A narrow street on Lalgudi road in Tiruchirapalli (Trichy) in Tamil Nadu will lead you to a small bike garage. There’s nothing uncommon about the shop at first glance, but ask its loyal patrons, and you’ll realise that the shop owner, K Akhtar Ali, is anything but an ordinary tyre mechanic. He is an experimenter, an innovator, and a simple man with the most brilliant of ideas.

The award-winning mechanic has on display, all the district and state level prizes he has won over the years. From an air-transfer device approved by the National Innovation Foundation (NIF) to an anti-puncture powder that sells like hotcakes, Ali has had a grand streak of innovations to boast about. But it is his latest innovation that is the pièce de résistance.

An eco-friendly, affordable AC, that brings down the room temperature by nearly 10°C!

In the insufferable heat of Tamil Nadu, Ali’s ailing wife needed some respite and asked her husband to buy her an air conditioner.

“She was admitted in the hospital where there were ACs, and when we brought her home after her surgery, she was visibly uncomfortable in the heat. She insisted that we buy an air conditioner for the home, but I am a simple man with a humble income. How could I afford an AC that costs thousands of rupees? But of course, I wanted her to be happy and comfortable at home, so I decided to experiment and build one myself,” Ali tells The Better India.

With materials as simple as water bubble cans, a bamboo basket, a pipe, motor and vetiver grass, the innovator began working on a model.

• The tops of the bubble cans were cut, and they were filled with stones, bricks and 12 litres of water. A bamboo basket containing vetiver grass went on top of the cans.
• A thin pipe ran through the two bubble cans and was attached to the motor. Together, they would set the water in motion and let it flow from one can to the other.
• The pipe was arched over the vetiver grass and had holes to let the water drip over it. A ceiling fan in the room helps the cool air flow through the air.
• This device of two cans can go on for days before you have to refill it. The only fee is the electricity that the motor uses.

In Ali’s tiny shop, the one-can device can maintain a temperature of about 27°C at a time when Trichy was burning at 38°C. It cost him Rs 1,500 to make the AC but the respite it brought his wife was priceless.

This is just one of the several innovations by the 58-year-old mechanic.

For Ali, the choice of becoming a mechanic had to be made when he was still a child. He lost his father at the age of nine and had to help his mother with the family income.

“By the age of 10, I had to give up my education and do odd jobs to bring home money. I worked in some local garages and started saving money so I could open a cycle repair shop by the time I was 20,” he tells us.

He adds, “I believe that with discipline, anything is possible. So for the past 40 years, I have been working religiously in my shop. But I don’t just repair bikes. I try to experiment with innovations that could help me either in the shop or at my home.”

Another example of Ali’s innovations is an anti-puncture powder that he made by shredding rubber. The powder can be turned into a gel and applied on a tyre tube to avoid punctures. He created it about eight years ago and it is a favourite of his clients.

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“I just want my innovations to be satisfactory. I haven’t completed my education, but I try to bring in experiences and observations from my daily life to better utilisation. Take the AC for example. I knew that vetiver grass is cool because it is used to cool body temperatures when a person has a fever. So I improvised from there. And look at what that has resulted in!”

So far, the innovator has received ten orders for the affordable, eco-friendly AC. He charges Rs 2,500 for a single-can AC and Rs 3,500 for a double can. Although transportation could be an issue for this simple man, he is open to orders. You can contact him on +91-9965046020 to know more.

(Edited by Shruti Singhal. Special thanks to Ahmed Sherrif for the interview and photos)

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For most of us, the smell of summer is synonymous to the mighty king of fruits, mango. As soon as the sweet-sour fragrance floods the markets, students know that vacations are around the corner. Mangoes are and will always be associated with fond childhood memories.

However, K S Jegannatha Raja’s love for the regal mango is so strong that he is helping many varieties from going extinct. Raja spent most of his formative years in the lush green fields owned by his family in Rajapalayam. In summers, Raja would spend most of his time helping his father in the mango orchards.

Speaking to The Better India, he says:

I have had the privilege of having taste many varieties of mangoes. I say privilege because most of these mangoes have either gone extinct or are on the verge of disappearing from this world.

It was heartbreaking for Raja, a fourth generation farmer, when the Horticulture College and Research Institute at Periyakulam declared ‘Puliyadi’, a native mango, extinct in the late 90s.

The memories of his childhood spent feasting on the delicacy came to the fore upon hearing the news which compelled him to make it a mission to preserve the mangoes that are likely to become extinct and if possible revive the mangoes that have died out.  

My elders often spoke about the final tree in one of the farms that gave Puliyadi mango. The tree would flower in February and that would be the advent of Puliyadi. It had wriggly leaves and the fruit had a sweet taste to it.

Raja went on a searching spree with a very tiny possibility and high hopes of finding it.

Within a few days, he found the last surviving puliyadi mango tree and immediately approached his elders with an aim to conserve the tree. He took out a branch and grafted it, creating a mother plant in 2003.

The grafting process took a couple of years to form a tree and once it was ready, he submitted a sample to the Horticulture Institute, “They were amazed to see the variety that they had declared extinct.”

Seeing the success story of Puliyadi, the 63-year-old was motivated to save other endangered species like pottalma, panchavarnam, banganapalli. Among his mango plantation, the Karuppatti kai (literally translates to jaggery fruit) variety is very unique.

This variety can yield up to 1,000 fruits each year and the colour remains green even after the ripening process. It tastes and smells just like jaggery. And the panchavarnam variety can be preserved for a year and eaten in mid-winter, he explains.

Raja’s family owns close to 10 acres of farming land, of which 1.5 acre is dedicated entirely to mangoes. Currently, they have more than 25,000 saplings of 15 types of mangoes.

One of the reasons that Raja attributes to the extinction of mangoes that would once flood the markets across India, is the lack of exports, “Many farmers consume the superior varieties of mangoes and hardly send their produce outside the state. Besides, the yields take a lot of time. Lack of patience and maintenance has resulted in this unfortunate state.”

To ensure that history is not repeated again, Raja selflessly distributed 5,000 saplings of rare mangoes to the local farmers for free, “The mangoes can be grown anywhere and do not require any special land or weather conditions. All that is needed is care and love.”

Raja also fears a surge in the price of traditional mangoes in future, “If we do not preserve these varieties, then we will have to start importing mangoes that were once a specialty of our country.”

Many native fruits are full of nutrients. Besides having a better taste and superior quality, these mangoes also have economical benefits. Due to their high yield returns, the farmers can fetch a better price. I request every farmer dealing in mango plantation to increase their production and effectively market the mangoes, he suggests.

Also Read: Fresh Mangoes Three Times a Year? Meet The Farmer Who Created The Unique ‘Sadabahar’

If you wish to contact him and know more about mango varieties, you can reach out to Raja at: +91 94420 57077

Featured Image Source: Pixabay

(Edited by Saiqua Sultan)

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Earlier this year, the Supreme Court-appointed three-member road safety committee led by Justice (retd) KS Radhakrishnan praised Tamil Nadu’s efforts in reducing fatalities in road accidents, and the numbers don’t lie.

According to the National Crime Records Bureau, out of 1,47,913 accident deaths in 2017 across the country, 16,517 took place in Tamil Nadu. In other words, the state accounted for nearly 11% of all road fatalities in the country. In the following year, the number of deaths fell to 12,213. This is a drop of 24.39%.

The decrease is all thanks to the efforts of critical stakeholders, including:

1) The police department, which seeks to enforce the rules.

2) The health department, which seeks to ensure that systems are in place to deal with emergency trauma care and helping people access these critical services.

3) The transport department, which seeks to ensure quality in providing licences and fit vehicles.

4)The highways department, which seeks to oversee the conditions on the road and transport department deciding on who obtains a vehicle and whether it receives a fitness certificate.

In all these avenues, policy decisions were being taken based on rigorous data analytics. In addition to this, the reason why Tamil Nadu succeeded was that all stakeholder departments worked as an integrated entity, particularly at the field level.

“At the end of the day, you need to save lives. Every resource that can work towards saving lives should be available at the time and place when required. This involves deep understanding of the processes, improving them based on data and more importantly having people on ground who actually implement them,” says Professor Venkatesh Balasubramanian of the Engineering Design Department, IIT Madras and Adviser, Tamil Nadu Accident & Emergency Care Initiative (TAEI), Government of Tamil Nadu, speaking to The Better India.

One of the steps that authorities took was to divide roads in 2 km grids to map accident hotspots in the state. Collecting further data on road accidents, it was then uploaded onto an application called the Tamil Nadu Geographical Information System.

Authorities identified the deadliest points across the state, which accounted for nearly 40% of all road fatalities and shared all this information with the police. This was also used for a variety of improvisations starting from positioning ambulances to identifying locations for TAEI Centres (public hospitals equipped with a high dependency ward and a multidisciplinary critical unit) in the State.

