to the “infinite warmth and affection” of the people, a warmth as intense and enveloping as the brilliant tropical sun

Welcome Stranger hello friend

By Ellie DanielEngland

My first moments in Madurai stimulated an overwhelming assault upon my senses.

As a Londoner used to manic cities, I considered myself sufficiently prepared to navigate Madurai and assumed that I would remain un-phased by my temporary home. Within seconds, I was mistaken. An intense wall of heat initially choked me, but I was soon distracted by the exotic explosion of colour that greeted me. Elaborate saris in a myriad of flamboyant colours were adorned with sequins and accompanied by decadent gold jewellery.

An assortment of vibrantly coloured fruit alongside other food which I did not recognise, lined the streets. Most striking, was the imposing, extravagant and intricately designed Meenakshi Temple, towering majestically above me, demanding attention.

The familiar memory of hectic London traffic, which I previously believed to be unparalleled, was dwarfed instantly by the deafening orchestra of honking vehicles. I quickly realised that despite the apparent chaos of the roads, the drivers are surprisingly adept at swerving around unexpected pedestrians, or indeed cows, goats or whatever else may be obstructing the road. (In India, it really could be anything!) The traditional, quirky yellow auto rickshaws presented me with an infinitely cheaper and more exciting (if somewhat bumpy) answer to London’s black cabs.

The clamour of the traffic was underscored with a symphony of

Verunah (1) finds fun in flip flops at Grace Kennett Foundation

clashing polyphonic ring tones and a babble of enthusiastic Tamil conversation. There is nothing peaceful about Madurai, and yet the laid back and relaxed attitude which permeates the Indian culture makes it impossible to feel stressed.

The enthusiasm and wonder with which the local children greeted me, charmed me instantly. As they attempted to introduce themselves, their joyful waves and smiles were touching. On my first day helping in a local orphanage,

I was captivated by the eagerness and constant desire of all the children to play

and be cheerful, despite their situation. I felt overwhelmingly emotional as I considered the stark contrast between the childhood I experienced and that which I now observed. Above all, I found myself overpowered by the infinite affection and warmth directed towards me and the other volunteers.

It is impossible to remain indifferent or unaffected by the individual character of Madurai. Although I initially felt somewhat self-conscious and out of place, it is impossible to feel alienated for long. India’s diverse culture soon welcomes and envelops you.

Madurai Messenger Cover story June 2012

Local women who live in the Nilakottai area are benefiting from learning about organic farming methods

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This month, we dedicate Madurai Messenger to world environment day. organised by the united nations and celebrated on 5 June every year, the day raises awareness about environmental issues with an aim to inspire people from all over the world to act together in support of a sustainable future. edward liptzin investigates the importance of this day and what’s happening in its 40th year

Towards a

Sustainable Planet

By Edward LiptzinCalifornia, United States

World Environment Day has been celebrated on 5 June every year since the first day

of the first United Nations Conference for the Human Environment, held in 1972. Now, 40 years later, the day has international recognition with a different host city, theme, and conference every year. It differs from Earth Day (April 22) in that every year, World Environment Day (WED) has a specific focus on one certain aspect of world conservation, while Earth Day promotes general awareness.

According to the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) website, “World Environment Day is an annual event that is aimed at being

the biggest and most widely celebrated global day for positive environmental action. World Environment Day activities take place all year round but climax on 5 June every year, involving everyone from everywhere.”

Just last year, India was the country selected to host World Environment Day for the first time in the event’s history. The theme was “Forests – Nature at Your Service,” with the main activities and conferences focusing on how to best preserve what forest we have left, while also restoring that which has been lost. While most of the larger events were based in New Delhi, the whole country had a role to play in last year’s WED celebrations, including Tamil Nadu. The

government came up with a list of five things to be done for last year’s WED, which were: plant saplings around homes, schools and businesses; avoid the use of plastic; SMS friends about participating in WED; avoid the use of air horns; and perhaps most shockingly, stop all vehicles for one minute at 11.00am.Throughout the city of Madurai, regardless of traffic, vehicles were stopped at junctions and bus stations for a full minute on that day, helping spread awareness and slightly reduce carbon emissions.

For 2012, the country to play host for WED is Brazil, and for a very special reason. Not only is this year the 40th anniversary of World Environment Day

Madurai Messenger world environment day June 2012

Developing and using renewable energy sources is just one of many

important steps towards a more sustainalbe future

The UNEP and WED websites don’t actually give much detail on the full theory, hinting, “practically speaking, a Green Economy is one whose growth in income and employment is driven by public and private investments that reduce carbon emissions and pollution, enhance energy and resource efficiency, and prevent the loss of biodiversity and ecosystem services. These investments need to be catalyzed and supported by targeted public expenditure, policy reforms and regulation changes.”Beyond that, the full scope of the concepts and possible implementations of a Green Economy are promised to

be explored at the Rio+20 Summit and shared on the World Environment Day’s website (www.unep.org/wed/) and the UNEP’s twitter (http://twitter.com/#!/UNEP/).

For more information, visit: (www.unep.org/wed/aroundtheworld/). Activities and celebrations don’t just have to connect with the green economy theme. As UNEP states, “Every positive environmental action has an impact... [but] part of the fun is finding creative ways to link your activity to the Green Economy!”

and the United Nations Conference for the Human Environment, but it is also the 20th anniversary for the 1992 Earth Summit and United Nations Conference on Environment and Development held in Rio de Janeiro. To celebrate, one massive conference will be held over two days in late June. Dubbed the “Rio+20 Summit,” it plans to involve world leaders in a discussion on how to best deal with the three biggest challenges currently facing human civilization: the economy, the rapidly growing population, and the protection of the natural environment.

Similarly, this year’s theme is “Green Economy – Does it Include You?” As stated on the official WED website, “The UN Environment Programme defines the Green Economy as one that results in improved human well-being and social equity, while significantly reducing environmental risks and ecological scarcities. In its simplest expression, a green economy can be thought of as one which is low carbon, resource efficient and socially inclusive.” The full theory of a Green Economy is somewhat complex, thus the prompt of “does it include you?” The UNEP challenges citizens of all walks of life to learn about what could make a healthy economy and a healthy planet co-exist and ask if their countries are doing anything to facilitate such a system.

Celebrating World Environment Day can be as simple as a seedling... From little things, big things grow

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From the Margin to the Centre: seeking eConoMiC growTh for india’s rural Poordespite its projected economic growth rate of eight percent, india is still not shining. agriculture, the backbone of the indian economy, is in deep crisis with many farmers wanting to quit farming. Marco duranti talks to two well-known ngos in Madurai that are using innovative approaches to augment government initiatives to empower the rural poor

By Marco Duranti

Milan, Italy

Collected herbs stacked away in sacks

Economic growth which bypasses a large population is joyless growth and not sustainable in

the long run. What then is the future for India’s rural population numbering over 700 million? We cannot be silent onlookers to a situation where 30 percent of India is shining and 70 percent is weeping.”

These peremptory words, contained in the fifth report of the National Commission of Farmers (October 2006), clearly express the limit and contradiction of India’s economic development. Although it has created opportunities for millions of individuals, it is almost excluding the rural inhabitants, who still constitute

70 percent of the population. In 2004-2005, about 28 percent of households lived below the poverty line; and most of the remaining households are not much above.

It is not only a matter of equity. The commission, chaired by eminent agricultural scientist Professor M.S.

Madurai Messenger issues June 2012

Women workers preparing packages of medicinal herbs ready to be sent to pharmaceutical companies

Swaminathan, points out that since the 1990s, the Indian population has continued to grow faster than its capacity to feed everybody. According to estimates, the country will need to increase its cereal production from the current 210 million tonnes to 224-296 million tonnes by 2020. This will probably be a difficult task, as the profitability in agriculture is steadily declining (by 14.2 percent during the 1990s) and, according to the 59th round of NSSO (National Sample Survey Organisation) statistics, 40 percent of farmers wish to quit farming.

Mainstreaming Addressing the problem of farmers’ conditions is thus a priority if India wants to avoid the implosion of its economic and social system. Alongside the government, several non-government (NGOs) and non-profit organisations carry out development projects with the farming community. In Tamil Nadu, for instance, a role of coordination among several NGOs is played by the Palmyrah Workers Development Society (PWDS), which was founded by theologian Dr. Samuel

Amirtham in 1977 as an expression of his social commitment.

For over 15 years, the organisation worked primarily with palmyrah workers in Kanyakumari District. Palmyrah workers are known as “tappers” and collect the sap from the palm tree, which is then converted into jaggery, a sweet solid. Tappers can climb approximately 40-50 trees every day. Their job is particularly dangerous and falls from the palm trees are very frequent, often resulting in death or disability. To help support these workers, PWDS developed projects related to welfare and health, pre-school education, market strategies and enterprises.

The association has gradually broadened the range of its activities, with a special focus on women and children. Currently, PWDS collaborates with 43 NGOs in 29 districts of Tamil Nadu. The shared philosophy between PWDS and its partner NGOs, is that farmers need to be emancipated from external donations and charity. Instead, they should be able to start up common

business activities, access the market and compete to sell their products. Therefore, the function of the NGOs is to help facilitate the creation of associations among farmers and link them to the market.

In prefacing the PWDS 2010 Annual Report, the current Director of PWDS, Reji Chandra, says that social gains and business orientation are compatible: “Profit could serve as a self-driving factor if it is integrated with social interventions to solve issues. Perhaps this is the promise and challenge in looking for market-based solutions for social and development programmes.”

Reji Chandra listed the broad range of people involved in PWDS projects. “We work mainly with palmyrah workers, rural artisans and farmers – especially small and marginalised people including HIV/AIDS affected people. HIV/AIDS has become a pressing problem in the last 10 years. We also work with the Adivasi or the tribal community. In each project, we focus especially on women and children.”

Medicinal herbs are wrapped and stored prior to dispatch as part of the CCD Project in Sevayoor, Virudhunagar District

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has to face in its near future. The report of the National Commission of Farmers ends with an episode of Gandhi’s life which sounds like an admonition to this country to measure up to the ideals of its founding father. Mahatma Gandhi preferred to be known as a farmer, while signing the Visitor’s Book of the National Dairy Research Institute at Bangalore in 1927. Let us prove worthy of his trust that India will care for its farmers.

He further specified the approach adopted by PWDS. “Our action is community-based. We don’t simply concentrate on a specific problem, we work with the community as a whole. We get an overview of all the problems which afflict a community, and we try to solve at least some of them.”

PWDS does not provide any service directly, but instead acts as a bridge between service providers and rural communities. “We believe in mainstreaming. If, for example, a health problem comes about, we do not create a new health clinic, but we help people use the structures already available. If a community needs some kind of insurance, we do not offer them a ready-made solution, but we mediate between the community and the insurance providers, so that the necessities of the former turn out into a business opportunity for the latter. If the operation succeeds, we then disappear from the scene.”

Reji Chandra pointed out that PWDS is not a charitable organisation. “We do not give any subsidies to the poor and we do not make them dependent on donors’ money. The latter is used only for some training programmes, aimed at providing the communities with new skills and abilities in order to improve their possibility of accessing the market with their products.”

Empowering the Community One of the partner organisations of PWDS is the Covenant Centre for Development (CCD), based in Sevayoor in Virudhunagar District, which was formally started in 1993 to work with school dropouts, young people and women from the villages near Madurai. John Britto, the current Director of CCD, explained to me that at the time, the organisation operated in Virudhunagar District and focused on the problem of rural migration to cities in search of better working opportunities.

An early achievement was the creation of women-only self-help groups for financial savings and micro credit support, a concept based on the traditional habit of women saving money for contingences and emergencies, known in Tamil Nadu as Siruvaadu. The groups were named by the women themselves - Kalasam. The aptly chosen name has two meanings. A kalasam is the structure on the top of a temple and also a saving box. The Kalasam was officially registered to enable them to avail loans from the banks. The next step was federating the groups into a super structure or apex body known as the Mahakalasam, the first of which was registered as a Trust in the village of Pulvakkarai, near Madurai, in 1996.

