October 2019

Dear Friends,

This month, I plan to briefly connect you with 3 institutions, all of them being my source of studies in the field of sustainable development, through MOOCs. First, the Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN) https://www.unsdsn.org/

Sri Rabindranath Tagore, in his work “Sadhana” writes – ‘India chose her places of pilgrimage, wherever there was in nature some special grandeur at beauty, as that her mind could come out of its world of narrow necessities and realize its place in the Infinite’.

Sanatana Dharma has put a great emphasis on the sanctity of certain places and has recommended her followers to pursue pilgrimage to such holy places. Pilgrimage:

Twooath cum awareness programmes were conucted in the Municipality viz. Agnitheertham (02nd October), and Arichal Munai (04th October).

Mr. K. Veera Raghava Rao – Disctrict Collector of Ramanathapuram, Tehsil office staff, Municipal office staff, DBC team and HHIDS team (150 volunteers in total) participated in the programme conducted at Agnitheertham.

Dr. A. Abirami
Programme Officer
C.P.R. Environmental Education Centre
Chennai

Botanical Name : Cissusquadrangularis Linn
Tamil Name : Pirandai, Perandai
Sanskrit Name : Asthisamhara
English Name : Edible stemmed vine.

Distribution and Habitat
Cissusquadrangularis L.is a succulent plant of the family Vitaceae commonly found throughout the hotter parts of India. It can be cultivated in plains, coastal areas, jungles and wastelands up to 500 m elevation. The plant is propagated using cuttings.The surface of the shrub is smooth glabrous buff coloured with a greenish tinge, the angular portion of the plant has a reddish-brown hue.

Moringa Saplings Distribution for Nutrition and as a remedy for Anaemia

We have received 650 Moringa Saplings from Horticulture Department on 4 October 2019. Immediately through our volunteers we have arranged distribution of 200 saplings in Ramakrishnapuram. The function was held at Ramakrishna Kudil. Around 100 women attended the function.

Greening Rameswaram Taluk Office

Green Rameswaram volunteers helped the Rameswaram Taluk office staff in cleaning their campus and planting 30 Saplings in the premises as a part of beautification. Taluk office staff participated in this exercise and enjoyed the plantation work.

Dhanushkodi-a rich ecological destination

Dhanushkodi,a deserted town on the Rameswaram Island or more popularly known as “Ghost Town” has played a significant role is shaping the overall Cultural Landscape of the island. Dhaushkodi,in the past was a flourishing township and a prominent place of pilgrimage; which rivaled Rameshwaram in size and population.

However, the cyclone, which struck the town 1964, destroyed the town in its entirety claiming over 2,000 lives. Post this, the town was declared unfit for habitation and was never re-built. One can see remnants of the pas in ruins a church, few temples, railways station, post and immigration office being partially covered with sand.