ENDING ON A HIGH NOTE..

Kuttanad is not the only area affected by this problem. Its just a small part of Kerala. This problem is faced all over the country. With better planning and management, all this is avoidable.
This was just a minor project by the City Cleaners . We have just started our campaign. This was a learning step for us and we have planned to improve our project based on the positive feedback we got from the people.
We are planning to take our project to a new level and extend our project to wider areas including more innovative methods and new ideas rather than confining ourselves to just meager water pollution.

We have talked to 2-3 organizations and they have agreed to help us in our next project which will be conducted in a larger scale.

 

 

The very thought of helping others is because of the inspirational thoughts we get everyday from Mata Amritandamayi. She inspires all the students of this college and we have vowed to work for the betterment of the society.

DAY 2

November 2, 2013 :
   Guided by the Champakulam panchayat, we reached the irrigation areas of kuttanad.
The grass was green and there was a pleasant breeze blowing past us while we approached our destination.

The panchayat had arranged a sabha of more than 30 female workers. They worked in the farm as well as took care of the composting process.
It was here that we started our awareness programme.
We had prepared a booklet to distribute among the people.The material had been converted to Malayalam which was one hell of a task !


we told the women about the common diseases in the area and gave them few tips on how they can

take precautions to avoid such things. We had a group discussion which was a two way learning thing. We came to know a lot about the problems being tackled by the weaker and poorer class and they got to know information on waste management.
The following were t5he minutes of the discussion :

• The water they use for bathing and washing purposes is polluted to the core.

The motor used to pump the water from the field after harvesting pumps the water to the stream which is the only source of water for these people.

• The water with all pesticides and poisons from the field is pumped to the stream
• Cancer is the main disease and more than half of the people present were suffering from it.
• Tooth decaying problems in kids due to the polluted water

 

But the eople don't have any other choice. They are forced to work their and are forced to use that water.

They just pray that their coming generations have a better future and are looking forward to us to make a better society.

 

DAY 1

OCTOBER 31, 2013 :
  We made our first trip to Kuttanad. After travelling for a long time, we finally reached Nedumudy. We had planned to talk to the panchayat  and seek their permission to conduct a small survey in the localities.
Enroute to the panchayat, we met Mr. Sasidharan Nair (resident). he gave us the following updates :

• lack of drinking water due to regular pipeline breaking
• contamination of water due to waste and fertilizers.
• govt. not investing money for promoting the natural methods of cultivation.

After we got permission, we headed towards the houses.

1. Indiramma

• complained about the water logging problems.
• said that they do not receive any help from the govt other than being provided with 1kg of bleaching powder.
• many diseases prevailing. Also many mosquitos.

   2. Mr. Padmalochanan

• complained about the mosquito problem
• Kudumbashri provide them with bleaching powder.
• Once in 2 months medicines sprayed ny panchayat people but that is also not done properly.
• No bathrooms and waste disposal means provided by the govt.

After surveying in several more homes, we could conclude that mosquito problem was an issue in the area and also water logging.

From there, we arranged a meeting with the Champakulam panchayat.
Panchayat Home Member : P.J XAVIER and Secretary : SAJU PATHROSE provided us with valuable information.

 

The panchayat has been working very hard according to the reports. They got a prize for full cleanliness and a sum of Rs.5 lakhs.

They have provided waste bins to the people.

But after that price, the govt stopped investing any money as they think all the houses in champakulam have attained complete cleanliness !

The panchayat then arranged us a meeting with the labour class of that area on 2nd of November.

 Thus taking a few pictures of the beautifull Kuttanad, we left.

 

 

SSR PROJECT

                                                  AUM AMRITESHWARIYE NAMAH
When we were handed this SSR project, we got frantic. We remembered our seniors running around here and there during our second sem. Our seniors arranged some games like treasure hunt, online treasure hunt, various innovative and inspirational talk shows.
The only thing in our mind when got this opportunity was to do something really different, something innovative and useful for the society.
we shortlisted many topics like awareness campaign among tribal communities, awareness classes for children from some govt schools. These were too common topics so we moved on. Then we got an idea to visit a jail and conduct a small awareness class for the prisoners, taking the risk factor into consideration we skipped that topic too.










After a brief survey our eyes fell on "SUCHITWA MISSION" started off by Kerala govt in 2008. We increased the depth of our research on the particular mission we saw. Then we came across small-small villages namely Champakulam & Nedumudi that was included in that mission.
After a day of internet browsing-Data collection we choose "KUTTANAD" as our location for our SSR project and "Waste Management" as the topic.

 

But then, after going through different articles and surveying the area, we all came to the decision that water pollution and water related issues is the main problem of this area.

hence, we began the herculean task of awaring the people and help in making a better kuttanad.