Also Read: ‘No Help’ No More: How Indian Cops Are Taking Emergency Help to The Next Level

What authorities also found was that even though the numbers showed that 70% of the cases were recorded as “driver’s fault,” there was a lot more that met the eye, specifically, a correlation between the size of the roads and incidences of road accidents.

With bigger roads came a higher chance of road accidents. Speaking to the Times of India, transport commissioner C Samayamoothy says that 37% of road fatalities took place on national highways, 34% on state highways and 19% of major district roads.

Naturally, these are spaces where motorists tend to speed up.

Responding to this data, the authorities built more speed breakers, signages and increased police patrol presence to dissuade motorists from speeding.

More importantly, with the data in hand, authorities also had ambulances from the 108 service waiting near these accident-prone zones on standby with the average response time improved to 13 minutes in cities and 17 minutes in rural areas across the State. With the 108 app in place, callers didn’t have to describe their precise location to seek help. On the dashboard of the ambulance driver, the 108 app would help mark out the exact location of the accident.

The 108 call centres used technology solutions like dual-tone multi-frequency signalling (DTMF) to improve services. When linked to computers in the call centre, DTMF devices help identify their location. This information is then sent to an ambulance driver who will reach the spot within minutes. The caller does not require an internet connection or identify his exact location.

However, an internet connection is necessary for the GPS-enabled ambulances. What this system does well is identify the caller’s location even though the latter may not have an internet connection, send information to him/her via SMS, and a link to the 108 app installed in the ambulance driver’s smartphone with all necessary information.

However, the biggest difference has come in how patients receive treatment at hospitals.

Here, the authorities undertook major structural changes, starting with developing strict protocols to reduce the number of trauma-related deaths in hospitals.

The challenge begins from the moment the patient arrives at the hospital. The patient is immediately slotted under a particular category depending on the nature of the injury.

For example, if it’s a head injury, the patient is sent for a CT scan under five minutes, while the radiology report is in the hands of a doctor under 15 minutes.

Meanwhile, there is another team clearing the paperwork, acquiring information about the accident from the police, paramedics attending to the patient or relatives.

Consequently, in many of the hospitals, they have also increased the number of available beds in the emergency ward.

“In my opinion, the biggest change is how Tamil Nadu has set up its trauma care system. It was innovation, and not money driven. To bring about positive results one could work only on 3 things. Change the mindset on how things are done, recalibrate the process and help skill-up the people involved in the care process. Everybody has a clear role and must perform it. Those occupying leadership positions in hospitals do a terrific job to make this a reality,” says Professor Venkatesh.

“A simple innovation brought by the TAEI team was to get the receiving hospitals prepared for an incoming patient. This patient arrival system was effectively implemented with the help of a dedicated cell phone provided to all the TAEI centres, a robust SOP and constant tracking mechanism. This advance information (pre-arrival intimation) provided just a few minutes earlier allows the receiving TAEI centre to get ready for the patient and deliver quality care at a faster pace. This process improvement reduces the delay in care delivery from the time patient enters. Everyone knows their jobs—how to handle the crowd, how to ensure all the resources are available for the quickest care, etc. After treatment, hospitals maintain a registry, which keeps a daily record of how many people were brought in, treated, what stage of their treatment, etc. There is a robust reporting process by the TAEI team. Every evening by 6 PM there is a daily digest of trauma and emergency care status in the State,” he adds.

According to this March 2019 report in The Hindu:

“TAEI integrated 26 government medical college hospitals, 31 district headquarter hospitals and 21 government hospitals working in strategic locations across the state. Every TAEI centre has a designated trauma nodal officer and nurse coordinators on duty at all times. According to health officials, earlier, one had to rush the victim to the nearest hospital for making an entry of accident report and only then, the victim would be taken to a district hospital or big hospital. In the new system, each hospital has trained staff who are skilled and protocols for management established. This not only helps give good care but also cut various delays.”

However, there is also the basic enforcement of rules like a rising crackdown on drunk driving, speeding and other violations like not wearing a helmet or seatbelt.

Last year, for example, the Chennai Traffic Police booked 24 lakh cases, collecting nearly Rs 27 crore from these violators, including Rs 4 crore from those not wearing helmets.

Having said that, this only touches the surface.

There are thousands of violations everyday that go unnoticed, or rule breakers are let go because there is a shortfall in traffic police personnel. Speaking to the Times of India, M Radhakrishnan, the founder of a non-profit called Thozhan, which works on road safety, the city has 4,000 traffic police personnel posts, of which 500 remain vacant. Making matters worse, there are questions about how they are deployed, often overseeing VIP events.

However, the police have effectively recognised this issue, seeking to address it by pushing for better technology. For example, the city traffic police earlier this year inaugurated a ‘contactless enforcement system’ with assistance from state-of-the-heart CCTV cameras.

Under this system, those who violate traffic rules are caught on camera which contains an Automatic Number Plate Recognition software.

This captures the vehicle registration number, following which a challan is sent along with a video grab of their violation to their homes. How much does this system make up for the shortfall of traffic police personnel remains to be seen.

Meanwhile, earlier this month, the city police also launched an app called ‘GCTP citizen service,’ which allows the general public to upload their complaints or traffic violations they witness in real time. However, there are also concerns about the state of roads, which has found its way to the Madras High Court.

Finally, one must stress the requirement for a separate lane for ambulances on the roads for faster transport of accident victims to nearby hospitals and trauma care centres.

Nonetheless, the reasons for the state’s success is clear.

“What Tamil Nadu has done is to follow a structured system and data-driven approach. In dealing with any road accident, multiple departments come into play before, during, and after the event. But their singular mission is to save lives. These departments were compelled to do better based on the data they possess. This surge towards improving the system came from the top in each of the stakeholder Departments. There is a focus on continual learning and improvement by learning from experts from around the world. The entire political, police, bureaucratic leadership and field level operatives came together to address these key concerns holistically,” says Professor Venkatesh.

(Edited by Gayatri Mishra)

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When seaweed farming was unheard of in India, Abhiram Sethi was driving a project for PepsiCo. He was working as a Director in-charge of exports in agriculture. It would not only prove that seaweed could be cultivated and processed into products, but also become a sustainable source of income for coastal communities in Tamil Nadu.

And so, in 2008, when he decided to leave the company, he asked PepsiCo if it would still run the project. The multinational giant told him that they would eventually shut the project or sell it to someone who could take it forward.

Abhiram Seth jumped at the opportunity.

Buying out the business along with the entire team, Seth moved on to start AquAgri, one of the first companies in the country to get into commercial seaweed cultivation.

Today, Seth’s company works with more than 600 fisherfolk in the restricted districts of Tamil Nadu and cultivates at least 600-800 tonnes of seaweed per year.

Apart from producing carrageenan, which is a binding, food thickening and gelling agent, sold to the food industry, Seth uses the seaweed to produce biostimulants. He claims that these can improve crop yield by 20 per cent. The Better India caught up with the man to document his journey.

Raised in Delhi, Seth completed his graduation with a degree in Economics from Hindu College. After completing his MBA from Jamnalal Bajaj Institute in erstwhile Bombay, he worked with Hindustan Unilever for almost eight years.

In 1994, he joined PepsiCo and worked with the giant for 14 years, until he bought the seaweed business from them in 2008.

“I started as a director of exports and agriculture at PepsiCo. During my stint there, I worked in several roles that included corporate affairs, relations, and sustainability. In 2000, we started a social initiative of seaweed cultivation in coastal Tamil Nadu. As someone who had driven the project for a long time, when the company said that they would shut the programme, I decided to buy it from them.”

What is seaweed cultivation?

Simply put, it is the process of growing and cultivating seaweed.

When they first started, Abhiram’s team processed the cultivated seaweed to obtain a hydrocolloid, carrageenan.

Extracted from red edible seaweed, carrageenan is widely used in the food industry for its gelling, thickening, and stabilising properties. Its main application is in dairy and meat products, due to its strong binding to food proteins. It is also used in ice cream mixes, pickles, as a clarifying agent in beverages, and even in jellies.

“When we were exploring the processing, we realised it would give rise to a lot of effluents and treating them would cost more than the processing. So we worked with scientific experts to analyse the properties of these effluents. We were amazed when we found that the effluents were nutrients that could be used for farming.”

At this point, Abhiram and his team decided to reverse the process. Instead of producing carrageenan at the front-end, they extracted the nutrients before producing the hydrocolloids.

The resulting nutrients, referred to as ‘biostimulants’, are organic, and useful for agricultural activities, claims Seth.