Britto explained how the structure was formed: “We organised the groups with continuous meetings and discussions between them. Representatives of the groups regulated the surplus funds from the groups, put in a common place, and then rotated it again to each group, not for consumption, but for income-generating activities.”

One more problem CCD had to face concerned the medical expenses of the villagers.“In 1995, we found that one-third of the loans that the groups got from the federations were used for medical expenses.” In order to reduce this percentage, CCD decided to revitalise traditional medical practices with the help of local healers or Naattu Vaidhyars. “Through them, we identified 19 diseases, which were the most common in that area. Healers were than trained with the support of biodiversity organisations on how to prepare medicines out of 13 combinations of available local herbs.”

The community based cultivation and gathering of local herbs is a flagship CCD project in Karaiyur. In a huge warehouse,

A lady gatherer at work collecting medicinal herbs on a farm in Karaiyur

Madurai Messenger issues June 2012

“Our action is community-based. We don’t simply concentrate on a specific problem, we work with the community as a whole. We get an overview of all the problems which afflict a community, and we try to solve at least some of them”

eight people work to pack medicinal herbs collected by women from the jungle near the villages. Herbs are then delivered to pharmaceutical companies in Bengaluru and Puducherry, which will process them in order to produce medicines or cosmetic products. For example, the toothpaste manufactured by the well-known brand Himalaya, is made out of the plants collected here.

K. N. Irulappan, 35, has worked in this project for 14 years. He says that the main advantage of working here is getting paid on a daily basis. Like the other labourers, he lives in a nearby village. Accommodation is not provided by the organisation, but is paid for by the workers themselves. The eldest worker here is Karmegam, who is 76 years old. He is in charge of registering all the packaging processes and maintaining the attendance book. Karmegam, a former farmer, has been working here for 10 years. He works 10 hours every day and says that his hours can change depending on the power supply. The workers have a day off every Sunday, and also enjoy both national and regional holidays.

CCD is responsible for sending the herbs to the pharmaceutical companies. In addition, it runs a free school that has classes from kindergarten to primary for the labourers’ children,

A platform for collective action Regarding the security of farmers’ livelihood, John Britto favours the “National Rural Livelihood Mission,” the new programme launched with a basic purpose. As stated in a Framework for Implementation document issued by the Ministry of Rural Development, the programme’s purpose is “to put in place a dedicated and sensitive support structure from the national level to the sub-district level which will focus on the poor, build and sustain their organisations at different levels. This will provide the poor with a platform for collective action based on self help and mutual cooperation and they become a strong demand system, build

linkages with mainstream institutions, including banks, and government departments to address the various dimensions of poverty.” As one can see, this programme resembles the strategy adopted by the NGO network of PWDS, in fostering organisations among the poor and in promoting the link with the markets.

Extending the benefits of economic growth to the countryside is perhaps the most arduous challenge that India

Local farmers (L-R): P.Prabhakaran, Jeyaraj, M.Sridharan, K.N.Irulappan, N.Manimuthu, P.Murugan

The collected flowers have been put out to dry

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Waste Management: a ColleCTive aPProaChrebecca geiselmann reports on the innovative approaches to waste management being implemented by exnora, india’s most well-known environmental ngo with a pan india presence. its core principle in ensuring a cleaner, greener and ecologically safe environment through public education and raising awareness about safe and sustainable waste disposal practices

By Rebecca Geiselmann

Germany

India, a gorgeous country: mountains, desert, river valleys, rainforest and the sea. It offers a life rich in culture and

tradition. For every taste, you can find a perfect landscape; for every athlete, a perfect outdoor activity; for every lover of culture and religion, a perfect monument; and for every extrovert, a perfect conversational partner. It seems like a dream… if only there wasn’t so much waste lying around. Massive accumulations of rubbish - plastics,

paper and household waste - lie on the street and overcrowd bins. Cows, dogs and goats graze the waste for food. Whether near big cities or quiet rural areas, on the top of the highest mountain or on a beautiful the beach, unfortunately you can find waste almost everywhere in India. A very unusual image for a European.

I quickly started to wonder where all the waste is coming from, but just as

quickly, I found the answer. Sadly, you can observe many people throwing their empty cups or plastic candy or crisps packets away. I have even seen people who, after enjoying their travel snack, just throw the package out of the window of a bus or train, without a second thought.

The lovely landscape is often spoilt by different kinds of waste. In many cases, waste ends up in rivers in which people

Madurai Messenger sustainable living June 2012

ExNoRa is revolutionising waste management in and around Madurai. Specially marked sacks allow for separation of waste prior to recycling

wash their clothes, take a bath or even take their drinking water.

How long will your waste stay where you left it? What will happen to it? Is there anybody to collect it? Frequently I notice people burning waste on the roadside, but this does not seem a healthy or sustainable way. How do the businesses and households dispose of their own waste?

Greener thinkingI was lucky enough to meet with a team of people who asked similar questions and have found some answers and solutions! ExNoRa (Excellent Novel and Radical) is an international, non-governmental, non-political, non-profit organisation that practices very clever waste management. This organisation wants to solve the serious waste problem in India.

ExNoRa was founded in 1989 in Chennai by M.B. Nirmal, a renowned social activist and motivator. As a very ecologically minded and experienced person, he realised that India needed to change its approach to environmental management and awareness. Many

members of the public are ready to participate in change, but usually lack opportunities to act. ExNoRa aims to create a cleaner, greener and more environmentally friendly world. First and foremost, ExNoRa seeks to change the quality of life in India.

Sharing responsibility An important step in ExNoRa’s work is involving those who generate the waste as well as those who are responsible for its collection. Every person who consumes goods, people like you and me, need to be engaged. ExNoRa wants to motivate and convince the residents of every city, town and village to contribute to the sanitation in their own area.

I visited ExNoRa’s office in Madurai. I’m certain that ExNoRa must be one reason why Madurai is cleaner and greener than other Indian cities I have visited. There are many different sub-organisations of ExNoRa in Madurai. I quickly learnt that ExNoRa can be established in every area and every single street, wherever you think you need it.

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Mr, Mohan, the President of ‘Madurai District ExNoRa’ has been working as a volunteer for ExNoRa since this sub-organization was started in 1995. Right from the start of the interview I noticed that he was very focused on his work. Mr. Mohan travelled regularly and spent a lot of time abroad, especially in Europe and America where he observed less to no waste in public. These countries have much better established waste management systems and pay particular attention to waste separation and recycling.

Worried about his beloved home country of India, he recognised the need for improvement and investment in waste management. He wants to see his country clean, green, environmentally minded. He wants to improve the quality of life in India! When he first got involved with ExNoRa, it was in addition to his job as a correspondent of Indira Gandhi Memorial Metriculation Higher Secondry School, and running his own paper business. He now works for the Madurai district which means he and his colleagues are responsible for the entire Madurai area.

ExNoRa workers collect and store waste in preparation for recycling

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teach the younger ones.At the end of the Camp there is always a Green Champion, one child who has been very involved. At the moment there are about 70 young volunteers in Youth-ExNoRa.

Another programme organised by Youth-ExNoRa was a rally of 500 students, who marched through the centre of Madurai with banners and placates informing the public about the hole in the ozone layer.

Respect for the FutureAs globalisation increases and India develops economically and socially, proper waste-management and recycling are essential. We are using more kinds of inorganic materials and packaging than ever before. I’m happy that organisations like ExNoRa are taking on the challenge of waste management. They definitely get my respect!

Madurai Messenger sustainable living June 2012

Motivated workers collect garbage found on the streets and fields, and bring it to a special garbage collection yard. However, as the ExNoRa philosophy suggests, waste management would be even easier if every single inhabitant of an area helped improve and maintain the sanitation in their home. Correct disposal through awareness and education is vitally important.

Mr. Mohan explained that the main problem in India is that the people aren’t advised that there is a problem and they don’t get educated about how to dispose of waste properly. Of course with such a large population, it is very difficult to control the behaviour of every single inhabitant. Every single person needs to be responsible for their own waste. There also needs to be more regulation, similar to the kind found in Europe and the USA.

Difficult disposalExNoRa had the idea to go from house to house and teach locals about waste management. Of course one serious hurdle in India is that there are very few public bins, and those few bins are often overflowing causing waste to accumulate on the surrounding ground. ExNoRa continues to lobby the government to ask for more bins, but it is a slow process.

Open waste disposal is one of the reasons for widespread diseases in India. It offers ideal conditions for carriers of diseases such as flies mosquitoes, especially the dengue-mosquito, cockroaches and rats. ExNoRa teaches people that they should create their own bin to keep their waste contained.

At the same time, ExNoRa shows people to separate their waste. First of all, they need to separate organic (plant and food) and inorganic waste (plastics and man made materials). Most organic waste can be composted and used as a fertilizer. The inorganic waste should be separated and put in bags provided by ExNoRa: one bag for paper, one for plastic and one for bottles. Separation is necessary before it can be recycled.

Collections and incentives Recycling waste prevents pollution water, land and air. It’s a vital step in the bigger picture of environmental management, and it’s something that everyone in India can contribute be a part of. Every week in Madurai’s urban areas and every fortnight in rural areas, ExNoRa workers collect the bags from every household.

They collect the waste where the governmental garbage collection does not. I was surprised when I found out

that in some areas, especially in rural areas, garbage collection is nonexistent! In these places, ExNoRa adopts the whole business.

It is important that people don’t burn their waste or create their own garbage collection yard somewhere in their neighbourhood. Instead, they should wait until ExNoRa collects their bags. This prevents the risks of getting ill from the unhealthy emissions of the burned waste or diseases from the rotting rubbish. ExNoRa even provides an incentive for correct waste disposal offering Rs. 3 for every kilogram of separated non-paper waste and Rs. 5 per kilogram of paper waste.

According to Mr. Mohan, 90 percent of the people whom they educate are very interested, open-minded, cooperative and have the will to change their attitude relating to waste. Once they understand, most people want a greener and cleaner country, and a higher quality of life.

Motivated mindsThe liberal, social, sensitive and particularly honest and motivated ExNoRa staff were most impressive. Mr. V. Bala, 32, and Mr. A. Chitharavel, 33, apparently have these qualities. Mr. V. Bala has already been working for Madurai-District- ExNoRa for two

V. Bala (32) and Mr. A. Chitharavel (33) ethusiastically tell us about their work at ExNoRa

and a half years. He works for ExNoRa in addition to his job as a dancer. Mr. A. Chitharavel has been working here for six months full time. When I met them, they seemed exhausted after a long of work from 9.30am to 06.00pm. I can imagine that this work must be hard, especially in the heat. I observed how several workers brought big and heavy packages of newspaper into the garbage collection yard, where it gets separated again before being sent to ITC (India Tabacco Company).

ITC India donates the money gained from recycling the waste to different school and education projects. For example they have already built many bathrooms and restaurants in schools. They also sponsor the purchase of notebooks, desks and chairs for students. That’s one of the main-reasons why Mr. A. Chitharavel started working for ExNoRa. He told me about the enjoyable feeling he gets working for a good cause. Mr. V. Bala dreams of a pollution free world. Working for ExNoRa is surely the right path for him. Both men are more than satisfied with their job.

When asked if they can already see an improvement in Madurai’s waste-management, all three members declared: “Yes, people have changed their minds!” How do you become a worker? If you’re interested, you just need to apply to a worker from ExNoRa. If you have the requisite qualities, Mr. Mohan will recommend you.

Start them youngMadurai District ExNoRa is not only going from household to household, they also want to involve the young generation. They visit different schools to give on hour lessons to pupils aged between 10 -15 years about topics such as global warming, solid and liquid waste, separating and recycling waste.

Often the teachers and students are so impressed that they want ExNoRa to come back several times.

I was fortunate to meet R. Balasunder the President of Youth ExNoRa which was founded in Madurai three years ago. Youth-ExNoRa put its focus on the education of and the work with children and young adults. They utilise youth force to create a sustainable society.

First of all, they hold one hour lessons for students older than 16 years. They concentrate on the personal and social education of the students, as well as general education about the environment and conservation. These students then take their new found knowledge and pass it on to people in smaller villages.

