Think globally, act locally is the mantra for sustainable development. As another World Environment Day is being observed on June 05, MetroPlus catches up with some individuals and organisations who have invested their time and money to protect the environment. Group and individual initiatives, by making a difference to the way we live, are trying to keep the city green.
Sanchi
‘Eco-friendly and economical’. Sanchi, the start-up in Technopark that manufactures eco-friendly bags, sticks to this tagline. Brainchild of Zafer Ameer, an engineering graduate, Sanchi brings jute and cloth bags to the market. It all started with Zafer’s “craze for ‘thol sanchi’ or the sling bag made of cloth” right from his school days. Even when the world around switched over to stylish bags and backpacks of other material, Zafer took the trouble to stitch cloth bags and popularise it. The entrepreneur in him decided to sell it at the International Film Festival of Kerala (2013) and they became an instant hit. He started getting bulk orders and thus started the journey of Sanchi. “We’ve a three-pronged approach: promoting eco-friendly products, women’s empowerment since our products are manufactured by trained Kudumbashree workers, and inspiring youngsters to go green,” says Zafer. Ipad bags, laptop bags, bags for college and office-goers, certificate holders, customised bags…the Sanchi product portfolio is expanding. While the raw material is bought from different parts of Tamil Nadu, the stitching is done in units in Venjaramoodu in the city and Chelakkara in Thrissur. Excess orders are handled by units in Tamil Nadu. While Sanchi has a huge clientele in Technopark itself, the bags have found takers in Tanzania and Zimbabwe. Very soon, the brand will start selling online. Log on to http://sanchibags.com/
Thanal
Harvesting the fruits of labour is this dedicated group of environmentalists. To protect the environment and prevent a silent spring, the volunteers have spearheaded many campaigns in the city and in Kerala to make the people conscious of the environment and promote sustainable means of agriculture. In the third week of June, they plan to launch ‘Rethink disposables’, a campaign against the single-use-and-throw culture that is prevalent now. This is to cut down the heap of waste that is causing problems in composting. Thanal’s experts will support and help people launch this movement and switch to non-disposable options using paper, cloth or coconut shell.
The weekly organic bazaar that was being organised by Thanal became an outlet and now it will be a seven-day affair at Thanal’s office in Jawahar Nagar. The bazaar is open from 10 a.m. to 7.30 p.m. every day. “In addition, Thanal encourages its customers to turn producers themselves and if they harvest a crop, they are welcome to sell the produce at the outlet. We do keep an eye to ensure that the method is organic. In addition, we have a help desk manned by Deepak R. (9496998640),” says Jayakumar, founder member of Thanal.
‘Down to Earth’, a new programme, is aimed to encourage and teach students and youngsters to revive the soil. In the meantime, the group’s ‘Save our rice campaign’ continues to win supporters and farmers. As a result of the campaign, local groups and farmers have set up a paddy supply chain for organic traditional rice. It also focusses on reviving traditional seeds.
Biotips
Are you in search of an indigenous plant/tree? Then team Biotips might help you. This group of farming enthusiasts has taken it up as a mission to protect and propagate rare plants and trees. In addition, the group acts as guide and facilitator for people who want to take up farming, by providing them raw materials, tools and even labour. They also take land on a contract basis and cultivate it.
“Over the last one year, we have planted over 2,700 trees in different parts of the capital city. We keep getting enquiries for plants that are on the verge of extinction. For instance, an individual wanted a Vlanga sapling and we found it in Krishnapuram in Palakkad,” says Sanjeev S. J., one of the members of Biotips. The focus is on zero budget farming, which allows plants to grow in a natural ecosystem. The seven core members of the group who were brought together by their common interest in farming started out with bee keeping and have diversified into vegetable farming, poultry rearing and cultivation of rare plant varieties. Registered in February last year, they also market different products, mostly honey, dairy products and fruits and its by-products. Of late, the team has taken up horticulture therapy on a larger scale. “We are doing it in 10 schools where we help with layout, design and selection of plants for the children who are differently abled. This is being done with the support of Centre for Disability Studies,” says Sanjeev. Contact: 9847878502, www.facebook.com/biotipsagro
Blue triangle
Scraps of cloth sewn together proved to be a lifeline for women in economic distress. Begun as part of an outreach initiative of the local chapter of the Young Women’s Christian Association (YWCA), Blue Triangle blended two programmes of theirs conceptualised by the YWCA – ‘Neighbour to the victimised’ and ‘Green ambassadors’. Under the leadership of Prabha Joshua and Rani Sarah Thomas, the YWCA began running a tailoring centre at its Community Welfare Centre at Vazhayila. Women in financial distress were taught tailoring and embroidery. They began stitching home linen and pouches from cloth scraps collected from boutiques in the city.
To reduce the use of plastic bags, the group designed shopping bags, sling bags, vanity bags and pouches for different uses. The finished products are available for sale at the YWCA office at Spencer Junction. Contact: 2463690.
Paperman
Swathy Nair’s desire to do voluntary work did not remain a dream on paper. Instead she, along with Aravind Karthikeyan joined hands with Gopikrishnan Nair, to begin the city chapter of ‘Paperman’, on the lines of the Chennai-based organisation, ‘Paperman’. That was in 2012. The friends did some exemplary work to promote recycling among students and used the money gathered by selling paper to help children from economically backward families. But the activities of Paperman became dormant once the core group of friends left the city for jobs and higher education.
However, Swathy, a lawyer, says she plans to quit her job to revive the city unit of Paperman. Volunteers of Paperman go to schools, offices and houses to encourage people to collect old newspapers and used office stationery and drop it at a collection point. The paper thus collected is sold and the money is used to educate children.
Carmel Girls Higher Secondary School and St. Thomas Schools were some of the schools involved in the activity. “By the end of June, we hope to revive the chapter. We are looking for volunteers to help us kick start the activities,” say Swathy and Arvind.