“When the initial journey of selling these biostimulants began, we realised that selling any agricultural product directly to the farmer was a big challenge because it was difficult to reach them. After conducting trials on the bio-stimulants, we started delivering the product under Tata Chemical products. The response was good but short-lived. When Tata decided to exit the fertiliser business, we were in shock, because they were our customers and they were going out of business. Then, IFFCo decided to collaborate with us and launched our products under a brand called Sagarika. They are joint venture partners at AquAgri. We are building it, and it is rapidly growing.”

What are the benefits of these biostimulants?

Seth lists them as follows:

• They can help farmers reduce the use of chemical fertilisers by 25-30 per cent.
• When paired with organic farming, they can improve the yield by 15-20 per cent. Seth claims that productivity can be much higher when used alongside fertilisers.
• In the advent of a crop undergoing stress, through a delayed monsoon, for instance, the chances of survival or revival using biostimulants are much higher.

Working with the coastal communities

The best part about the project is not the production of carrageenans or biostimulants, but the ecosystem it creates for the coastal community.

Seth explains, “The process of seaweed cultivation is eco-friendly, without the use of chemicals or inorganic inputs.”

Seaweed can be grown in different ways, but the most common technique in India is using the Single Rope Floating Raft (SRFR) method (Coir Rope & Nylon Rope). It involves the building of bamboo rafts and spreading them out in the sea. Seth suggests that there must be a space between the rafts to prevent overcrowding.

The fisherfolk take four bamboo logs and tie them to make a frame or a raft, using strings and small pieces of seaweed.

The task of tying the seaweed can also be done by women, making the process gender-neutral.

When the rafts are ready, they are floated on the sea. Once seaweed grows on them, in about 45 days or so, they are harvested, and the raft is replanted.

“With just three hours of work a day, a coastal farmer can earn Rs 700-800 a day with a 3×3 m raft. Unfortunately, even though the government is keen to make seaweed cultivation as a mainstream activity for coastal communities, there are a few impediments. Anything new is looked at sceptically. For a benign activity like this, the environment ministry has a different point of view. So the cultivation is restricted to certain districts in Tamil Nadu.”

The project helps more than 600 fisherfolks/seaweed farmers earn a sustained income on a contract arrangement with a fixed price.

“A fixed price prevents any market risks for the grower. They are entrepreneurs who work as per their flexibility and deliver products for a fixed price. They receive support from the fisheries department and other institutions. We provide them with supplementary inputs, loans, and grants when required. I think it is a viable model that does not displace the coastal communities from their natural habitat. This ensures that they are not forced to migrate to cities for employment, as they can earn a comfortable livelihood in their current situation.”

At its peak, about two years ago, the company cultivated almost 2,500 tonnes of seaweed with 1,000 fisherfolk/seaweed farmers. Now, the annual cultivation is between 600-800 tonnes.

Is seaweed cultivation profitable? Seth answers, “As a company which produces biostimulants or carrageenan, the competition is huge because we need to build our own market. But the process of seaweed cultivation for the grower is, without a doubt, profitable. If the government supports the cultivation in the gulf areas, it can become a big deal for agriculture.”

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He signs off, “Land and water are both scarce resources. But the sea is abundant. Seaweed cultivation is a form of aquaculture. But instead of water, it is agriculture in the sea. If it gets the required support and becomes a mainstream activity, it can have a positive social impact.”

If this story inspired you, get in touch with Abhiram Seth at abhiram.seth@aquagri.in or visit their website here.

Images Courtesy: Abhiram Seth

(Edited by Shruti Singhal)

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Back in 2016, Karthikeya Sivasenapathy, an organic farmer residing in Kuttapalayam village in Kangayam Block, Tiruppur district, was very concerned about the severe water deficit in the region.

Sivasenapathy is one of Tamil Nadu’s foremost experts in the preservation of native cattle breeds.

Following yet another drought, there was no water either for farming or livestock. Farmers from his village and surrounding areas were buying water at exorbitant rates, but those who couldn’t afford it had two options—stop farming or leave their village in search of work elsewhere.

Making matters harder, the Kangayam Block falls in the Kongu region of western Tamil Nadu, a rain shadow region under the Western Ghats.

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Until the 1950s, in this semi-arid region, which barely receives 620-650mm of rainfall annually compared to the state average of 1150 mm, livestock keeping (particularly cows and sheep) was the primary source of income with very few practising agriculture.

However, the construction of the lower Bhavani canal in the 1950s brought with it a lot of water for agriculture and consequently the region underwent a serious transformation.

With the availability of water, farmers began to grow cash crops like coconut, sugarcane and paddy, amongst others. Besides growing these water-stressed crops, the Kongu region also saw major industrial development, which again meant depleting water sources.

From 50 feet in the early days, farmers today have to dig borewells that go beyond 1500 feet.

Add environmental degradation in the Western Ghats (the source of all major rivers in South India) and what you have is drought and acute water scarcity.

This is the state of Tamil Nadu today.

“We decided that merely working on livestock wouldn’t help anymore because for us and them to survive, we need water. The first step we took was to construct a rainwater harvesting pond on a 4.3-acre plot of available land in the neighbouring Valliarachal village of Kangayam Block. Around the pond, we planted native palm trees,” says Sivasenapathy, who is also the co-founder of the Senaapathy Kangayam Cattle Research Foundation (SKCRF), in an exclusive conversation with The Better India.

Measuring 750-800 feet in length and 380-400 feet in breadth, the SKCRF began work on the pond in August 2017, and it was completed by the end of October 2017.

“For the first year, rainwater came in November, and the pond dried up by April. In the second year, we found that water lasted until the end of July. This year, we expect the water to last till the rains arrive by August-September. We depend on monsoons for the pond to get replenished,” he says.

Sivasenapathy mentions that it is apt that Valliarachal is the site of the pond. The village has a rich history to it, finding a mention in ancient records dating back 2,000 years. According to legend, Lord Muruga met his wife Valli in this village. There is a small Murugan temple in the village which is also very old. There is also a Shiva temple here which is over 1100 years old built by the Chola kings. The pond is located opposite this temple.

For the construction of this pond, SKCRF employed 20-25 labourers, heavy machinery to dig out the mud and construct culverts where the water enters and exits the pond, ten tractors for 30 days and five tipper lorries for 30 days.

The mud extracted from the pond area was used by residents on their farms to make their land more fertile. However, SKCRF still has some stockpiles of the mud, which they use to replenish their farm and also construct eco-friendly mud homes for workers staying on the farm as well.

More critically, however, farmers in the village have stopped using borewells. Water from the pond has not only replenished groundwater levels of the village, but thanks to it around 100 wells and borewells are full today. Also, the groundwater table for areas up to 2km east of the pond has been replenished.

Although agricultural activity has also picked up once again, farmers in the region have seemingly learnt their lessons from the past.

“Today, people have drastically reduced the production of water-stressed crops like coconut and sugarcane. In their place, the sowing of onions, groundnuts and other vegetables are catching up. Also, there is no fear today that their wells or borewells will go dry. They can cultivate their lands with great confidence,” says Sivasenapathy.

Speaking to a Tamil news channel, Senthil, a farmer, says, “In our village, around 100 acres of the land has become useful thanks to the pond. By storing rainwater, we can use it for a long time.”

Meanwhile, another farmer, Loganathan, says, “If it rains, the water gets filled in the pond. Before the pond, the water would flow to the panchayat town of Muthur. Now, the water is collected in the pond, and the water percolates into the ground. Our lifestyle has become more consistent with the water available.”

“Even if we don’t receive water from the lower Bhavani canal, we have enough water for farming because it has been stored. Even if the rain doesn’t come on time, we can survive with the pond water available,” adds Pazhanisamy, a local farmer.

So, this is the kind of real change which the rainwater harvesting pond has brought about, transforming the entire village and its surrounding areas.

Also Read: As Chennai Struggles For Water, This Man Has Enough For 6+ Months!

However, constructing this rainwater harvesting pond has come at a cost—around Rs 18 lakh. Nearly 20% of the money came from funds generated by SKCRF, but the rest was borrowed from the Muthur branch of the Syndicate Bank. It’s an agricultural loan they can repay over seven years.

For repayment, the SKCRF has initiated a fisheries project. The fish collected from the pond is sold to local contractors. With the availability of water, they are also growing different crops and selling them as well.

Besides assisting local farmers, this rainwater harvesting project has also helped revive SKCRF’s main project, which is the conservation of native cattle breeds and creating awareness and sustainability of livestock based farming system.