They also organize Green Camps of around five-ten days for children under 16 years. The educated students over 16 years are given the opportunity to

“It is important that people don’t burn their waste or create their own garbage collection yard somewhere in their neighbourhood”

ExNoRa workers separate the waste to identify what can be recycled

“As globalisation increases and India develops economically and socially, proper waste-management and recycling are essential. We are using more kinds of inorganic materials and packaging than ever before”

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Biogas is a renewable, carbon-neutral fuel with the potential to help address the power shortage

and environmental pollution in Madurai. Biogas sounds so ideal and has already permeated the North of India but remains relatively uncommon in Tamil Nadu. Eager to learn more, I visited Arul Anandar College to see their recently established biogas plant and discuss this innovative fuel with the Principal, Jesuit priest Dr. Xavier Vedam. I also had the privilege of meeting Selva Basker,

Managing Director of Enviran India, who installs eco-friendly biogas plants across Tamil Nadu.

Useful wasteHuman and kitchen waste currently pollute the streets of India, causing disease, and emitting carbon dioxide as it decomposes, contributing to greenhouse gas emissions. Biogas plants offer a means of anerobically and safely decomposing waste, producing cooking oil and electricity. Biogas therefore

represents a safe and environmentally friendly alternative to expensive liquified petroleum gas (LPG) and health-damaging smoke from wood burning stoves. Aside from the initial installation cost, biogas is free and therefore could save companies, institutions and families sizable amounts of money, combating the rising costs of LPG. With a current international market price of around $1,100 a tonne (the highest price recorded in two years) it seems like an attractive alternative. Waste

Fuelling Innovationbiogas is a renewable energy source made from organic matter such as animal, human, plant and food waste. it presents a sustainable solution to Tamil nadu’s power shortage and has the potential to also address issues of poor sanitation and poverty. at first unsure about the concept, ellie daniel visits arul anandar College in Madurai to learn about this novel idea and see it in action

By Ellie DanielEngland

Dr. Xavier Vedam enthusiastically explains why he thinks biogas is such a success

Madurai Messenger alternatives June 2012

is something that Tamil Nadu is not short of, so if this could be effectively converted to electricity, biogas could become an innovative success in Southern India.

Arul Anandar College has become the first college in Tamil Nadu to collaborate with the New Delhi-based Sulabh International Social Service Organsiation, a pioneering sanitation NGO with a pan India presence, to set up a biogas plant. The moving force behind this project, Dr. Vedam, explained the motivation behind his decision. Previously, waste was simply thrown outside, producing carbon dioxide, and also causing unpleasant and unhygienic site. Staff and students pleaded with him to ”put it in some other place.” He thought long and hard about how to resolve the issue. A biogas plant was a novel idea and an ideal solution.

Presently, the plant is successfully producing cooking gas to provide meals for its 500 male and 180 female students. The gas is made by recycling

kitchen and human waste, or as Dr. Vedam calls it, ‘night soil’ - a rather amusing and less graphic description of what is essentially excretion. When I enquired as to whether Dr. Vedam had plans to develop the project further, he immediately responded, “Yes definitely. The next step is to get electricity and even water. We can purify it and then use it.” Dr. Vedam’s enthusiasm regarding the success of the plant was obvious.

Inconspicuous simplicityThe biogas plant is located inconspicuously behind the bathroom blocks. I was assured that the plant demanded zero maintenance once installed. The ‘night soil’ is transported to the plant via concealed underground pipes.

The waste is contained and decomposed within a circular tank, predominantly producing methane, a gas that can be used for cooking, and travels directly to the kitchen. As soon as the stove is switched on, a constant stream of gas is available. I had pictured an infinitely

more complicated device and was impressed by the smooth operation of the device. If the plant was expanded to process more waste to generate electricity, 100 students, producing 150 kilograms of ‘night soil’ would produce three kilowatts of electricity. Powering fans or light switches through ‘night soil’ is both a humourous and somewhat bizarre idea to me, but something that I would be fascinated to witness as a reality.

Humanitarian rootsEconomically, it is proving a success. The college is now buying 50 percent less LPG cylinders. Dr. Vedam insists, however, that for him, this was not the real attraction of the plant. He is driven by the environmental and humanitarian benefits.

Arul Anandar College was established on the outer fringes of Madurai with an aim to educate the rural population. Dr. Vedam explained that the college was established“for the sake of the poorest of the poor.” He has a vision that his students will explain the benefits of the

The biogas plant in action at Arul Anander College, Madurai

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Similarly, for me, after digesting the idea, observing the plant first hand and seeing the clean, tidy kitchen area, my concerns were alleviated. I considered the aims of Sulabh International and the current poor sanitation in many parts of the country. Surely, reusing human waste to create biogas is less offensive! The religious objection to biogas still remains, but perhaps the use of cow waste, where possible, as opposed to ‘nightsoil’ would prove less offensive to Hindus. In my opinion, it is imperative that more people are educated about this novel initiative.

Dr. Vedam recommends the plant to other colleges and institutions and mentioned that an aquaintance from Chennai had already approached him wishing to install a plant, inspired by Arul Anandar College. It was thrilling to learn that the use of biogas is blossoming, as it seems to have much potential. When I first learned about biogas, I assumed it would merely be an alternative and renewable source of energy. Whilst renewable energy is at the forefront of ideas and solutions to help slow down global warming, a lack of power isn’t the only issue in India that demands some attention. A renewable energy scheme that also aims to eradicate unhygienic and potentially hazardous living conditions due to poor sanitation seems to me to be a revolutionary idea.

Cooking with biogass is a success at Arul Anandar College

Madurai Messenger alternatives June 2012

plant to their families, who will in turn domestic use. He hopes to disseminate the idea of biogas throughout Tamil Nadu as a way to help improve living conditions for people living in poverty.

Dr. Vedam was inspired by sociologist and sanitation activist Dr. Bindeshwar Pathak, founder of Sulabh International, an organisation that seeks to promote environmental sanitation, social reform, and improve working and living conditions for rehabilitated manual scavengers. Sulabh International developed a low cost and efficient toilet system customised to the needs of developing countries, to address the widespread problem of open defecation in India, a major cause of communicable disease.

Currently, half of the homes in India have no toilet and 49 percent of the population still use firewood for cooking, despite the harmful effects of the smoke on human health and the environment.

Recycling human waste into biogas presents a way to create a renewable

energy source and to promote human rights by encouraging people to install plants, avoid the need for manual scavenging, and reduce communicable disease caused by poor sanitation. Dr Bindeshwar Pathak visited the college and granted Rs. 5 lakh to help the college set up the plant in April 2012, and hopes that the college will serve as an example to others in Tamil Nadu.

Spreading ideasArul Anandar’s biogas plant was set up by Selva Basker of Environ India, a well-known environmental consultancy based in Kolkatta. His pride and enthusiasm for the plant and biogas in general was evident, yet this pride was combined with modesty. It was not until the very end of our discussion that Selva revealed that Environ India was not a profit making business, but in fact was a charitable institution, Nova Charitable Trust. He set up the Trust with the intention of creating jobs for young people, and promoting education regarding hygiene and protecting the environment. Initially, Selva received government sponsorship, and now 10 percent from each installed plant goes

towards the next plant he builds, thus helping to spread the idea of biogas.

Selva is currently working on a system to contain and store biogas in cylinders, and also on a portable plant. He feels biogas has the potential to revolutionise the power supply across Tamil Nadu. A man of humility, he was reluctant to take credit for the initiative and was keen to assure me that it was only because of support from his family that he was able to establish the Trust and be a part of this project.

Importance of educationAfter seeing the plant and learning about all its advantages, I was left somewhat confused as to the reasons why biogas is not more widespread in the area, especially given its apparent lack of drawbacks. Indeed, when questioned regarding the success of the plant, Dr. Vedam asserted that, “I don’t think there are any disadvantages, there are only advantages.”

A lack of awareness and education is one factor hindering the spread of biogas in Tamil Nadu. Selva also thinks

Selva Basker of Environ India humbly shows me the biogas plant at Arul Anandar College

that more must be done to ensure that the concept of biogas is understood in rural areas, explaining how he attends farmers clubs, and colleges to advertise his project. I wondered whether there was also resistance to the scheme from some members of the population.

Selva is concerned that along with a lack of education, people are also deterred by the initial cost of installation, which is a minimum of Rs. 10,000. The plant at Arul Anandar College cost Rs. 9.5 lakhs to install and required around 50 people of different professions to build. Although he assured me that within two years the cost of installation would have been covered by the money saved on LPG, for many families Rs.10,000 is too much, even with the 10 percent donated by Environ India.

Challenging tabooFor the first time since hearing about the project I stopped to consider the principle of biogas on a basic level, which is essentially using human excrement to create power with which to cook. I was left feeling a little repulsed by the idea, thinking that in my experience, human waste and cooking are two things which I never assumed should be mixed!

Dr. Vedam stated that the students and staff at the college shared my skepticism initially. In his opinion, a major factor hindering the spread of biogas in Tamil Nadu, is an objection to the use of ‘night soil’ due to Hindu beliefs. It seems that a cultural taboo stands in the way of the progress of biogas.

Dr. V Shobana Bai, Director of Educational Media Research Centre, Madurai Kamaraj University, explained how Hindus, “Don’t even keep toilets inside their houses.” The idea of using human waste in any way to fuel cooking is incredibly controversial. She outlined the use of food as a sacrifice for the Divine and expressed her doubts as to whether Hindu’s could ever adapt to the idea of biogas, saying simply, “Will they be able to accept it?” Dr. Vedam concurred, illustrating how even the Jesuit priests at the college were at first reluctant, questioning how it could be done. However, Dr. Vedam explains that, “Now after seeing that everything is neat and tidy, they like it.”

“A major factor hindering the spread of biogas in Tamil Nadu, is the objection to the use of night soil ... It seems that a cultural taboo stands in the way of the progress of biogas”

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Koonthankulam: an avian Paradise Marie Mcevoy wanders around koonthankulam, a small village in Tamil nadu where she discovers that the symbiosis between humans and birds is as harmonious as the sounds of the birds themselves. full of characters, and even some kollywood claims to fame, this place is not short on charm or community spirit

By Marie McEvoy

England

A drizzly, overcast day in Koonthakulam, Tamil Nadu. Driving past large, flat expanses

of cracked red earth and palm trees into the leafy village dotted with brightly coloured houses, our journey was halted several times as we scrambled out of the car to observe the fascinating array of exotic birds cawing and chirping overhead. This almost deafening chorus of birdsong was – somewhat eerily - almost the only noise that could be heard in the area, apart from our cries of awe.

PlaceSituated 38 km away from Tirunelveli, Koothankulam is over 500 years old, with 343 houses and a population of between 2,200 and 2,400 people of almost equal numbers male and female. The village has no Muslim dwellers - 70 percent of the people are Hindu, and the rest are Christian. Although a mainly agricultural village, there is a strong emphasis on education here, with 80 percent of school children progressing to higher secondary education, and 20 percent moving on to more advanced studies such as university or college. More often than not, these people return to Koonthankulam after completing their education. The life expectancy is high, with the eldest villager being an incredible 90 years old, and the biggest cause of mortality, being just old age. One of its biggest

Recognise this place? M. G. Ramasubbu’s famous house has featured in Kollywood films such as Dum Dum

Madurai Messenger village voices June 2012

“The more you look around this seemingly sleepy area, the more you

realise what a wealth of different characters and situations can be

unearthed”

Parotta Queen Anthony Amman (45) cooks up tasty breads for visitors at her restaurant

Star athlete C.D. Shamini Pryanka (17) has big plans to become a doctor rather than play throwball professionally

draws, of course, is the Tamil Nadu Forest Department’s Bird Sanctuary, open since 1994 and home to a myriad of breeds, and, of course, self-taught bird watcher Pal Pandi.

