March 2021

Dear Friends,

This month we shall discuss the 15th Sustainable Development Goal: ‘Life on Land’. In this blog, we shall try to explain:

a. What it is and why is this relevant
b. What are its indicators and targets
c. Where do we stand in India
d. 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.

வாக்கினா லின்பு ரைத்து வாழ்கிலார் தம்மை யெல்லாம்
போக்கினாற் புடைத்த வர்கள் உயிர்தனை யுண்டு மாறான்
தேக்குநீர் செய்த கோயி றிருவிரா மேச்சு ரத்தை
நோக்கினால் வணங்கு வார்க ணோய்வினை நுணுகு மன்றே.

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).

Solanum nigrum L commonly known as Black Nightshade is a dicot weed in the Solanaceae family. The black nightshade is widely distributed in various habitats throughout the world, from tropical to temperate regions and from sea level to altitudes exceeding 3500 m. It is a common species in wet woods, near river, wasteland, old field, ditches, roadside and cultivated land. It is an annual herbaceous plant of 30-100 cm height, pubescent with simple hairs. Leaves are alternate, ovate, deep green with an indented margin, acuminate. Flowers are white with yellow colored centre. The berry is mostly 6 to 8 mm in diameter, green at early stage and turn to black when ripe.

Last month Green Rameswaram has revived 12 old pasumai groups and this month GRT has promoted new 29 Pasumai groups. Two new associates have joined our team and were working to promote the team. Status report of the newly promoted Pasumai Groups is as follows:

Pasumai Groups PromotionSavings mobilized Rs.38600
Total number of members reached 362
Subscription amount collected Rs.3620
Pasumai Subscription amount collected Rs. 2900

With lot of efforts Green Rameswaram launched the E-Rickshaws to run in the Four Ratha Veethis of Sri Ramanathasamy temple. It is a big stretch of area and especially aged, differently-abled and sick people cannot walk the area. They suffer because of lack of transportation. Keeping this in mind our District Collector permitted us to run this service.

We started our service in the first week of March with four drivers after sorting out the issues of repair and maintenance of the vehicles.

Green Rameswaram efforts to locate the Krishna Teertham have earned fruits. Located the Teertham and started building the social capital promotional activities and formation of committee. A committee with 9 members formed.