“We, the founders of SKRCF, had grown up with cattle, seeing them transport water from the wells, transport goods in bullock carts, and felt a sense of attachment to them. Thus, when we read a government report of how the population of Kangayam cattle, the mother breed of cattle in the state, had fallen from 40 lakh in the 1940 to 4 lakh in 2004, we decided to do something about it. With the advent of mechanization, this livestock went into disuse. We were on the cusp of losing something that has kept us alive for thousands of years. So, we wanted to work on the conservation of Kangayam and other native breeds of Tamil Nadu. Thus, in 2009, the SKCRF was born. Today, we are raising awareness about these native breeds and promoting sustainable livestock-based organic farming system,” he says.

Thanks to the pond, their project will proceed unhindered, and farmers who have been farming for generations will no longer have to sweat about the availability of water.

(Edited by Gayatri Mishra)

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Have you ever heard of a tribe in which the women get married only when they are about six months pregnant?

Will you be surprised to know that this tribe, named Toda, is known to follow polyandry and is located in the Nilgiris, a district in the southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu?

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One usually associates the Nilgiris with beautiful mountains, tea estates, and a weekend getaway. What gets overlooked is the vast culture, tradition, and the richness that the people of the place bring forth.

Maria Victor, the founder of Make it Happen, an experiential holiday curating company, speaks to us about how the district has so much more to offer to travellers who are willing to look beyond the scenic landscape and cushy hotel rooms.

“The underlying theme of most our tours is to promote sustainable living and bring our guests face-to-face with the ill-effects of over-consumerism, thus encouraging them to adopt a more organic lifestyle. We are really big on ensuring that each of our guests gets to experience the place like a local, and we also try and nurture inter-cultural understanding and bringing about respect amongst these diverse cultures,” says Maria as we begin our conversation.

In the Nilgiris, there are two tribal communities that Maria and her team help their guests experience—the Todas and the Kurumbas.

“These tribes have their own unique ethos and customs,” she mentions.

Maria started Make it Happen as a hobby travel club in 2011, with the intent to change how people view holidays. In 2014 she quit her corporate job and plunged into this full time, and the company was officially set up in 2017.

Her husband, Murali Shankaran, also joined her, and today, the team consists of 6 employees and 25 different hosts from across India.

So what do these holidays entail?

While guests will get to experience all the ‘touristy’ aspects of the region, like visiting a tea estate and taking in the scenic beauty they will also get to spend quality time with the members of the Toda and Kurumba tribes.

Additionally, as part of the trail, guests are taken to visit one of the last surviving artists of the Kurumba tribe who lives in a hamlet within the forest. She says, “He conducts workshops and teaches the guests to paint with paints made from forest gatherings. This gives him a sense of pride in his community and the work he does.”

‘Maria says, “It opens you up to a world which you are completely unaware of. In all our curated holidays there is a lot of interaction and exchange of ideas between the guests and the locals.”

What impact does this sort of travel create?

“Speaking from what we have seen, this kind of curated travel helps in introducing people to local communities; it also creates a platform for the local community to showcase their art, local skills, and culture to the rest of the world. We see that this creates a sense of pride in them,” explains Maria.

Besides exposing both the guests and community members to a different sort of experience, Maria mentions that periodic training programmes are held for the communities to help them showcase and market their skills and history better.

She says, “Very often while they have all the knowledge of what and how things are done, they are unable to convey the same to the guests. We have seen that the training programmes gives them the confidence that they sometimes lack. What Make it Happen also does is create various employment opportunities for the local communities; whether it is by showcasing the art work does by the members or other handicrafts,” she says.

The Nilgiris tour, known as the ‘Mystical Nilgiris trail’ is a fairly recent launch, but Maria says that the number of people who have visited the region is slowly increasing, and the team is taking this as an encouraging sign.

“A group of students recently visited the Toda village, and each of them came back with a wealth of knowledge that no book or class could have ever provided them.”

“There is still so much that even anthropologists who have been researching them, haven’t yet uncovered, and therefore, the trip becomes even more fascinating,” says Maria.

Concluding our conversation, I ask what sustainable travelling means to her. Maria says, “First and foremost there must be economic benefits to the community you are visiting. While there will be a lot that the guests take away from their trip, it must also be enriching for the host communities.”

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She also mentions small efforts like refusing plastic bottles and plastic bags while travelling, carrying recyclable cloth bags, ensuring that one does not litter while on tour, are all ways by which we can become conscious travellers.

(Edited by Gayatri Mishra)

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Kandasamy Subramani, a doctor who heads the intensive care unit at the Christian Medical College, Vellore, pays no electricity bills! Yes, you read that right. And it is all because of the five kW solar plant that supplies electricity to his entire house. He also has a roof garden that keeps his home cool but the rainwater harvesting tank underneath his car parking slot is definitely catching people’s attention.

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Around 10-12 years ago, Subramani’s gated community started facing water issues and began to think of ways of conservation.

One day, when he was walking in the rain along the paved path in his society’s grounds, Subramani noticed that all the rain water was running into the drains. Though this was not something new and had been going on since the apartment came up, watching the fresh water going to waste like that made Subramani think of ways to stop it.

“We put speed breakers on the roads and constructed structures to recharge groundwater. We even took water from the roof of the clubhouse and put it into the recharging pits,” he told us. The speed breakers slowed down and diverted the flow of water through a casing pipe into the recharge pits dug 30 feet deep into the ground.

This exercise was at the community level.

However, working at a personal level, Subramani constructed a rainwater harvesting system in his house around four years ago.

With the help of his friend, a civil engineer, Subramani procured the required materials, referred to the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) Delhi and various other internet sources to help clear the technicalities. Subramani managed to have the system built for Rs 4 lakhs. He says that now, the construction cost would be Rs 10 lakhs.

The two friends monitored the rain patterns for four years and collected the data to assess what the capacity of the tank should be.

They then built a 6,000-litre sump underneath the car park. But why the car park? Subramani is a firm believer in not wasting, and that includes space. He decided that the area under the car park, which would normally remain unused, was perfect for this structure.

First, they dug out a cavity in the car park for the tank. They then built a two-tier filtration system whose first level is charcoal and gravel. The second level consists of three layers of gravel and one layer of river sand to deal with organic matter and microbes and to check the odour respectively. A pipe connects the rooftop to the filtration unit, and another connects the filtration unit to the sump. The sump is covered by a slab of concrete that can easily hold up to 3 tonnes of weight. Subramani says he can park three cars on top of it. As no sunlight enters the sump, it eliminates the chances of algae formation, and the water remains clean.

When it rains, the water from the rooftop is directed through the filtration system into the sump. This filtered water is then pumped into the tank on the terrace for daily use.

The collected water is sufficient for about eight to nine months of use, depending on the number of people consuming it. The water is used for cleaning, bathing, and almost everything else except in toilets, for which Subramani still uses borewell water since he feels that if the harvested water is used for flushing toilets, then it would deplete very fast.

Subramani purifies the same water with an RO filtration system before drinking and cooking purposes. The conscientious doctor says that the complicated designs for rainwater harvesting systems that builders give are not required. He designed this system with the help of a few friends and resources from the internet, proving that we can do anything we put our minds to.

The Facebook post he put up after his rainwater system started working garnered an overwhelming response which he had not expected. “I never expected it. I posted it on a Facebook page called Tamil Nadu Weatherman intending to help people who wanted to do the same, but this received a much bigger response than I had expected,” smiles Subramani.

He hopes his post will encourage more people to adopt sustainable environmental practices like rainwater harvesting.

Subramani has a message for all citizens: “We create the problems we face, and the solution is not difficult. People hesitate to spend money to save water but spend to buy water. You don’t have to have anything complicated – a simple pit will do,” he adds.

(Edited by Saiqua Sultan)

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If things went as I had planned, I would have been dead today,” begins 45-year-old B Murugan.

In 1992, he had just written and failed his class 10 examinations, and had decided to take his life.

Twenty-seven years later, he runs an organisation that takes care of the homeless and provides them with meals every week. He is happily married and has two children.

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Speaking to The Better India, he recollects the day his life turned upside down. “Despite putting in my best efforts, I failed the examinations, and I did not take to it very well. I ran away from home with Rs 300 and decided that wherever the bus would take me, I would end my life there.”

The bus took him to Sirumugai in Coimbatore, about 500 km away from his hometown, Chennai.

And all through the journey, he couldn’t think beyond his failure.

“I felt worthless. At 2 a.m. in Sirumugai, as I sat on the footpath, I met an elderly cobbler who sheltered me for the night. I saw many unfortunate people around me, sleeping on the footpath.”

“I realised that taking my life would be a horrible thing when I could spend it helping others in need.”

That changed Murugan’s life.

“I will never forget that night or that elderly man, who, without saying anything, saved my life,” he adds.

Speaking about the early years, he says, “All the beggars at the Sirumugai bus stop collected money for me to go back to Chennai, but I returned it and decided to stay there and do something useful.”