Production and LabourThe main source of income for the people of the village is the growing and selling of rice, plantain, and a variety of other pulse crops. Over half of the jobs are in farming, and the rest, wage work connected to the industry, such as delivery drivers. There is currently no entry fee to visit the bird sanctuary, however, there are plans to charge in the future. The influx of tourists is instead currently used as an opportunity to spread awareness about bird conservation, and in particular educate children about the importance and benefits of planting trees.

2726 Iyengar, founder of the TVS Group of companies, is only around an hour from Koothankulam, so the TVS is closely connected to this village and district. They made all the fencing for the bird sanctuary and built walls for the school. Dhadiveeran, 26, Panchayath office secretary, is also hoping to rectify the drainage system and drinking water for the village in the coming years. He told us there is an ample amount now but there, “Will not be enough for the future.”

The people in the village also have to tolerate up to twelve hours a day with no power, and are waiting for the Koondakulum nuclear power plant to be up and running. Luckily, it is believed that the plant will not pose a threat to the birds, although this is a place where people and nature are so intertwined, it would not be surprising if the populace chose to sacrifice a more comfortable way of life as long as their feathered comrades remain unharmed. Koonthankulam is an inspiring example of how humans and animals can live together in peace and contentment.

Farmer M. Muruga, (42) would never dream of alarming the birds that land on the rice paddy

Madurai Messenger village voices June 2012

PeopleWe spoke to M. Murugan, 42, a worker on 2.5 acres of rice paddy fields. Several birds regularly land on the farm, but he said he would never disturb them. He has been farming all his life, and learned his agricultural skills from his father in early childhood. “It is an ancestral job,” he told us. A father himself, the eldest of his three boys has followed him into the farming trade. Having finished his education aged around 10, he hopes for his younger two sons aged 13 and 15, will continue their studies.

Shortly after, we called in for a spot of lunch at the Parotta stall, a small thatched hut where we were treated to delicious homemade parottas made by Anthony Ammal, 45. Originally from Tirunelveli, she moved to Koothankulam after marrying 30 years ago, and has owned the restaurant for 20 years. Adjusting to life in a small village from a town was, she confessed, “Boring

at first,” she confessed, but when she encountered the variety of birds, and became used to their sounds, she soon grew to like it. The birds are good for business too, as people coming to visit the village will call ahead to give numbers, allowing her to source enough ingredients in time to meet their order.

She told us that there is a real sense of unity within the village, and not just due to the birds. In agreement was P.S, 65, a customer at the stall and farmer who supplies the restaurant with vegetables, who had lived there for all but five years of his life. He described to us how the combination of human and avian life is a harmonious one: “It’s just another living being we are together with. Every village will grow a hen or a goat or a cow, but it’s only in this village that we grow with the birds.” Although there are no rules in place, the village is so tranquil because there is an unspoken understanding that no one makes

excessive noise that may agitate the birds. Diwali, for instance, is a very hushed affair.

A further example of the enduring community spirit is during the months of ‘aadi avani’ (mid July and mid August). There are different castes within Koonthankulam, each with its own temple and consequently different festivals that take place, yet everyone, regardless of belief, is invited to attend.

Koonthankulam is not just about cultivation of crops and life with winged friends. The more you look around this seemingly sleepy area, the more you realise what a wealth of different characters and situations can be unearthed. We discovered that the village also plays host to several Kollywood directors such as K.Balachander from time to time, or at least one house in particular has made its mark on the big screen. The grand

“It’s just another living being we are together with. Every village will grow a hen or a goat or a cow, but it’s only in this village that we grow with the birds”

Welcome to Koothankulam: The Panchayat office is hard to miss as you enter the village

structure belongs to M.G Ramasubbu, 70, and has been in his family for 150 years. Not only is its hall a setting for many a famous Tamil movie marriages, like the scenes from Dum Dum Dum and Yarudi ni Mohini, but M.G himself got married there in 1961, just like his father before him in 1940. True to Koothankulam form, not only does he receive an income from letting his house out to film companies, but he also owns 50 acres of farmland.

Another claim to fame comes in the form of C.D. Shamini Pryanka, 17, a national player of throw ball and former captain of the Tamil Nadu throw ball team. Falling into the sport quite by accident at school, she demonstrated a flair and her team has since gone on to place third in the state. She has no plans to turn professional, however, as her family’s wish is for her to use her excellent grades to become a doctor. Her father is also in medicine, so she said, “It is my destiny.”

Problems and ProspectsAlthough the village has public toilet facilities available, only 20 percent of the public use them. One of the biggest

problems Koonthankulam faces is the widespread lack of knowledge of how they function, and the unwillingness of the people to learn; thus residents are still defecating openly in the streets and creating sanitation problems. Over 200 houses have been provided with a subsidiary amount of Rs.3,000 from the government, and self-help groups have been set up to build and maintain the toilets.

S. M. Murugan, 44, has held the position of President of the village until 2016. Before he started, he was working as a social worker for the village, so he already had background knowledge of the area and its schools. The government also runs a ‘Namakku Naama Thittam’ (form your own scheme) initiative, where they provide 25 percent of the funding to match the collector’s 75 percent, if they are looking to finance an idea. Several self help groups (SHGs) have been set up in the village this way, and several women have been given cows by the Magress Trust so that they can become self-sufficient.

Thirukurungundi, the birthplace of well-known industrialist T.V. Sundara Raja

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A People’s Passion for Birdskoonthakulam village is a prime example of people’s initiative and participation in protecting and cherishing the rich avian life that the village has been playing host to for several years. The passion and commitment of the people is a powerful reminder that conservation is everybody’s business and not to be left to star campaigners and scientists

By Ariane Lecuyer

France

For the last 300 years, Koonthankulam has harboured humans and birds in harmonious coexistence. This small village 240 km from Madurai, is a flat area

where the horizon is only broken by some distant palm and coconut trees. It’s in this peaceful environment, made up of rice plantations and the Tambaraparani River, that 2,000 inhabitants have grown up with a love and attention for birds.

In 1982, the Tamil Nadu Forest Department started a major reforestation programme by planting trees to provide nesting sites for birds. Immediately there was an increase in the number of local and migratory birds in the area. which triggered an important step in awareness for the people of Koonthankulam. The residents decided to set up a community-led bird conservation programme. On 30 August 1994, an area spanning 1.2933 square kilometres was officially registered as protected. Today, the area shelters more than 230 different species of birds.

We spent an entire day at Koonthankulam Bird Sanctuary to learn about the popular migratory and resident ground nesting and water birds in the sanctuary. Pal Pandi, a 63 year-old self-taught bird watcher is passionate about birds and is an important member of the community. As our guide for the day, he showed us around the sanctuary and explained everything about his flying friends. He is a perfect example of the unbelievable bonding between humans and birds so special in this area.

An unspoken bondEvery year, two lakhs of tourists visit the Koonthankulam sanctuary to see birds in their natural habitat. There are no professional guides, and no entry fee. This community doesn’t see bird tourism as a means of making money, but rather as an opportunity to spread awareness about bird conservation.

Pal Pandi and his team, all self-taught anthropologists, always take some time to share their knowledge about birds

All trees in Koonthankulam are used by storks to tranquilly nest side by side with humans

Madurai Messenger Conservation June 2012

and explain the scientific approach to protect them. Their wish to protect birds comes from their heart and not from external compulsions as it is for many other community-led programmes. Indeed, in India, as in Africa, community-led programmes are often created by an external agency in response to a crisis that threatens surrounding fauna and flora. The community of Koonthankulam, however, takes a proactive approach, understanding the importance of protecting their natural environment before it is too late.

People in Koonthankulam believe that birds bring with them prosperity and abundance to the village, Such devotion and

respect is taught from generation to generation through parental instruction but also through awareness classes at school. Children learn that their sanctuary cannot exist without efforts from each of them. Indeed, when 2,000 people are working together with the same goal, the result can only be a cascade.

Because of the community ownership and participation, it is the best example of a people’s conservation movement. The people have enforced specific rules to ensure that they don’t disturb the birds. The people follow the rules both in letter and spirit. For example, firecrackers are debarred in the village as is fishing in the lake. Palavasam, 30, a local resident, said that even if she sees birds disturbing her house she will never chase them away.

Unfortunately not all visitors to the village follow the rules. Some have tried to hunt or catch birds in order to sell them. The punishment for harming or capturing birds is serious. When Pal Pandi was young, they would shave the criminal and make him go around the village on a donkey. More recently, just three years ago, some people from Chennai stole painted stork eggs. Muthiah, 65, a local farmer, told us with pride how they tirelessly tracked down the two criminals who had to pay a fine of Rs. 3,000 each.

Nevertheless birds are not seen just as animals to be protected. For the residents of Koonthankulam, it is the birds that give the village its beauty and thus its popularity. P. Muthumari and M. Isaki Raja, both in class six, told us with shyness about their love for birds because of their beautiful colours, especially when flying. Even C.D. Sharmini Priyanta, 17, who at first complained that she was bored of birds, admitted that she enjoys watching them on her roof top when she is not feeling good. She likes to watch birds even in the rain or sunshine.

Grace and beautyRed lapwing, water bee eater, painted stork… these names were totally unknown to me before my visit to the sanctuary. Yet, I now have the feeling that I have shared a piece of my Indian experience with all of them. We didn’t have the chance to see the popular flamingoes, which attract tourists from all

Pal Pandi (63) is passionate about birds. He passes on his knowledge to the younger generation in Koonthankulum

“People in Koonthankulam believe that birds bring with them prosperity

and abundance to the village, Such devotion and respect is taught from

generation to generation”

We found some Red Water Lapwing’s eggs with Pal Pandi. His tracking skills are remarkable

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you will be welcomed by the chirping of painted storks and friendly smiles from the people. Most importantly, you will witness the obvious and strong union between two creatures, human and bird.

Madurai Messenger Conservation June 2012

over India for their grace and beautiful plumage. This was simply because an unseasonal cyclonic storm had interfered with their migratory path.

The most exciting part of our bird watching was when we walked discreetly on the grass to get as close as possible to the birds. I felt like a secret agent. However, we realised quite quickly that tracing the birds by small details or markings on the ground or on trees was rather difficult. Fortunately, we had Pal Pandi with us!

It seems that he knows every centimetre of this huge area like the palm of his hand. Despite his 60-odd years, he has impressively sharp eyes. After spending ten minutes looking at a brushwood mass, we still couldn’t see anything interesting and were wondering why he had stopped here. He then showed us a miniscule chick, which was only a few days old, sleeping in a sand crevice. We would never have seen the chick on our own!

At times we were just talking and walking together, when suddenly Pandi would stop us to point out a nest, which we would otherwise have either not noticed or trampled with our feet if he had not warn us. The experience wasn’t just about bird watching, it was also about sharing Pal Pandi’s passion.

All consuming passionPal Pandi himself was as fascinating as the birds. He has the capacity to turn an ordinary sand hole into an enchanting story by explaining that it is home to a water bee eater. His passion is so powerful and easily absorbed by everybody

“The most exciting part of our bird watching was when we walked

discreetly on the grass to get as close as possible to the birds. I felt like a

secret agent”

around him. It’s an all consuming passion and Pal Pandi’s life is literally linked to his beloved birds. His wife, China thayi, died three years ago due to bird flu that she contacted because of close mingling with the birds. Just a few days before she passed away, his wife said to him, “Even if now I’m dying of bird flu, I don’t want you to stop your involvement with birds. Keep working with birds, until the end of your life. I want you to look after birds as I would have done.” One thing is certain, despite the pain, he following her instructions.

We discovered Pal Pandi to be a gentle caring man who takes care of the birds as if they were his own children. When we first arrived, he showed us some baby painted storks which just fallen down from their nest. To fall down like this is usually means they will not survive because of starvation,breathing problems or because of broken bones. . Of course our bird loving Pal Pandi rescued them by putting a tube in their mouth and blowing into it to help them breathe. He also put splints on their broken bones. He does all of this with no veterinary training. He has learnt these techniques on the job.

