Newsletters

Sustainable Development Goal – 1 (End to Poverty)

Dr.Sanjay Banerji

Founder Director/Dean of Amrita School of Business

Dear Friends,

Hope the first month of the New Year and the Pongal festivities have nourished you into new vigour to take on life as it unfolds under the dark clouds of yet another war near home. However, keeping ourselves on track with the Sustainable Development Goals, we are going to undertake every goal, one every month and answer the following:

What it is and why is this relevant
What are its indicators
What are the targets
Where do we stand in India?
What can we do to support the goal?

Tirtha Yatra – Pilgrimage to Holy Places

C.Rangarajan, Chennai

Continuing the importance of Svadharma/Svakarma Vis-à-vis Tirthayatra

A person who has to undergo an expiation (for a sin) or who is a widower or who is a vana-prasthi may resort to pilgrimages
One may go to holy places with his Vedic fires or with his spouse; They become free from all sins and secures the best goal
One who wants to go pilgrimage should pay off their three debts, should provide maintenance for their wards and should consign his wife to their care

Following were prescribed by the ancient writers on Dharmasastra; No money was to be demanded by ferryman or by a toll officer to:

Solid Waste Management

Hand in Hand, Chennai

Thai Ammavasai festival:

Thai Ammavasai festival, an annual congregation in Rameswaram was celebrated with reverence at Rameswaram on 24th January 2020. Around 100,000 pilgrims visited the holy town and the temple during the festival. The MSWM team handled 20 tons of waste generated surrounding the temple and the beach during the festival by engaging 100 Green Friends.

Herbal Garden (Muligai Vanam)

Anisomeles malabarica

R. Vengatachalam
Project Officer
C.P.R. Environmental Education Centre
Chennai

Description and Habitat:

Habitat: It is found from Indo-Malaysia to Australia particularly in countries with tropical and subtropical climates. Distribution: In India it is distributed in Assam, Bihar, Kerala, and Tamil Nadu. Habit: Perennial, semi-shrubby herb. Stem: about 2 m high, much branched from base, sub quadrangular, thickened, densely lanate. Leaf: Simple, leaf Arrangement is Opposite-decussate; Shape is Oblanceolate, 3.6-16 x 1.3-7 cm, Serrate margin, long petioles 0.7-3.5 cm. Flower: Flowering throughout the year. In terminal and axillary spikes, purple colour 34.5 cm long. Fruit: A small nutlet, found throughout the year.

Landscaping and Beautification

Green Rameswaram Trust

Tree plantation:

1) Taluk Office staff members took part in the plantation of the trees on January 11, 2020 in their own campus. Around 10 new saplings were planted in the campus with the support of Green Rameswaram.

2) On 9th January 2020 Dhanalakshmi Bank marking their 96th year planted 96 trees in Rameswaram. We took part in an event where 16 species were planted and Tree Guards were arranged by Green Rameswaram. Planting took place at Kondalar Madam in Rameswaram and the math people have committed to maintain the plants.