The first job he managed to find was at a hotel nearby where he waited tables and cleaned. “I got three meals there, so I stayed there and worked. I would wake up at 4 a.m., clean and bathe in the nearby pond, and start work. I did this for six months, after which I got the job of distributing the newspaper every morning. I did whatever odd jobs came my way.”

In 2006, unfortunately, the company that had hired him for these odd jobs, closed down. This prompted him to apply for a driving license.

“The money I made by driving the auto was spent on feeding the homeless,” he says.

On average, he would earn Rs 3,000 a month. He used a part of that money to buy vegetables, rice, and cereal to cook for differently-abled children in a school nearby. While Murugan changed jobs, he never stopped feeding the needy, and their numbers only kept increasing.

Inspired by his work, six other friends joined him, with each contributing Rs 100. In 2008, Murugan started an organisation, called Nizhal Maiyam, meaning ‘Shade to the homeless’.

Slowly, others started pitching in. Today, the organisation provides home-cooked sambar-rice for more than 1,300 people every Sunday.

He elaborates, “From Monday to Friday we all work to make money. We then spend our weekends in cooking and distributing the food to homeless people in about 25 shelter homes. We begin the preparation on Saturday night, while the distribution happens on Sunday. My wife and two children are an equal part of this.”

Do they make enough money? He answers, “We have so many well-wishers helping us. One of my former employers, Shabbir Imani, is a god-sent, who contributes money each month.”

Murugan spends approximately Rs 20,000 a week on the ingredients. What started as one man’s mission, has more than 50 volunteers today.

As we end our conversation, Murugan says, “We all need that one turning point to realise that we are meant for so much more than we believe. We just have to allow ourselves to go with the flow.”

You May Also Like: Inspiring! Son’s Way of Remembering His Father Feeds 500 Hungry People Everyday

It is one meal, but for many, it is the only filling meal they get in the entire week. If you wish to reach out to Murugan and help his cause, call him on +91-98650 93251 or contact them Facebook here.

(Edited by Shruti Singhal)

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How many times have you felt vulnerable while walking down the street, not just at night but also in broad daylight? This has happened to me so many times that I have lost count. Sometimes, I wish I were brave enough to turn around and ask the letching men to back off, but have been unable to gather the courage to do so.

When Sreeja, an Assistant Director in films, found herself in a similar situation, she decided to stand up for herself and take matters into her own able hands.

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Like most days Sreeja was returning from work and was at the Perungudi railway station in Chennai when she realised that a man was stalking her. She was worried, but instead of letting it get to her, she proceeded calmly with her weapon of choice—a ballpoint pen—and made a quiet exit.

So what did Sreeja do exactly with the ballpoint pen? Well, she took off the cap of the pen and aimed for the aggressor’s eye.

This video might give you a sense of the various techniques that one could adopt to keep aggressors at bay.

Sreeja believes that this was only possible as she has received training in an Israeli self-defence technique called Krav Maga from her father, S SreeRam. Originally developed in the late 1930s by Hungarian-born Israeli martial artist, Emrich “Imi” Lichtenfeld, it was used by the Israeli army before being redeveloped for civilian use in the 1960s.

59-year-old SreeRam started learning this form of self-defence when he was 45, and three years later he started his own Krav Maga academy in Chennai, in which he has directly or indirectly impacted the lives of almost 30,000 women.

In this fascinating conversation with The Better India, he speaks about why he chose this martial art, how he works, and ways in which women can protect themselves from aggressors and attackers.

“For over two decades, I was an advertising and branding person. I worked as an art director and then moved to the corporate sector, where I was heading the marketing communication for an anti-virus software company,” he begins.

I ask why he chose to make the shift from a comfortable corporate role to teaching Krav Maga, and he replies, “I was a black belt in karate when I was in college, so the interest was always there, but life in the corporate world did not allow me any time to pursue this interest.”

At the age of 45, SreeRam felt that everything around him was going downhill.

“I would keep reading about cases of women getting abused and raped day-in-day-out. While I was making money and leading a comfortable life, I felt that I needed to break free of that routine and needed to vent and find an avenue to do that.”

It was during this phase in his life that he came across Krav Maga, which was a different sort of martial art he says. “Instead of spending money on going to a gym and running on the treadmill, I decided to learn it.”

SreeRam was the oldest student in the class, and admits that his fitness levels weren’t up to the mark.

“Until then, I was smoking and drinking heavily, so even to manage the class well was an effort in the beginning. It took almost six months of training to regain a working level of fitness,” he says to me.

When he started learning, it wasn’t to train others. “I just wanted relief from my mundane job, and I didn’t have a clue that life would take such a turn,” he mentions.

Every six months, SreeRam would visit Delhi, where Israelis would come to conduct the instructor course.

“It usually is a one-week-long packed course where one is kept busy from morning until night. Even that was something that I looked at as a break from my routine. I had completed three levels so when I was approached to teach in Chennai, I agreed,” he says.

SreeRam started by teaching on Sundays—he used to hire a hall in a nearby school and slowly he found students.

“I decided to consult on various projects and teach Krav Maga on weekends. I even went to Israel to get an independent instructor certificate.”

I ask him how much this would cost someone, and SreeRam says that other than the travel expenses to Israel, the course and certification costs about 1500 Euros (Rs 1 lakh).

In Chennai, the classes cost Rs 4,500 for working professionals for three months.

“We wanted to make this affordable and even teach approximately 20 per cent of the students for free. We have an incubation plan for boys from lower-income backgrounds wherein once they learn they go to schools and conduct classes and also earn some money out of this. We have about seven such boys,” he says.

A typical day in SreeRam’s life is as follows

“I start my class at 6:30 am, and that goes on for an hour. The rest of the morning is spent in fine-tuning various pitches and paperwork. Afternoons and evening are spent in schools and colleges where we conduct classes and workshops. Usually, from 3-5 pm, we are at schools in various parts of the city. I also teach the Tamil Nadu police, where I am a regular trainer at the Commando school.”

With an average of 100 students each month over the last ten years, SreeRam has impacted and changed the lives of many people in Chennai. He goes to talk about why it was so important for him to train women.

“I was watching the news one day about a girl being molested by a man because she had argued with him earlier. That stayed with me, and when the opportunity came up, I spoke to the Chennai police commissioner about training women. We started by training two women officers from every station and over three months, trained 70 women officers, and thus began our journey with training women.”

Has the experience of training women been any different from training men?

“While there are apparent differences in their physiologies, Krav Maga is not based on physical strength. When we teach women, we focus on techniques they can use to defend themselves and leave the scene. Even though women realise that it is a critical skill, they are slightly cynical about it,” he explains. While this is true, many students often call SreeRam to thank him for training them, telling him about how they used the techniques to defend themselves from aggressors.

In Krav Maga, SreeRam says that the emphasis is on using available objects to defend oneself. Remember to use your voice, your fingernails, your high-heeled shoes, even a pen as weapons if the need arises. For example one can use bags, chair to shield themselves, pens, forks, scissors can be used in place of knives, and alcohol, perfume and deodorant can be used to temporarily blind the aggressor.

To understand what women who train with SreeRam feel about the art form, I spoke to 29-year-old Sudha Rajagopal, who has been training for three years now.

“The fact that this was a technique that would help me defend myself is what attracted me to it in the beginning.”As a woman, there were several instances where I have been eve-teased and made fun of, while earlier I never dared to do anything about it, learning Krav Maga has instilled tremendous confidence in me.”

She adds, “What’s also amazing about it is that anyone can learn it, without the need to have any prior training or fitness levels.”

So does learning this martial art form make you a superwoman?

“Absolutely not. What it does is give you the ability to defend yourself. You tend to feel helpless in situations where you face an aggressor, and this art form equips you with the ability to fight back.”

This technique can be taught to anyone aged 10 and up.

“Anyone younger than that is not in a position to comprehend the potential harm that it may cause. Even if kids come to class, we only teach them techniques to improve balance and stamina. The intent is to tire them out. However, anyone above 10 learns the proper techniques,” says SreeRam.

SreeRam’s important tips for women:

1. Be aware

One of the essential aspects is situational awareness. Everyone is usually glued to their mobile phones while walking, and one must remember that no crime happens just like that. An aggressor or a thief studies the situation well before an attack takes place, and therefore, one must be aware at all times.

2. Always keep your antennae up

Taking off from the previous point, SreeRam says that whenever you are in a public place watch out for out of the ordinary things. You might notice being followed, or someone clicking pictures without your knowledge. If your guard is up, you will see these things and can take immediate action to stop it. Crime never happens suddenly, so always be prepared.

3. Don’t reveal your emotional vulnerability

Whether online or offline, SreeRam urges women and girls to not reveal their emotional vulnerabilities. You will find people taking notice and showing concern immediately and while sometimes this concern may be well-intended, many times it is not and can cause grave issues. So refrain from doing so. Don’t assume that everyone around you is good. People who wish to win you over will always put their best foot forward, so take your time before you completely trust someone.