It was a sweet moment to see him showering these small baby storks. Immediately, the chicks stopped screeching and seemed to be totally relaxed and reassured with them. Here, we saw for ourselves that this strong love comes from both sides. He has an extraordinary bond with birds. They are able to recognise him and must accept his purpose and presence in this sanctuary. We learn that it is only because of him that we able to get so close to the eggs without being attack by their parents.

Muthumari and M. Isaki Raja, both in class six: The next generation who will

take care of birds

“I love all birds,” he told us with his hand on his heart when we asked him which bird was his favourite. He then started to describe the moment when the mother pelican feeds her baby. It is his most touching memory with birds. In this particular moment, a five kilogram bird seemed so helpless that he couldn’t stay impassive. The baby’s eyes were not open yet and its coordination wasn’t

what it should be. He insisted that even the strongest person would melt if they saw it.

One day is surely not long enough to truly discover all the different species of birds that come here. And yet, just a few minutes are enough to feel the character and magic of this place. As soon as you arrive in Koonthankulam

Storks fly all over the sky give to this small village a fairy tale atmosphere

M. Chokalingam (54) is working as a forest guard at the bird sanctuary. He works closely with Pal Pandi to ensure that the birds are proteded day and night.

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Where our day began... Gnanasekaran’s field of Nila Sampangi,commonly known as the Mexican Tuberrose

Madurai Messenger journalists get the chance to have many new experiences ‘all in the name of a story.’ deciding that a little dirt won’t hurt, our Journalism Manager and sub editor, ingelise Jones, takes her team to visit the Projects abroad model farm for some hands on research and hard work. To her surprise, it turns into a day of many pleasures

Unearthing pleasures

In the quiet space of my mind, heavy amidst the fog from a sleepless night in sweltering heat, all I could hear

was the squelching sounds that my bare feet made as I sunk into the mud. It oozed between my toes in a refreshingly cool manner. The earth engulfed my ankles and crept up my calves. Suddenly all my senses were alert… I woke up properly to discover that I was on a farm in rural India.

In contrast to our busy lives as journalists in Madurai, the Projects Abroad model farm offered a welcomed change of pace, occupation and scenery. Established in December 2010, the farm is located in Chinnupatti, 65 kilometres from Madurai, and is the centerpiece of the Conservation Project. Under the guidance of passionate Project Manager Raisa Dawood (see ‘A Model Manager’ p. 38), conservation volunteers get a chance to learn about organic farming, work the land, help spread awareness about environmental conservation and support the organic movement. Today was our opportunity to learn and contribute!

Delicate beginningsWaking up at 4.50am for a 5.30am start was unlikely to get much of a response from the volunteers, but their commitment to the task was nothing short of stoic. Marie McEvoy (UK), Ariane Lecuyer (France), Kourei Yoshibe (Japan), Rebecca Geiselmann (Germany) and an extra volunteer from the

By Ingelise JonesMelbourne, Australia

Our volunteers brave the mud on a local farm

Madurai Messenger Conservation June 2012

Medical Project, Amy Baker (UK), all surprised me with their enthusiasm. I smiled with pride and thought to myself, “True journalists... Anything in the name of a story!”

We were scheduled to help a couple of different farmers who are working with Raisa to trial organic methods on their land. First we joined French volunteer Ariane Lecuyer (20) for her ‘A Day in the Life of a Farmer’ story (p.42) with local farmer Gnanasekaran.

Spread out in a field of Nila Sampangi, commonly known as the Mexican tuber rose, we had the delicate task of removing small blossoming flowers from the stalks - a technique practiced to ensure that when the time is right to pick them to sell to market, all the buds will be blossoming at the same time. Slipping and sliding in the mud with ominous clouds overhead, we worked our way around the field at a much slower pace than Gnanasekaran and his wife.

Ariane loved this part of the day, and due to the incessant rain, it was probably the hardest she worked all day! “In the beginning, I thought my day would involve very hard work with crops and animals. I was surprised by how peaceful it was to pick flowers,” Ariane enthused.

“For me, that’s the life of a farmer! Not what I expected, but I liked it! It’s lovely to be a farmer in this way. The weather was not too hot. I decided that if this is the life of a farmer, then I’m ok, I could be a farmer!” Ariane obviously got a lucky break with the rain and a somewhat censored version of a farmer’s life!

Show and tellProjects Abroad works with local farmers like Gnanasekaran in the hope that they will convert their farms to organic. However, talking to farmers about the benefits of organic farming isn’t enough. They need to be shown. It’s a method that Raisa excels in. The model farm acts as an example for local farmers to see for themselves what can be achieved through organic and natural farming methods. Open days are held to showcase the many different crops. If you set an example and prove that organic and natural methods work, then the farmers tend to follow. The concept behind organic farming is to work with nature rather than against it. Raisa’s efforts to engage with farmers is a continuous cycle. Once farmers begin to adopt or trial organic methods, farmers are then visited regularly for follow up conversations and support.

Working up a sweatAfter a delicious breakfast from Mrs. Rajam’s family our adopted host family for the day, we ventured on foot to their family farm to help with their Moringa trees (more commonly known as ‘drumsticks’). In teams of two we dug holes about two metres away from the tree and applied a vermicompost and Panchakavya (an organic fertilizer made with cow dung, curd, cow urine, milk and ghee).

As Marie McEvoy (24) described, “It was hard work! But it was good to get active. It was great to do something that had tangible results. I don’t know that people realise just how much work goes into growing vegetables. The sweat and the blisters were well worth it.“

It was a fitting task for Marie, who had recently acquired knowledge of organic farming in her research for this month’s cover story ‘Community Focus for Conservation’ (p. 1).

Kourie Yoshibe said, “I enjoyed digging holes but found it very hot. “ He also liked meeting Raisa and her team, especially Ian Wood, a conservation volunteer.

Signs of changeAs we wandered the streets of this charming village, we were rather impressed to stumble across specially marked ‘Projects

“In the beginning, I thought my day would involve very hard work with crops and animals. I was surprised by how peaceful it was to pick flowers”

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Organic moringa (more commonly known as the drumstick) is a popular vegetable in South Indian diet

Kourei Yoshibe (Japan) digs a hole for the organic fertilizer used on the moringa tree

Abroad’ bins. Of course, one of the project’s key themes is community awareness.

Raisa has developed an outreach programme that includes education and promotional aspects to raise awareness among locals. Together with her volunteers, they try to engage at every level of the Chinnupatti community. Among their many activities, they work with local schools to teach children about organic farming and food. It is hoped that this approach will create a ripple effect… If the children of farmers learn about organic farming and conservation, they will go home to share what they’ve learnt with their parents.

Community CharmVolunteers not only learn about organic farming, they also get to mingle with locals and be a part of the Chinnupatti community. Like all Projects Abroad programmes, one of the aims is to foster a mutually beneficial exchange between international volunteers and locals.

Each volunteer who comes here brings their own ideas and skills. Raisa quickly observes each new volunteer to ensure that they contribute to the project in a constructive and effective way. One of the biggest challenges she faces is the constant change in numbers. Some volunteers stay for

months, others stay only a couple of weeks. It sometimes makes it difficult for her to plan. Luckily she has two reliable project coordinators who support her everyday, Rajapandi. D and Thangapandi. K.

To describe the welcome we received as warm would be an understatement. It’s quite obvious that all the volunteers who have stayed here before us, have begun a legacy.

Dreams come trueMarie McEvoy (24) had been talking about washing cattle for days. She’d even announced it to friends back home in England, so it was a ‘must-do’ on our agenda. Even as the rain persisted, and the likelihood of this task being done diminished, it was clear that she wasn’t going to be truly happy until her dream became a reality.

The model farm is home to three beautiful native Indian calves. Cows are of course an integral part of the Indian way of life, sacred in Hinduism, and of course a key resource for organic fertilizers.

“It was an experience like no other!” Marie exclaimed. “At first I felt some tension from the cow, but it wasn’t long before we became friends.”

The Projects Abroad model farm in Chinnupatti is home to many different sorts of organic crops including coconuts and

bananas

Madurai Messenger Conservation June 2012

“It was simpler than I expected and the calf was really well behaved! I felt a real bond. A special moment between human and animal,” she continued, confessing, “It was a brief love affair, but I was satisfied by the end! And I think the cow had a good time too. It was so calm. I wasn’t expecting that!”

We all marvelled at this cute little creature and discussed our adoration for our new friend. I must confess I had my own strong desire to wash a cow, but alas Marie’s conviction to undertake the task won out. I had to be content with my role as photographer.

Thatching talentsNo task seemed too difficult for this group. Next life skill on the agenda: weaving palm leaves to make a thatched roof. Several palm leaves lay before us. Somehow we were to weave them together. After carefully observing the demonstration, we dived in.

Marie McEvoy ‘s dream comes true as she washes a calf on the model farm

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Rebecca Geiselmann (19) seemed rather taken with the whole experience. “It was really interesting for me because I could really see the difference between highly educated people leading a city life and the farmers who are working in a traditional way. They have so much knowledge, but less formal education. It was a different world for me,” she explained.

Our experience of farm life in Chinnupatti was everything we hoped it would be and more. As we literally took pieces of the farm with us on the bus (yes, we were covered in mud!), we all passed out from our long day. Thoroughly tired but inspired, we all agreed that we had learnt a lot and will take our new found knowledge and happy memories with us to our home countries.

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Ariane Lecuyer (France) and Ingelise Jones (Australia) try their hand at

thatching palm fronds

The technique required us to squat down, weave the left edge of one frond to the right edge of another. Using our hands we wove the leaves together in a tight cross hatch and used our feet to flatten the weave.

Having never done anything like this before, I was astonished to find that it came naturally. Modesty aside, after just a minute or two I was weaving away in a rhythmic fashion at a rapid pace. I have no idea where it came from, but off I went! Whether I was an Indian in a past life or it was an uncanny fluke, I absolutely relished this job and didn’t want to stop!

Beaming with a sense of accomplishment for my new found talent, I have assured all my friends and family that should they ever get stranded on a desert island with me, I will be able to build us some shelter!

As Ariane said, “I don’t know if I will ever use this skill again in all my life, but it was very cool to learn!”

Many hands…Our final duty for the day was to build a pen for the farm chickens. The stems of dried palm fronds were pushed into the soil with the leaves pointing upright in an overlapping pattern to form a square

10 x 10 metres. It was remarkable how simple it was. It was a true team effort as some volunteers made the holes for the stems with a crow bar, while others inserted the fronds. Finally the fronds were tied together with string. The end result was a very fine looking pen if we do say so ourselves!

Tired but inspiredNo matter who joins the project, whether for a day or for a month, the objective is to work as a team towards a common goal. In just one day, we certainly felt a part of Raisa’s team and the bigger picture.

“The technique required us to squat down, weave the left edge of one frond to the right edge of another. Using our hands we wove the leaves together in a tight cross hatch and used our feet to flatten the weave”

Palm leaves are woven together in a continuous thatched pattern Dried palm fronds were placed upright in the ground to

create a fence for the hen pen on the model farm

Marie McEvoy (England) posing candidly with one of the dried palm fronds used to make the hen pen

Rebecca Geiselmann (Germany) loved her day on the farm and described it as “a different world”

Madurai Messenger Conservation June 2012

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A Model Manager Projects abroad managers play a vital role in facilitating memorable experiences for international volunteers and the local community in which they work. ariane lecuyer sits down with raisa dawood, the manager of the conservation project to discover a passionate woman as eager to bring about a local organic revolution as she is to support and educate the farmers and volunteers she works with

By Ariane LecuyerFrance

When the Journalism team recently visited the Projects Abroad model farm in Chinnupatti, a small village 65 kilometres from Madurai, I got the

chance to meet the project’s manager, Raisa Dawood. At just 31, she has a wealth of knowledge about organic farming and a passion to spread its benefits to local farmers with the help of foreign volunteers. A strikingly caring woman, she was most concerned about my comfort and happiness during our interview. It was noticing this trait that led me to realise that she has an admirable inner strength – a strength that helps her deal with farmers and volunteers every day. The whole project rests on her strong shoulders, and she leads it with sturdy conviction. Excerpts from the interview.

