Dear Friends,

Please recall that the Planetary Boundaries framework was updated in September2023. This update pointed out that we have crossed six out of the 9 boundaries, and it also set the boundaries for the two limits, previously left unspecified: Aerosol Loading and Novel Entities. The limit for Novel Entities has been set at zero, as there is no Holocene background for these artificial compounds.

This classical work on Sri Ramanatha Swami of Rameswaram was composed by “Palapattadai Chokkanatha Pillai”. This work was discovered by Sri U.Ve. Saminatha Iyer after comparing multiple versions. He also wrote a commentary on this rare text.

With the blessings of Lord Ramanatha Swami, Mother Parvathavardhini and Lord Rama, here is an attempt to provide a reasonable translation of this work, in English. Any error can be ascribed to me.

The door to door waste collection process and source segregation are activities which are conducted on daily basis which forms the base for the SWM processes. From these activities, continue various other processes such as processing of waste into degradable and non - degradable waste, conversion of degradable waste into energy and other forms of productive forms are part of the SWM intervention. These activities along with regular street cleaning have been conducted on day to day basis by the project implementing staffs of Green Rameswaram.

Phyllanthus amarus is a glabrous herb of the family Phyllanthaceae. It is a common weed that grows well in moist, shady and sunny places throughout tropics and subtropics. In India it is widely distributed as a weed in cultivated and waste lands.

The herb is 30 -60 cm high, leaves 6-8 x 3-4 mm, oblong, base unequal, apex obtuse to acute, lower surface glaucous; stipules lanceolate, scarious. Flowers are axillary and yellowish, whitish or greenish. Male flowers are in groups of 1-3 whereas females are solitary. Fruits are depressed globose like smooth capsules present underneath the branches and seeds, pale brown with longitudinal parallel ribs on the back. Capsules on stalks are 1-2 mm long, round, smooth, 2 mm wide, six seeds. The plant has explosive seed capsules that propel the seeds some distance from the plant.

Our work of involving community in doing Teertha poojas is going on smoothly. SHG members, E-auto drivers and Yoga participants are trying to take the ownership of the programme.  In this month, we could carry out Teertha poojas at 22 Traditional water bodies with 220 volunteers participating in the activity.