After this in-depth conversation with SreeRam, I have made up my mind to find a centre near my home so that I can also learn this self-defence system.

It’s important to always feel in control, and Krav Maga is one step in that direction. If this has inspired you to learn this martial art form or reach out to SreeRam to get more information, you can e-mail him at kravmaga.chennai@gmail.com or check their Facebook page here.

(Edited by Gayatri Mishra)

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Charity can mean different things to different people, but for Loganathan, it has only one meaning—an opportunity to serve others.

Born in a family of daily-wage labourers, he could not study beyond Class 6 because of financial constraints.

“I was 12 when I began working in paper mills and workshops. I don’t want any child to face such difficulties and give up on their dreams, so I do whatever I can to help,” he says, speaking to The Better India (TBI).

Motivated by personal hardships, the 52-year-old has been cleaning toilets for the past 17 years to earn extra money that can help fund the education of underprivileged children.

Every day, Loganathan finishes his welding work and heads to clean the bathrooms of private companies in Coimbatore.

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“People associate a lot of shame to this job of cleaning washrooms, but I feel nothing of that sort. Is it shameful that I am contributing to the sanitary hygiene of hundreds of people who use them, or is it a shame that I use the money to help hundreds of children have a better future? It is those people who need to feel shameful for their narrow ideas!” he asserts.

A native of Kannampalayam, Coimbatore, he started the initiative in 2002, and began collecting clothes and books from well-to-do families to distribute them to orphanages. In addition to this, he continues to send Rs 10,000 every year to the district collector of the city to be sent to government orphanages and has also been instrumental in providing primary education to almost 1,600 students living in orphanages.

Nothing in life is simple, though. Despite his noble intentions, Loganathan had to face criticism from all directions for the one hour job he does after his welding shift. “Friends and family were not happy with the work I was doing. Many even stopped talking to me, but I didn’t let it bother me. I began by earning Rs 50 for an hour, and it eventually increased to Rs. 2,000 every month and all of it goes to the orphanages,” he adds. Loganathan’s reasoning was pretty basic, less labour, more money in less time, and this forward-thinking man did not let taboos, stigmas or even the taunts from friends stop him from doing what he believes in—education for all.

To help support his family and his vision, he managed to start his welding shop in 2018, as his previous employers were skeptical about his part-time toilet-cleaning job.

“I did not want to be fired from work and then struggle to find a balance between my family and the orphanages. I can never choose between the two. My workshop now allows me the flexibility to continue cleaning toilets, without any judgement,” says the man.

After years of good work, the criticism has faded, and many of his family members feel proud of him. “My daughter is now studying in Class 12, and my son is doing his MBA. I hope that they keep helping others after I am gone,” says Loganathan, who dreams of creating a charitable, educational trust in the coming future to ensure that poor children of Tamil Nadu never have to compromise on education for the lack of funds!

Loganathan’s inspiring journey is a testimony of how a common man can bring a sea of change by doing instead of just speaking that no work is beneath anyone.

(Edited by Saiqua Sultan)

Also Read: 16-YO’s Landslide Detection Device Can Make Mumbai’s Self-Engineered Slums Safer

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In the village of Kuttiyagoundanpudur, close to the arid region of Oddanchatram in Tamil Nadu’s Dindigul district, lies Aadhiyagai Parameswaran’s six-acre farm.

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The area lacks a perennial source of water to keep crops well-fed, but 29-year-old aeronautical engineer-turned-farmer, Parameswaran is confident his farm will thrive. His crops can withstand severe drought conditions because they are native to this arid region.

Born in a family of farmers, he grew up watching his parents toil on leased dryland. Although he was studying engineering, his love for the soil surpassed his will to graduate.

“Undoubtedly, a combination of genes, environment, and passion made me discontinue engineering in my fourth year to become a full-time organic farmer in my village.”

The family was upset at his decision. His parents asked why their son would want to quit the chance at a comfortable life to toil in the soil.

“They were disappointed in the beginning, as any other parent would be. But now, looking back at my journey, they are happy and proud of my decision. Apart from them, my wife Kayal has been a strong pillar of support in my farming journey.”

In 2014, he took to organic farming on a leased six-acre plot. He was inspired by G Nammalvar, green crusader, agricultural scientist, environmental activist, and organic farming expert. He had attended a workshop at Vanagam in Karur, where he learnt some ideals of the expert. Coincidentally, BT brinjal was making headlines at the time.

To kickstart his seed-saving journey, the young farmer travelled across villages in Tamil Nadu, interacting with experts and veteran farmers to document native vegetable varieties. These travails were an eye-opener.

Apart from growing chemical-free food, he also created a seed bank named Aadhiyagai (which means first blooming in Tamil), with more than 300 native vegetable and fruit seeds. Collected and documented over the past five years, he now distributes them to farmers in the neighbourhood and youngsters in cities and towns.

“I was surprised to know the names of more than 500 varieties of brinjal in Tamil Nadu. Likewise, there are as many varieties of okra/lady’s finger, which can give yields for as long as three years. We even have the rarest pink-coloured lady’s finger in the Kongu belt.”

Unfortunately, many of these varieties had dwindled into extinction because of lack of cultivation and multiplication. This furthered his resolve to conserve them.

Presently, his seed bank has 13 varieties of okra/lady’s finger, 30 varieties of Brinjal, 30 varieties of bottle gourd, ten varieties of indigenous maize, rare varieties of vegetables like clove beans, winged beans, and sword beans.

Many varieties he collected were bring grown by farmers in their backyard for consumption and not commercial use, while others were sourced from seed savers and festivals from across the country.

He encourages local farmers to sow these native varieties in small patches of land for home consumption and multiplication.

Giving us a sneak peek into the workings of this farm, Parameswaran reveals that three acres out of the six-acre land are used to cultivate groundnuts. The remaining three acres are used to cultivate indigenous varieties of tomatoes, chillies, winged beans, clove beans, sword beans, ladies finger, bottle gourd, snake gourd and brinjal.

Growing native varieties does not require additional external input, so he doesn’t use manure.

“Our land comes under a dryland region. Native seeds are naturally potent, drought-resistant, and have higher immunity against pests and diseases. Manure is not required for them either. An occasional drizzle is enough to sustain them for a good yield.”

How then does he control pests?

“Instead of monocropping, we follow multi-cropping, so that there is a minimal chance of crops being affected by pests. This eliminates the need for pest control. The idea is to invest in diverse crops, indigenous to various regions.”

Apart from farming, another source of income is helping people set up terrace gardens and backyard farms. He has conducted gardening workshops in more than 200 locations.

“Even in congested cities like Chennai and Madurai, we help people set up green spaces. Our workshops are mostly experiential and focused on helping people set up backyard farms or terrace gardens. We given them seeds from our seed bank and once they use them, we collect some seeds from them to replenish our repository. It is a win-win situation all around!”

Why is conserving native varieties so crucial?

He answers, “Since the dawn of hybrid varieties, local farmers are left without seeds because they can’t afford them. An average farmer spends 20 per cent of his income on seeds alone. While the lifespan of hybrid variety okra is only 100-120 days, native varieties are longstanding and can yield from six months to three years. These can help our farmers, and since these seeds are location-specific, there is an urgent need to mobilise the youth to join forces in conserving them.”

Parameswaran emphasises the need for the youth to take up agriculture. He says, “Did you know more than 2,000 farmers give up farming every day? This phenomenon is called the Great Indian Agro Brain-drain. There is an inherent need for us to make our youth aware of the prevailing conditions.”

He suggests that we could begin by teaching them about soil health, rainfall patterns, cropping cultures, and empowering them about the severity of the water crisis and the ancient art of water harvesting.

“Only when we make agriculture a part of our mainstream education, will it be able to bring a little cheer to the farming community,” he concludes.

“My parents didn’t own any land. I grew up watching them practice agriculture for 40 years on leased land in more than 20 locations across Tamil Nadu. My only dream is to own a farm on land I can call my own and set up a seed bank there,” he signs off.

If this story inspired you, get in touch with Parameswaran. Write to him at foodfirst.tn@gmail.com, check out his Facebook page or WhatsApp him on 085263 66796.

Also Read: Gurugram Farmer’s Technique Stops Wastage of Veggies, Multiplies Income by 4 Times!

Check out some more pictures here:

(Edited by Shruti Singhal)

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What does a typical day within a school campus look like? Children running around or painting and perhaps even sitting in silence, immersed in reading?

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Well, the APL Global School is unlike any other. It is known for its Cambridge IGCSE curriculum and focus on teaching life skills to its students and the fact that it has an edible campus.

Yes, you heard that right.