How long have you been working for Projects Abroad and what is exactly your job? I have been working for Projects Abroad for the last two years. My job is to manage all aspects of the conservation project, which means managing our model farm and overseeing organic projects at local farms. I work with local farmers and I manage volunteers, as well as general administration.

What were you doing before you started with Projects Abroad? I was taking care of my father’s business. He had a lime stone farm used for toothpaste and medicine. I started to work with him right after I completed college before I joined Projects Abroad. I saw this job advertised online. I just wanted to have a change, to do something for myself.

What interests you about organic farming? Health. When I entered college, I heard a lot about cancers and medical problems in farmers caused by chemical farming. When some of my paternal family members were affected by cancer, I decided that I had to do something! I started to learn more by myself, mostly by reading, but I soon realised that it was not enough and decided to take courses. The

For the last two years, Raisa has working for Projects Abroad. She is passionate about her job and never stops smiling!

Madurai Messenger Profile June 2012

farm. It was a busy time but I like to keep myself engaged in something.

How do you get farmers interested in organic farming? Actually the first thing I do is study the farmer. I try to learn how many hectares of land he has, which crops are growing there, and how can I help him. I will then decide to focus on one idea. I can’t simply come to his house and say, “Chemicals are bad.” He will not listen to me. My method is to focus on one crop or one organic fertilizer, make it grow naturally on the model farm and then show him the results. Then I invite him to come to the model farm to see how it works. Here he will see all the other crops and organic things that he could do as well and he will start to ask, “What is that?” “How does it work?”

The thing is that I was a farmer, so I know how they are thinking. I had the same problem when I wanted to turn my farm from chemical to organic. My own farmers disagreed with me and even threatened to quit their jobs. The only solution I had was to concretely show them how organic fertilizers work. I tried it on a portion of a field, and they saw the progression with their own eyes.

Volunteers are an essential part of the project. How do farmers react to the volunteers? Are they comfortable working with volunteers?They are a bit scared. In the beginning, they are not confident with foreigners working on their field. However, after one month, sometimes less, they are able to see some results. This is the most important stage of the process, because it will be the moment where the farmer will start to sincerely trust us.

After seeing that volunteers are waking up at the same time as them and going to the market with them, they realise that they can work with him as hard as him. I even remember one Japanese volunteer, called Shimoka, who was really fast, even faster than the farmers. Our farmer was so impressed that he asked him if he had experience working on a farm in Japan, but it was actually just because he was genuinely interested and wanted to work hard.

What challenges do you face with volunteers? Everybody has different abilities. The most important thing is to get to know the volunteer and be sure that I give each one the right tasks. Most of the time, after one week I will know. The aim is to then to find something which interests him or her but will also help the project. If just one volunteer decides to stop working all the previous work done by previous volunteers will be ruined. They have to understand that it’s a community project. The problem is that organic farming is a long term project but volunteers are not here for a long time. Therefore, when they arrive, I have to explain to them at which stage of the project

The model farm is located in Chinnupatti. The farm enables Raisa to show farmers how organic farming methods work and the yields they produce

we are in but also explain that they may not be able to see the final result with their own eyes. For that, I befriend them on facebook and try to give regular updates about the project. When they see the results, they are happy.

Did you choose to locate the project in Chinnupatti? And if so, why?Yes, I did choose Chinnupatti. Projects Abroad gave me the total freedom to choose it. We actually started in Sivakasi and then moved to a village called Ullar in 2003, but we had too many problems with the weather there. It was too hot for the volunteers to work outside, and people with very fair skin were dangerously burning. In addition, they didn’t have proper water and only one bus every hour to go to a place with an ATM, shops, hospital etc. It was actually the Projects Abroad Care Project Manager who recommended this place to me. He works with an orphanage here and so he knew that it was the kind of village I was looking for. Chinnupatti is not so far from Madurai, with tolerant farmers and cool weather… The idea arrived after several months of searching.

Living in Chinnupatti, do you find it hard to always be surrounded by the people and farmers you work with? My hometown of Tirunelveli is further south of Madurai so I needed to live closer. Because I start to work at 7.15am every day, it makes sense to live here. I have to wake up at 5.30am

more I learned, the more interested I became, and I haven’t stopped since.

In 2002, I began to practice organic farming on my own land, and after graduation in 2005, I worked solely on the

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What are your plans for the next five years? I have so many things to do! The most important is a reforestation project. I want to plant trees in each of the surrounding communities to attract species of birds and small animals, as well as to reduce air pollution. We have already contacted the local Panchayat and told them that they don’t have to do anything, we will do the entire reforestation by ourselves and they accepted. The first step is done, but it will be a long process of course.

A woman of patience and convictionRaisa Dawood seems to have found her personal way to happiness. Her achievements come from her impressive patience and a conviction to work towards a better future. Step by step, the farmers that she works with are starting to change to organic. Even if the fight is not yet won, the process is underway.

When I tried to ask her more personal questions, she immediately came back to her work, which led me to think that her work is her life. Raisa, a mix of sweetness and strength, is an inspiring woman who would do anything for nature. “It sounds crazy, but I love what I do!” she said laughing.

Raisa is always ready to help farmers. She spends most of her time working in the fields or on the model farm

You know, when you pursue your passions, you don’t mind about anything. This work makes me happy. I go back every weekend to my parents’ house to see my family, but to be honest, I don’t have the time to miss them. Just this morning, my mum called me and said: “This is Friday, are you coming home? You have a mom, don’t forget it.” It’s true that in the beginning it was a bit hard at times but once I started to get feedback from farmers and colleagues, things became better. Now people welcome me or even congratulate me for my efforts. All of this gives me more confidence and makes things easier.

Chinnupatti is a Christian village. Have you encountered any problems because you are a Muslim or because you are a woman?I never focus on these aspects. My only focus is on organic farming. Of course, I expected to have some difficulties when I arrived here. But so far, I’ve had no problems being a Muslim in a Christian village. On the contrary, as a woman, I do have some difficulties because it’s a small Indian village. I have learned, however that only if you care does it become a problem. I focus on the work because the work speaks for itself. I know what I’m doing, and my host family knows it as well, so they support me.

Of course, some of the farmers I know talk about me behind my back, but I don’t mind. The only thing I have to be sure about is my team. I choose people who are like minded and are educated enough to realise that my religion and gender are not handicaps.

What are your relationships like with farmers? We are friends. We have to be friendly if we want to convince them. Now, they start to ask us to buy them some farming machines, they even told me: “Can you please ask your company to take over my farm?” I regularly have to remind them that we are a private company and not the government or a charity trust.

How many farmers are you working with? The number goes up and down but, today, I’m working with more than five farmers, one orphanage and a community center. The Community Centre Development is a trust that has many programmes to help the local community. We are working with them because they have a very good medicinal garden and some farming skills. Our aim is to connect farmers that they are helping with our own organic project.

The orphanage is located 20 km away from Chinnupatti. Here, we planted trees and vegetables, and we also started a vermi compost. Thanks to us, the children can eat healthy food and work with nature by picking vegetables and watering the garden.

Madurai Messenger Profile June 2012

british volunteer Marie Mcevoy hosts this month’s Culture kitchen and wows everyone with her delectable crumpets and dainty cucumber sandwiches. Complete with a home made tiered tray, just like you’d find in the posh hotels of england, she adds a delicate touch of class to our afternoon

Recreating the Ritz

By Marie McEvoyEngland

When assigned the task of creating a British themed culture kitchen workshop, it was a little more difficult to come up with an idea than I first

imagined. Britain is a very multi-cultural society, which makes for an ideal melting pot of cuisines, so it was time to pare it back to the basics and see what fodder actually originated in jolly old England!

What could be more quintessentially British than a classic Victoria sponge (two light, airy cake layers sandwiched with cream and jam)? It even shares its name with one of our queens! Regal and delicious, it seemed the perfect suggestion… if you have an oven. Alas, the only options available to us were a stove or a microwave, and I highly doubted whether the end result of either method would prove edible.

Perhaps a hearty portion of fish and chips - battered and deep-fried, sprinkled liberally with salt and swimming in vinegar? This traditional British meal brings back memories of beach holidays in England, where enduring sand blowing in your face and seagulls trying to steal your lunch was a rite of passage for any native child. However, I am ashamed to admit that I have never made chips in my entire life. I confess. I’m not a stereotypical Briton. I must also admit that I was not much tea drinker either, until I came to India!

And talking of tea – a love of people both here and at home alike – it suddenly seemed so obvious. A traditional English afternoon tea! Take note - this is not to be confused with ‘high’ tea – a considerably heavier meal usually involving meat or fish, taken by the middle to lower classes after a hard day’s work.

Afternoon tea was in fact the brain child of Anna Russell, the 7th Duchess of Bedford around the nineteenth century. It started as a pot of tea and some light refreshments to fill the gap between breakfast and dinner, and quickly caught on throughout the upper social classes. In more recent times, it is mainly served in up market hotels, a big lure for tourists coming for a proper ‘British’ experience.

Standard tea items include finger sandwiches (without crusts) cut into a variety of shapes, with fillings such as cucumber,

egg, and cheese (I included tomato with mine), scones with jam and cream, or pastries and/or small cakes, all presented on a tiered tray. During my research, I even found some menus offering fruits dipped in melted chocolate and a flute of champagne. So, to add a touch of class, I decided to bring the Ritz Hotel to Pasumalai with some sparkling apple juice and chocolate coated strawberries.

Delia Smith is one of the goddesses of cooking in England – she’s terrifically British, and has numerous books and television shows. I found a recipe on her website for crumpets, a delicious, fluffy item, packed with holes for the topping of your choice to dribble through when served hot.

Projects Abroad’s Nadia Chellam tucks in to an egg mayonnaise sandwich (minus the crust!)

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Delia Smith – Crumpets (www.deliaonline.com) Serves: 4-6 (total: 12 crumpets)Preparation Time: 30 minutesCooking Time: 10 minutes

Ingredients: 8 oz (225 g) strong plain flour 1 level teaspoon salt 1 level tablespoon dried yeast 1 level teaspoon caster sugar ½ pint (275 ml) milk

You will need a thick-based frying pan, some egg cooking rings and a little lard.

Method:Heat the milk and 2 fl oz (55 ml) water together in a small saucepan till they are ‘hand hot’. Then pour into a jug, stir in the sugar and dried yeast and leave it in a warm place for 10-15 minutes till there is a good frothy head on it.

Meanwhile, sift the flour and salt into a mixing bowl. Make a well in the centre. Then, when the yeast mixture is frothy, pour it all in. Next use a wooden spoon to work the flour into the liquid gradually and beat well at the end to make a perfectly smooth batter. Cover the basin with a tea-towel and leave to stand in a warm place for about 45 minutes - by which time, the batter will have become light and frothy.

To cook the crumpets: grease the insides of the egg rings well, and grease the frying pan as well before placing it over a medium heat. Arrange the rings in the frying pan and, when the pan is hot, spoon 1 tablespoon of the crumpet batter into each ring. Let them cook for 4 or 5 minutes: first tiny bubbles will appear on the surface and then, suddenly, they will burst, leaving the traditional holes.

Now take a large spoon and fork, lift off the rings and turn the crumpets over. Cook the crumpets on the second side for about 1 minute only. Re-grease and reheat the rings and pan before cooking the next batch of crumpets.

Serve the crumpets while still warm, generously buttered. If you are making crumpets in advance, then reheat them by toasting lightly on both sides before serving.

Madurai Messenger Culture kitchen June 2012

Marie’s delicious crumpets

In the absence of my Victoria sponge dream, I was also eager to make some shortcake biscuits filled with whipped cream and fruit.

The ingredients for this feast seemed simple enough to obtain – initially. Sandwich items were easy to locate, as was the carbonated apple juice and paper plates to make our tiered stand. Tracking down strawberries, cream, flour and yeast for the crumpets, however, was a logistical nightmare. After just over two hours of trawling around various large supermarkets and the Essence shop, a specialist store that supplies bakers in the area, we found the yeast. I quickly concocted a contingency plan in the face of a lack of whipping cream – I spotted a packaged Swiss Roll, a thin sponge cake spread with jam and cream and rolled up - in Shoppers Shop. This did not actually originate in the United Kingdom – or Switzerland for that matter - but is a very traditional ‘tea time’ snack for us. I picked up a packet of refined flour or maida – the flour commonly used for making naan.

