February 2021

Dear Friends,

This month we shall discuss the 14th Sustainable Development Goal: ‘Life below Water’. In this blog, we shall try to explain:

1. What it is and why is this relevant
2. What are its indicators and targets
3. Where do we stand in India
4. What can we do to support the goal

As stated earlier, I have little to contribute on my own. I have attempted to provide a few references, so that if anyone is interested in probing deeper, you could do so.

Glory to Lord Siva, who is worshipped in southern region (தென்னாடுடைய சிவனே போற்றி!)

Saivite saint-poet Sri Thirunavakkarasu Perumaan has composed wonderful hymns on Rameswaram in lilting Tamil. This comes as part of the 4th canto of “Thirumurai”, a compendium of devotional songs on Lord Siva.

குன்றுபோற்றோளுடையகுணமிலாவரக்கர்தம்மைக்
கொன்றுபோராழியம்மால்வேட்கையாற்செய்தகோயில்
நன்றுபோனெஞ்சமேநீநன்மையையறிதியாயில்
சென்றுநீதொழுதுய்கண்டாய்திருவிராமேச்சுரம்மே

Door-to-Door waste collection was conducted on a daily basis by Green Friends in the Municipality during the entire month. The collected waste is further segregated and treated at the Resource Recovery Park (RRP).

Tylophora indica (Burm. F.) Merr. resides in Apocynaceae of angiosperm family. The plant is a curative climber, found in the Eastern and Southern India extending to an elevation of 900 m. It is also found in the sub-himalayan tract from Uttarakhand to Meghalaya and in the central and peninsular India. Leaves, 6-11 cm long, 3.8-6 cm wide, are ovate-oblong to elliptic-oblong, with a narrow tip, heart-shaped at base, thick, velvety beneath when young, smooth above. Leaf stalks are up to 1.2 cm long. Flowers are small, 1-1.5 cm across, in 2 to 3-flowered fascicles in cymes in leaf axils. Flowers are greenish- yellow or greenish-purple, with oblong pointy petals. Fruit is a follicle, up to 7 x 1 cm, ovoid-lance shaped.

As a part of our efforts to spread the concept of Pasumai Rameswaram, we formed 12 Pasumai groups, in three locations of Rameswaram Island.

Shri.K.Parasaran who was a Rajyasabha member and has a long connection with Ramanathapuram districts donated Rs.One crore out of his ‘MPLADS’ (Member of Parliament Local Area Development Fund) funds to Rameswaram. Out of these funds, Rameswaram Municipality procured 10 numbers of E-Rickshaws to promote Green transport in the Island.

The Municipality in consultation with the Dist. Collector gave all the vehicles to Green Rameswaram project for operating in the 4 car streets where other vehicles are not permitted as well as for taking pilgrims to the newly renovated water bodies. The rickshaws are four seaters and operate on rechargeable batteries.

His Holiness Jagadguru Shankaracharya of Kanchi Kamakodi Peetham visited Green Rameswaram office on 25th February 2021. He was welcomed with the Poorna Kumbha.

Visit to Prayer room and offering flowers to Varuna pooja

Jagadguru Shankaracharyaji visited prayer room and then blessed the varuna pooja where Teerthams from 36 renovated water bodies were kept.