Its students, armed with the philosophy of Japanese natural farmer, Masanobu Fukuoka, the principles of permaculture design and the guidance of their teacher, Maya Ganesh, have grown 200+ varieties of plants and more than 50+ local species of biodiverse trees and shrubs.

The Better India, got in touch with Maya to map the journey of how it all began.

Armed with a degree in Economics and an MBA, Maya had a very successful corporate career. However, her heart lay close to nature, so at the age of 39, she decided to switch careers.

She enrolled at the University College London, for a Masters in Environment and Sustainable Development, with a focus on the Global South and the issues that plagued developing countries.

One of her earliest influences was her professor and author, Dr Robert Biel who grew his own food on an allotted piece of land in the city.

When she returned to India, she lived off her savings for almost eight months, due to the lack of work, but used the time to undertake courses in regenerative agriculture, particularly permaculture.

Apart from training under different proponents of natural farming including Dr Debal Deb, Raghava from Aikanthika, Larry Korn, Clea Chandmal, and Narasanna Koppula, she also worked on multiple community-driven sustainable projects.

And yet, one of her strikingly different projects that stands out is spreading her love for the soil to young minds at APL Global School.

It all began in 2017, when the school decided to shift its campus to Okkiyam Thoraipakkam in Chennai.

“From dry patches, to creating a biodiverse system that boasts of flowers, fruit trees, herbs, fibre, dye, shrubs, vegetables, birds, insects, worms and microorganisms and small reptiles—we have come a long way in the last three years,” says Maya.

This garden is inspired not just by Japanese farmer and philosopher Masanobu Fukuoka’s method of natural farming but also puts to use principles of agroecology, permaculture strategies, and the Miyawaki Method of afforestation.

“Under the initiative, kids from Classes 1 to 12 plant native or indigenous varieties in every nook and cranny of the school campus. Every inch of outdoor spaces that the school has, now grows herbs, vegetables, fruits, shrubs, herbs, flowers, medicinal plants, and even fibres. The plantation is diverse with a mix of hardy perennials and fewer annuals to create a permanent, self-sustaining, biodiverse system. And most native seeds that we use are open-pollinated, rare and forgotten.”

The produce is not sold commercially, and is instead distributed among students, teacher-facilitators, staff and everyone within the school community.

To extend the benefits of the garden to the under-privileged and teach the students the importance of sharing, the school is now extending its seeds, cuttings and saplings to anganwadis in Chennai, where Maya works with volunteers to create nutrition gardens.

When Maya started her journey, she had only eight students. Since the slate was blank, and the campus had pockets of land instead of one huge patch, she used her creativity to adopt and tweak several methods to suit the soil and the climate.

“When we first started, the soil lacked biomass. And the housekeeping staff would often sweep away the dead and fallen leaves because they thought it made the campus look dirty. It took me a lot of convincing to avoid them from doing that because these fallen leaves, twigs and branches were the biomass that could nourish the soil.”

The key to making this system successful was biodiversity, just like a forest. So today, even on a small garden bed on the campus, you may find 20 different plants. Most of them are edible, and the biodiversity helps keep pest attacks and weeds at bay.

Since permaculture design is a closed-loop system where all the waste generated in the system has to go back into the system, all the waste generated within the garden goes back into it as compost and to mulch the soil.

Only last year, when Maya came up with the idea of using the Miyawaki method of afforestation, the school decided to earmark two small patches for the experiment. The native seeds were sourced from Chennai.

“In the initial months, these plants only grew about 1.5 feet tall, and we thought that perhaps, the lack of biomass was an issue. So we sourced waste from a local sugarcane vendor, the local vegetable market and an apartment complex in the vicinity. We dug pits and filled them with this biodegradable waste and planted trees in a phase-wise manner. Within a year, these trees have grown seven-eight feet tall!”

Today the school garden, as well as the Miyawaki patch, attracts a host of insects, birds, animals, and reptiles.

From five native varieties of brinjals to Balinese ginger and sweet potatoes that are white—the garden has successfully grown plant varieties that you may not even find in the supermarket.

Meanwhile, the Miyawaki patches operate like a self-sufficient wild forest and have herbs and trees ranging from gooseberry, papaya, pomegranate, henna, wood apple, peepal, lemon, guava, banana, vegetable hummingbird tree, etc.

“We also have a huge family of garden lizards that keep the insect balance.”

Also Read: Engineering Dropout to Organic Farmer Growing 300+ Native Veggies: TN Man’s Inspiring Story!

While most of their seeds are sourced and bought from Sahaja Seeds and Yarroway farm, they are now working on conserving and multiplying open-pollinated seeds themselves.

Maya also uses her network of regenerative agriculture teachers and practitioners all over India to barter open-pollinated seeds or often they send some seeds as a goodwill gesture.

“We also invite special guests to interact with the children. Past guests include Dr Sultan Ismail Ahmed, a soil biologist and ecologist, and Nina Sengupta, the author of ‘Edible Weeds and Naturally Growing Plants in Auroville,” she says.

Their latest experiment is growing indigenous ‘Karunganni’ cotton and brown Peruvian cotton given as a seed gift from safe food activist, Anantha Sayanan.

“While working in the garden, the students often complain about their arms aching after half an hour of work. I then remind them of how much effort our farmers put in to grow food for all of us. This not only teaches them about the importance of hard work but also helps them respect the food on their plates and the farmers that grow it.”

She ends with a message saying, “Our focus will always be Earth care, People care and Fair share—the three permaculture ethics. We want the children to understand that they do not have to stick to conventions; and can also do something different in life, like farming. Regenerative farming that can not only make them self sufficient but also help combat climate change.”

If this story inspired you, get in touch with Maya on her Facebook page, Eat Your School Garden. You can also write to her at mayaganesh74@gmail.com.

Check out a few more pictures from this edible school garden:

(Edited by Gayatri Mishra)

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“What is remarkable about Krishnan is not that he is a great scientist but something much more. He is a perfect citizen, a whole man with an integrated personality.”

Independent India’s first Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru could not have been more accurate in describing eminent physicist Kariamanickam Srinivasa Krishnan, also known as KS Krishnan.

Want inspire young minds and broaden their career options. Check out this set of 5 books that introduces them to the stories of a diverse set of role models from different disciplines, here. 

Impressed by his remarkable contributions in the field of science, Nehru appointed him as the first director to run the National Physical Laboratory (NPL), India’s first national laboratory, which was set up in 1948.

Establishing the NPL was a pivotal step for the country that provides a platform where brilliant minds from India conduct research and make advancements in areas of physics.

From its research articles making it to the top-cited articles by international physicists, winning prestigious DST Lockheed Martin Innovation Award to being India’s official time-keeper, the research and innovation lab has multiple feathers in its cap today.

Early Life

Krishnan was born in Tamil Nadu’s Watrap village in 1898. His father, a farmer and scholar, was well-versed with religious works of literature, and thanks to him, Krishnan was exposed to the importance of education from a very early age.

His love for science bloomed when he was in Class 9, and he credits his teacher for instilling this in him.

“Even though my teacher was not a professional scientist, he was good at explaining science in a clear and captivating fashion. His lessons not only sunk deep into our mind but also made us crave for more science. Whether it is physics, geography or chemistry, his teaching style was unique. He did not simply reproduce the lessons from the book. He demonstrated many simple experiments for us and also encouraged us to do experiments ourselves. Very few teachers I know are of this type, and I feel fortunate to have had him as my first science teacher,” he said.

After passing out of school, he attended the American College in Madurai and the Madras Christian College and acquired a masters in physics.

In his book, ‘Journey Into Light: Life and Science of Raman,’ G Venkataraman writes,

“Krishnan took a master’s degree in physics, but the only opening then available to him was a Demonstrator in chemistry in Madras Christian College. During this period, Krishnan ran an informal but highly successful lunch-hour discussion on diverse topics in physics and chemistry, which soon began to attract participants from other colleges as well. One beneficiary later remarked that he had learned more physics from the lunch-break seminars than from regular classroom lectures.”

Krishnan’s career as a physicist started in earnest in 1920 when he collaborated with CV Raman at the Indian Association for the Cultivation of Science in Calcutta (Kolkata). In 1928, Raman along with his student Krishnan discovered ‘Raman effect’ which is the inelastic scattering of a photon by molecules which are excited to higher energy levels.

Krishnan describes his time with CV Raman as a “festive season in my science life.”

He then went to work as a Reader in the physics department at Dacca University (now in Bangladesh). There, he invented magnetic anisotropy of dia, an energy required to deflect the magnetic moment in a single crystal from the easy to the hard direction of magnetisation.

His work recognised internationally and was even published by The Royal Society of London.

From there, he moved to the Allahabad University in 1942 and worked there as a Professor and Head of the Department of Physics.