As it happens, the ingredients for crumpets do not differ all that greatly from those for naan, and my mixture, made with guesstimated amounts due to having no measuring scales, had the elasticity of bread to it! To keep the shape of the crumpets, the recipe called for small round egg moulds, but, since we had none and no real alternative, I simply dropped the mixture onto a

lightly greased pan and waited for it to rise and bubble. It spread sideways like a small American pancake, and, whilst some holes appeared, there were not enough for it to look exactly like a crumpet should. However, the taste and chewiness was there, and the addition of jam created a reminder of home. I devoured several, just as I would in England.

The Projects Abroad kitchen staff did an astounding job of intricately constructing a tiered tray using plastic plates and wire. Under careful instruction from the volunteers, the heavier sandwiches, buttered, filled and trimmed into shapes were placed on the bottom tray. The second layer held the bite-sized chunks of cake, and the top housed a few strategically balanced chocolate coated strawberries, so as not to make it topple. They were also wizards at creating a vat of delicious creamy tea, flavoured with sugar and cardamom, to reunite India and England once more in their fondness of a hot beverage and some good old fashioned carbohydrates.

The chocolate fruits prompted many grunts of satisfaction from the Projects Abroad staff who had joined us for these afternoon delights, and not surprisingly, were the quickest to disappear. The most popular sandwiches were the egg mayonnaise, which we had mixed with pepper and the leftover cucumber and tomato, on both wheat and milk bread. The idea of cucumber

A rather English spread

Journalism Supervisor Archana Sundarajan and the kitchen staff, constructing the masterpiece that is the afternoon tea stand

sandwiches was a little alien to some – “is that all that’s in them?!” – but, once tried, practically the whole spread was cleared, and everyone left completely ‘stuffed’. All in all, a rather splendid Friday afternoon indeed. Cheers!

Volunteer Rebecca Geiselmann (Germany) concentrating hard on the cucumber to tomato ratio

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Field of Dreamseager to experience first hand what it is like to be a farmer in rural india, ariane lecuyer braves the early morning and heavy rain to spend a day with gnanasekaran, a farmer in the village of Chinnupatti. she enjoys muddy fields and the chaos of the local flower market while learning about his love of farming and how he is trialling organic methods

By Ariane LecuyerFrance

4.50am: It’s time to wake up! Half awake, half asleep I am about to meet Gnanasekaran. This 60 year-old farmer has agreed to share a day in his life with me. He lives in the Christian village of Chinnupatti, 65 kilometres from Madurai. Only 150 people live here which gives it a feeling of tranquility. Fortunately for us, the nearby mountains make the weather cooler than in Madurai. This village is also the location of our Projects Abroad conservation project managed by Raisa Dawood. She is helping local farmers convert to organic farming, using the ingenious idea of a model farm. Gnanasekaran has recently decided to try organic methods on his farm. Despite my slow moves due to tiredness, I proudly manage to get ready and prepare myself to work as hard as Gnanasekaran does for the day.

Fragrant Flowers5.40am: Bad weather has instantly killed my goodwill. The rain was so heavy that Gnanasekaran decided to delay work until the rain stopped. I am slightly scared that he will cancel all his morning tasks but, fortunately, some sunshine appeared through the clouds. I set out from my accommodation to meet him in his flower field.

After walking along beside a coconut field, we reach a charming creek on Gnanasekaran’s land. He is the owner of three different fields. One for banana trees, one for Nila Sampangi flowers (commonly known as the Mexican tuberose), and one for jasmine flowers and black lentils (grown as an inter crop). Managing all his duties in each field is a challenge. Raisa even assures me that she never sees him having a rest, and the only time she has, he was lying on the floor totally exhausted.

This morning, Gnanasekaran is working with his Nila Sampangi, a popular flower in Tamil Nadu. It is a new crop for him, having started just a few months ago. It was a difficult start for him, for the first month, his yield was very low and he wanted to destroy all the plants. Worried and upset to

Gnanasekaran is often helped by his wife, Selvi, even early morning. He enjoys sharing his daily duties with his wife

lose a lot of money and energy, he spoke to other farmers who reassured him to persist. Indeed, the climate was too cold for this flower during January and February, but the area is perfect for Nila Sampangi. The farmers told him the yield will surely be blossoming for the following months. Today, Gnanasekaran is happy to see that they were all right.

Madurai Messenger a day in the life of... June 2012

The Nila Sampang (Mexican tuber rose) on Gnaasekaran’s farm

Flowers, people, shouts, smells, water, moves… the flowers market is an experience for all our senses

between the rows of flowers, trying not to crush any plants. Apart from a few scary but funny minor falls, this task was truly pleasant. I didn’t realise that it would need so much delicacy and Gnanasekaran had to repeatedly demonstrate the right method. After a few minutes of working, I rose my head and saw him already at the other side of the field. As he said, he usually needs less than two hours to pick up all flowers. He certainly works fast.

Market Madness7.00am: Then, with no break, he goes straight to the market in order to sell the fresh flowers. The Nilakkottai market is famous in Tamil Nadu, and even abroad since they export flowers from here for perfume. Every day at 7.00am, Gnanasekaran hops on a bus-truck together with others farmers to travel to the market. The principle of this truck is the same as any bus. It goes from village to village collecting

farmers and their new yield. This was the highlight of my day! We spent 30 minutes standing in the open back of the truck… hair blowing in the wind and surrounded by lovely farmers, all trying to talk to me. Luckily, I had Venkatesh, a Projects Abroad staff member with me to translate their questions. Of course, they asked some typical questions, “Are you married?” “Do you like India?”But there were also some unusual questions such as, “Why are you not wearing jewellery?” “Do you have chewing tobacco in France?” I understood quickly the friendly atmosphere created by this group of farmers.

The truck arrived at the market and everybody said goodbye. I followed Gnanasekaran in the direction of the noise. One step into the market and I realised the craziness of this place. Here everything is constantly moving. I couldn’t just stop for a few seconds without being hassled. To be honest

I walk into the middle of the white and green field to meet him and his wife, Selvi, for the first time. They were both already hard at work. His English is not so good and my Tamil is totally non-existent. Yet, even by talking in our own languages, we were able to communicate. With his body language he showed me the right method to pick up flowers quickly but without damaging the stalk. The only difficulty was walking in the muddy ground

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Two bowls and a weight, they are the only instruments used by flowers sellers. But be careful, some take advantage of this simple method to cheat farmers!

Madurai Messenger a day in the life of... June 2012

even when I was walking through the market I felt like I was in the way of hundreds of people. Behind me somebody shouts “Po! Po! Po!” which I learn means go away. I turn around to see a man walking with a huge flower sac on his head. Immediately I try to get out of his way but another man to my right hustles me and I move quickly to the side.

Along with this chaotic mass of people, there are masses of flowers. I can smell jasmine and can’t stop looking at all the different colours. Red from Roses, yellow from Saamandhi, purple from Vaadamalli, white from Nila Sampangi, and so many other beautiful flowers that I have never seen before.

Gnanasekaran seems to know exactly where he wants to go and only stops walking to check if I’m not lost. He comes to a man, who weighs his yield and gives him money. That’s it! Only a few minutes and Gnanasekaran tells us that we can leave now. I’m so attracted to this mad place that I would like to stay a bit longer, but I’m glad to hear our farmer proposing tea at the corner shop.

7.45am: As we sip our tea with a bit less noise than in the market, Gnanasekaran explains to me that he always goes to the same flower seller.

Of course, the prices are not so different from seller to seller, but he is sure that this one will not try to cheat him by tampering with the weight. Today, his yield was not amazing - around four kilograms and he knows that it will be the same for the whole Tamil month. On the contrary, he has calculated that his next yield should give him 15 kilograms per day.

It’s true that the flower business is up and down, but one thing is sure: he will always earn money. Even if the seller will not sell everything to buyers, they can always sell it to perfume factories, ensuring there is no waste. It may be up and down, but surely it is safe!

9.00am: We take a rest and have a well deserved breakfast. Project Abroad’s host family prepared some delicious idly for us that we enjoy with the children.

Relief from rain 10.00am: Because it is still raining, Gnanasekaran will not work anymore today and decides to invite me to his house for a chat. He lives with his wife in the center of Chinnupatti, with one of his brothers and his family as neighbours. His three children are all married and live in nearby villages.

I enter a lovely house with walls covered by Christian pictures. I am met by many smiling faces (surely relatives) who warmly welcome me. He explains that his house was a part of his father’s farm, which Gnanasekaran took over to build his own accommodation. I couldn’t imagine this house as a farm. He and his wife have created a modest but cozy atmosphere.

“I want rain!” he said with conviction. Today he has got more rain than he wished for. It keeps raining in heavy bursts. Each day, he has to spend six hours watering his field - three hours in the morning and three hours in the afternoon. Therefore, when it rains the water comes naturally, relieving him of one of his main tasks. Whether it was lucky or not, this rainy day gave me an opportunity to understand the influence of weather on his daily life. The rain may relieve him from a six-hour task, but it means his crops will not receive the necessary sun grow.

In fact, the weather meant my farming experience was over for the day! This exhausted farmer doesn’t normally have time to take a break so I could see his joy to know that today will be his own holiday. Gnanasekaran could now take a rest and fortunately for me, he had more time to speak with me. When I ask him what he usually does during his free time, he said he doesn’t have a hobby or occupation except to sleep. Then, with a shy but entrusting smile, he admitted that he loves to listen to old songs, particularly from Tamil flims. His idol is Sivaji Ganesan, a Tamil actor who has starred in almost 300 films.

First steps 11.00am: We have been talking for one hour. Gnanasekaran is now more comfortable with me. Normally at this time, he would be watering his field as he does everyday. Instead, we start to talk about his latest change in his farming life… His first steps into organic farming.

A few months ago, Raisa Dawood came to Gnanasekaran’s house to try

Good spirits reign between farmers, who are always ready to help each other. Every morning they enjoy some jokes

together on their truck ride to the market

Gnanasekaran and Selvi, a courageous couple who manage to juggle work on the farm and

family life at home

to convince him to change his farm to organic. His first reaction was like many other farmers – he refused. As he says, for farmers, the quantity of yield is the most important thing and he couldn’t believe that organic fertilizers will give him as much yield as he has got now using chemical fertilizers. He didn’t care at all about the quality, despite Raisa’s first speech. However, Raisa didn’t give up so easily and came back with the same crops he had, but planted in her model farm. She was able to show him that this crop grows as fast as his, but with organic fertilizers. She also explained to him the importance of quality to receive a good price. For example, the same quantity, chemical bananas can be sold for Rs. 10,000 compared to Rs. 14,000 for organic bananas. This argument was the one which convinced Gnanasekaran to try organic!

He is now at the experimental stage. Last year, he trialed 125 banana trees using organic methods, and it was totally successful. This year, he again trialing 100 banana trees, and if it’s again successful he will go for 3 000! A big difference but not a big risk for him. He has begun to trust these natural methods. He tells me that his two brothers are also farmers. One of them is following his organic lead on his farm, but the second still working with chemicals. Gnanasekaran tried to explain him all the advantages of organic farming and he has promised to try it the next time he changes crops.

After spending a difficult time selling banana leaves, Gnanasekaran finally found work that he can take pleasure in. Of course, any farming has its challenges, but he realized that organic farming is safer and more comfortable. He even said that he actually enjoys digging water ways on his land, and other little tasks like this.

Farming is a family tradition. His father was a farmer, his two brothers are farmers and now his two sons are as well. All of them understand the benefits of working in agriculture. As Gnanasekaran says, you don’t need to

invest so much at the beginning when switching to organic, but you are sure to earn something quite fast. Everyday for the past 20 years, he wakes up at 4.30am and only goes to sleep at 11pm. It’s an exhausting life that he loves.

My Farmer friend12.15pm: After expecting to work well into the afternoon, at 12.15pm, it’s time to leave his house and let him have lunch and a good sleep. He gives me a gentle smile. All his relatives thanked me and I have the feeling that I’m leaving a friend’s house. Slightly disappointed that I didn’t get more time to work hard in his fields, I breathe a sigh of relief as the rain continues to pour throughout the

afternoon. I may not have experienced a typical day in his life due to the rain, but as the effects of the early morning start still haunt me, I am convinced that the life of a farmer is tough one.

Gnanasekaran took care of me during our time together, always concerned that following him around may be too exhausting or too fast for me. He tried to explain everything about his daily life with patience and attention. It was a surprise to see so much sweetness in somebody who works so tirelessly everyday in order to feed his family.

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richard bach’s inspirational modern fable Jonathan livingston seagull encourages people to find their own way in life, to spread their wings and fly. after first hearing about this international bestseller last month during her ‘a day in the life of a bookseller’ story at Turning Point bookstore in Madurai, Marie Mcevoy decided to cast her skeptical eye over it and find out what all the hype was about

Spread Your Wings

I’ve never read a ‘self-help’ book before, but after receiving recommendations from a couple of people, I became intrigued about Jonathan Livingston Seagull. I tried to cast

any doubts aside, and discover if the book could touch my (ever so slightly cynical) heart in the way it has millions of others. The inspirational modern fable, by American author and former US Air Force Pilot Richard Bach, was first published in the 1970s and has been a runaway success and even spawned a film adaptation.

“We’re free to go where we wish and be who we are” – just some of the wise words spoken by Jonathan Seagull, the ordinary bird who casts off the shackles of what was expected of him by his peers, and pursued greater levels of happiness and achievement.

Craving a deeper meaning to his existence rather than the ordinariness of just flying for food and doing the bare minimum to survive – a lifestyle that his fellow gulls seem perfectly content with - Jonathan wants more. He flies for the sheer pleasure of flying and pushes himself to achieve all that he can. Despite coming under pressure from his parents: “Why can’t you be like the rest of the flock, Jon?” and moments of self-doubt and weariness when practicing, he perseveres until he reaches a velocity never before attained by any seagull.

Unimpressed by his ‘achievement’, the Elder of his Flock decides that Jonathan must be cast out of the group for his irresponsibility and daring to be different. “Who is more responsible than a gull who finds and follows meaning, a higher purpose for life?” Jonathan argues back – something else that a gull should never do.

What upsets Jonathan the most is not that he has been ostracised, but that “the other gulls refused to believe the glory of flight that awaited them; they refused to open their eyes and see.” Bach tries to show the reader that narrow-mindedness

By Marie McEvoyEngland

Madurai Messenger book review June 2012

“Your whole body, from wingtip to wingtip is nothing more than your though t itself, in a form you can see” - Jonathan Livingston Seagull

will hold us back, that we should not fear the unknown and we should embrace learning. “We can lift ourselves out of ignorance, we can find ourselves as creatures of excellence and intelligence and skill.” Flight is used as a metaphor for freedom. Through flight, one can – be they human or animal - soar to levels previously not thought of, and reach dreams once considered impossible by either themselves or their peers.

The story then briefly flicks to another philosophy - the idea of heaven, space and time. Jonathan meets an Elder Gull, who teaches him that “Heaven is not a place, and it is not a time. Heaven is being perfect… perfection doesn’t have limits.” It appears that Jonathan is a fast learner, for soon enough, he becomes a leader himself, building up a following of other outcast gulls whom he pushes to realise their own self-potential. And, whilst it initially seems that they are selfishly indulging their own exclusive folly, they go on to ascertain the meaning of kindness and love, of forgiveness and magnanimity.

They discover that bitterness is self-destructive, that “boredom and fear and anger are the reason that a gull’s life is so short.” When you clear your mind of negative thoughts, you can go on to flourish and prosper. They are encouraged to return to the very same flocks that disowned them and seek the good inside each gull, to help them achieve their own ‘heaven’ by imparting the wisdom that they were courageous enough to have discovered on their own.

Richard Bach has gone on to write three other books. However, the style of writing of Jonathan Livingston Seagull at times resembles that of a tale aimed at children: simplistic, almost disjointed, and thus some of the poignant messages Bach is trying to convey seem more like nonsensical riddles, lost in a jumble of too-short sentences and slightly awkward structure.

That said, the book is harmless; short, feel-good, and peppered with pleasant enough pictures of gulls. To an extent, it is also timeless, as the points made

are general enough to apply to any era. It is an easy first ingress into the field of motivational literature; it’s for the most part very quotable, and provides opportunities for open interpretation and the reader to apply the parable to themselves. I wouldn’t say it was groundbreaking - I finished it not exactly feeling as though an epiphany had occurred or that I’d discovered why I was put on this earth, but rather steeled with the knowledge that the only person standing in my way and dictating limits was me.

“Your whole body, from wingtip to wingtip,” as Jonathan would say, “is nothing more than your thought itself, in a form you can see. Break the chains of your thought, and you break the chains of your body, too...” But perhaps, deep down, I already knew that?

Title: Jonathan Livingston Seagull

Author: Richard Bach

Publisher: Harper Collins

Year: 1972

Cost: Rs. 199

“Heaven is not a place, and it is not a time. Heaven is being perfect… perfection doesn’t

have limits”

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launched on world environment day in 2009, home is a documentary that seeks to motivate the individual to take responsibility for the impacts they have on the earth. rebecca geiselmann examines the powerful messages in the film and experiences the wonder of its spectacular photographs

A Catalyst for Change

Madurai Messenger film June 2012

By Rebecca GeiselmannGermany

Home is a free documentary created by French photographer and journalist Yann Arthus-Bertrand. First released on World Environment Day, 5 June,

2009, it was shown in cinemas, on television and on the Internet across the globe at the same time. In Paris, people watched it on big screens in front of the Eiffel Tower.

Arthus-Bertrand shows the diversity of life on Earth and how humanity is threatening its ecological balance. Seeking to give viewers a completely different perspective, the film is almost entirely composed of aerial shots of several places on Earth. Home is the highlight and culmination of 30 years of work as an environmental activist. Arthus-Bertrand and his team spent three years making the film and visited 50 different countries

across all continents of the world, from the rainforest to the Arctic, from major cities like Tokyo and Dubai to villages in Bangladesh. To make his film accessible for as many people as possible, he opted for a completely different way of recovery with no copyright or licensing fees.

The amazing pictures are accompanied by a voice-over that addresses the environmental and social problems such as global warming, overpopulation, soil erosion, depletion of natural resources, lack of clean water and species protection.

It begins with the question, “Where did we come from?” The film explains that the formation of life on earth was possible because of a balance between the elements, which were only stabilised just after millions of years, before humans entered the world.

For a long time, humans were dependent on their muscularity, until they managed to tap the energy inside of the Earth. Humans learned to benefit from the Earth’s resources but have consumed these resources to excess. “Faster and faster and faster.”

“Since 1950, the world population has more than doubled.” The film explores the insatiable appetite of humans and the exponential increase of in population showing mega-cities like Shenzhen, Shanghai, and New York. It also highlights the major role that agriculture plays in the depletion of water and effects of poisoning pesticides.

Pictures of hunger and poverty from Niger show people searching for food in garbage dumps. “But we don’t change our model of life.” The human is still fevered in search of mineral oil.

“All living matter is connected with each other.” The forest is necessary for the balance of the Earth’s climate and air quality. Home illustrates the destruction of forests in the Amazon,

Our precious planet: the juxtaposition of pollution and natural wonders is powerfully portrayed in Home

Borneo, Haiti and Madagascar. Rising sea levels pose a risk to coastal cities like Tokyo. The melting snow of Mount Kilimanjaro and the Himalayan glaciers directly affect the quantity of water of the big Asian Rivers, evident in countries like Bangladesh.

Elsewhere, for example in Australia, changes in climate lead to drought and devastating fires.

“We have created a phenomena that we can’t control anymore.” Arthus- Bertrand is of the opinion that humans alone are responsible for the phenomena. He says that we - the people - have broken our basic connectivity to the earth and need to restore balance again.

Home also depicts the actions that can be taken to improve of the current situation. Across many countries, efforts are being made to attempt to reduce human contribution to climate change. The film shares many examples including: education focused organisations in Lesotho and Qatar; financial aid for paupers in Bangladesh; and government protection of water and forests in the USA, South Korea, Costa Rica and Gabun. The methods of cultivation and utilisation of resources can be changed in agriculture, fisheries, and in the energy business. And you can find models already in Germany, India, New Zealand, Island, Austria, Sweden, Denmark, China and Spain.

Yann Arthus-Bertrand seeks to motivate all citizens of the world by raising awareness about the way in which our lifestyle impacts the environment. Using narration in a language the film’s message is easy to understand, even for children.

By combining amazing pictures of stunning landscapes with hideous industrial regions, devastating poverty,

and environmental disasters he evokes emotion in audiences.

The sometimes very dramatic and sensitive music supports this effect, particularly the heartbeat sound played at the start of the film to indicate that the planet is living. The noises often inspire a feeling that nature is majestic in size, but also emphasis the negative consequences of human actions. Frequently they associate noise with danger and threat. Silence is also used to create a feeling of emptiness and to amplify the previous or following sequence.

The whole film definitely makes the audience think. Even the title Home attempts to make the audience feel responsible for the problems and for solving them. However, in my opinion in some moments it would be more effective if the impressive pictures weren’t accompanied by a comment and you could just let them speak from themselves.

Overall, I feel that the film was well done. I was particularly impressed by the incredible cinematography. I wonder how all the pictures were taken from different aircrafts and feel it would be a story in itself!

“We have created a phenomena that we can’t control anymore”

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on his way from lima to Madurai, edward liptzin stops in new York, brussels and Chennai during a 32-hour flight ordeal. The sights and sounds of this “crazy but wonderful country,” he says, will take quite a while for him to get used to, especially the daily 10-hour power cuts!

Across the World in 32 hours!

By Edward LiptzinCalifornia, United States

Cusco to Lima, Lima to New York. New York to Brussels. Brussels to Chennai. Chennai to Madurai. I retrace the stopovers in my head, attempting to push the

agonising 32-hour flight time it took to get to India out of my head while desperately trying to pull the memories of air conditioning and fresh salad back.

A 40 minute drive from the airport in Madurai gave me my first true glimpse of this crazy, wonderful country I had arrived in. The road we drove on was well paved, black and smooth. The roads we passed by were dirty, red and rocky. Plastic wrappers and bottles congregated in gutters and street corners, while piles of ash sat outside storefronts, marking where the waste had been burned. Cows lazily clip-clopped their way along the roadsides while buses, cars, motorcycles, and auto rickshaws blared their horns and swerved across the road. There is only one priority for the drivers: to go faster.

I asked our driver, “So, why do the roads have lines painted on them?” He laughed and replied, “Because the rules say we have to. But, we don’t like listening to the rules very much.” He then suddenly and sharply turned the wheel to avoid an

A cow on the side of the road in Madurai is too shy for a picture

auto going in the other direction that had crossed into our lane in order to pass a bus. The roads are utter chaos, but I have yet to witness a collision of any sort!

It was around 10:00 am when we stopped for breakfast, and the heat was already starting to wear me down. A thin, flat crepe (which I now know is called “dosai”) was set before me with a variety of sauces on a metal plate. For a few minutes, I waited patiently for silverware before asking if it was okay to eat with my hands. I was informed that nearly every meal in India is eaten with hands. Thus, I tore into the meal with the swift voracity of a man that has had nothing but airplane snacks for sixteen hours!

After sufficiently stuffing myself, I was taken to my new home. I was just getting comfortable under the marvelous breeze of the fan when the fan began to stop spinning. I looked desperately over at my roommate who politely informed me, “Power cuts. We get about four during the day, and then another few during the night.”This was going to take a lot of getting used to.

Madurai Messenger first impression June 2012

for Private Circulation only

Printed at bell Printers Pvt. ltd

www.maduraimessenger.org

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