During his lifetime, Krishnan was strongly associated with the premier scientific and educational organisations like the Atomic Energy Commission, the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research and the University Grants Commission.

Besides science, he was interested in politics, and thanks to his father, had developed an enduring love of religion and Indian philosophies. He was also an avid reader and Stevenson, Arthur Conan Doyle, Victor Hugo and Shakespeare were some of his favourite authors.

For his extraordinary contributions to science and technology, Krishnan received several recognitions, accolades and awards in his lifetime.

In 1940, he was selected for the prestigious fellowship of the Royal Society. He was conferred with Padma Bhushan in 1954, and he was the first Indian to get the Bhatnagar Award in 1958.

Krishnan passed away in 1961, but the legacy that this great scientist, leader and a teacher has left behind, will forever remain alive in the minds of his disciples.

Also Read: Bishun Khare: The Forgotten Scientist Who Has a Crater on Pluto Named After Him!

(Edited by Gayatri Mishra)

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P Jesuraja is usually the first one to arrive at his workplace, ‘Café Able,’ in the Thoothukudi district of Tamil Nadu.

Ten years ago, the he 38-year-old’s life came to a standstill after he lost his right leg in an accident. He was unable to find any employment due to his physical impairment, and while he tried to run a small-time photocopy business, it barely made any profit.

Create an ecosystem that promotes an inclusive society. Check out these products crafted by people with disabilities, and support them in living with dignity.

On July 7 this year, his decade-long struggle seemingly came to an end, when he finally found a job cleaning and cutting vegetables at the café, where he earns a stable income and is not subjected to pitying glances.

Jesuraja is one of the twelve differently-abled people, who have found employment in Café Able. Eleven of them have locomotor disabilities, and one is hearing impaired. They have been hired for various posts including head chef, juice master, tea master, billing clerk, and so on.

Sandeep Nanduri, the District Collector (DC) of Thoothukudi, is the brains behind this idea.

I would frequently receive petitions for jobs from the differently-abled, but it wasn’t possible to provide government jobs to everyone. So, we decided to enable them to run their own venture and came up with the idea of opening a café, Nanduri tells The Better India.

The DC first formed a Self-Help Group comprising of people with disabilities who had requested him for a job.

Then, he collaborated with the Oscar Hotel Management college in Rajapalayam, and enrolled them in a 45-day training course in cooking, catering and baking. The ‘Dream Team’ was also taught how to handle customers, what to do during a crisis, how to manage finances, and so on.

Meanwhile, the café, which is located inside the premises of District Collectorate, was constructed through CSR funds obtained by three private companies and the money raised by the district administration. The employees are not expected to pay monthly rent for the land as the aim is to make it self-sustaining.

Café Able is equipped with the latest kitchen and baking necessities. From a delicious South Indian breakfast, lunch and dinner, hot beverages to juices, it offers an array of food items at reasonable rates.

To further break stereotypes around disabilities, Nanduri often holds discussions and meetings at the cafe. “We also order food items for staff meetings from there and encourage district officials to dine there.”

This has led to an increase in the customer base, and the café earns around Rs 10,000 daily. Half of the profits are deposited in the bank from where their salaries are generated, and the rest are used to shop for ingredients.

It has been a little over a month, and the café is thriving, which is, in a way a step towards inclusivity and acceptance, believes the DC.

There was some initial hand-holding required, but soon, the employees were able to manage and run the cafe on their own. Today, hundreds of people visit the café daily; the lunch hour is usually the busiest time for them.

Nanduri has also recorded a change in the attitude of the employees, and that for him is the biggest achievement. “I remember when the training commenced, they were very low on confidence and scared of failure. Today, I can see a drastic change in their behaviour. Their fears have been replaced by a sense of conviction to succeed in the venture.”

Also Read: Almost 95% Disability Couldn’t Stop This Gritty UP Lad From Getting a PhD

Note: All photographs courtesy Sandeep Nanduri

(Edited by Gayatri Mishra)

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One man’s trash is another man’s art – how true is that! And coupling this pearl of wisdom with their concerted effort, the Naravarikuppam Town Panchayat in Tamil Nadu has managed to convert a dumpyard into a mini-forest!

With a slight change in temperature across the country, this herbal drink containing a blend of Ramacham, Iruveli, Muthanga, Narunandi and Pathimugham, Dahasamani is just the thing you need. Click here to buy.

What’s amazing is how everything that is considered ‘waste’ and makes its way to the dumping yard like discarded washbasins and commodes to torn shoes and old tyres has been effectively utilised in the forest.

In this case, these rejected items now have flowers blooming out of them.

Taking to The Better India (TBI) R Madhiyalagan, the Sanitary Inspector in-charge of the yard explains how this change was brought about.

People would walk by this area covering their noses. Today it has been transformed into something that everyone takes pride in. It is amazing what one can do with ‘waste’, he begins.

The Panchayat took care of the odour by planting the ‘Poosa Maram’ (Portia tree). “This plant has the capability to absorb the odour from waste and that in turn helps the sanitation workers who are segregating waste by providing them with a good working space,” continues Madhiyalagan.

The once dump yard, today boasts of trees like pomegranate, sweet lime, guava, and also has plants like lemon, lady finger, tomato, black plum, lemon and bitter gourd.

The sanitation workers and other staff members who work on the yard take these fruits and vegetables free of charge, says Madhiyalagan.

He adds that the workers make cleaning solutions with the lemon from the yard. These too, are taken home by the sanitation workers and other members of the team free of cost.

On an average, the team collects about 5 kgs of fruit peels from the nearby temple, vegetable market and the town. These peels are dried for around 10 days and then mixed with 2 kgs of jaggery and 20 ltrs of water. The mixture is then kept for about 15 days till it turns dark yellow which indicates that it is ready to be used.

“The intent is to make the panchayat zero-waste and also convert waste into useable products,” says Madhiyalagan who wants other districts to emulate this idea.

Also Read: Turn Your Garden Into a Wildlife Haven: 5 Insects That Are Great For Your Plants!

(Edited by Saiqua Sultan)

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Indians are sincere lovers of chocolate. We consume so much chocolate that our markets are estimated to emerge as one the largest for it in the world by 2024.

From mainstream bars, cakes and shakes to the more innovative paan and the downright crazy (but just as tasty) sandwiches – chocolate has made its way into our menus and more importantly, our hearts.

And India’s native spin to traditional chocolate – Ooty chocolates – has plenty of fans for sure.

But whatever our favourite brand of chocolate is, here is a more important question – how many brands promise their efforts are helping rural artisans earn a decent living?

Here’s one that does do.

Click here to purchase the delicious chocolates by the socially empowering, Ooty Made.

‘Ooty Made‘, hand-making chocolates since 2011:

Based in the Nilgiris in Tamil Nadu, Ooty Made began as a small experiment eight years ago. Initially, they were making a few varieties of home-made chocolates.

It was more of an employment opportunity for underprivileged women in Ooty.

The items were sold to customers with the help of small local shops. Today, they make about 100 kg of chocolates every day- all only against the orders they receive!

“We had never imagined the overwhelmingly positive response we’d get from the consumers. Taking the hint from their feedback, we scaled our model and production further. Today, we make and sell over 32 varieties of chocolates!” C Vijayakumar, the Chief Executive tells The Better India.

A variety to make every heart melt:

Depending on my mood, my preference for chocolate changes. Sometimes I want plain milk chocolate, and when I feel especially luxurious, I want a variety of dry-fruits in them. Well, Ooty Made offers both and more!

Their milk, fruit and nut chocolate is to die for and for those who love their chocolate dark and bitter, they have those with cashews as well as other dry-fruits. You can check out these varieties and more by clicking on this link.

These sweets cost between Rs 530 and Rs 660- all in packs of 500 grams. Pick any, and you are sure to love them. Click here to read more and purchase the chocolates.

You may also like: B’Luru Couple’s Super-Healthy Organic Honey Empowers 550+ Tribals in 5 States!

(Edited by Vinayak Hegde)

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When IIT-Madras alumnus, Suryakumar Boriah moved back to India in the late eighties after working in the United States in the field of engineering, he wanted to work for a cause that he felt passionate about. He started exploring alternative career options and decided to give shrimp farming a chance.

“My family has been farming for decades now and an integral part of my upbringing. But I did not want to grow vegetables and fruits, so I decided to explore shrimp farming and today, it has been 30 years since I have been doing shrimp cultivation,” Boriah tells The Better India.

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Boriah’s 100-acre eco-friendly shrimp farm is located in Tamil Nadu’s Mahendrapalli village. This one-of-its-kind farm is a successful example of disease resistant, eco-friendly shrimp farming employing the biofloc technology (BFT) known to increase the output twofold naturally, keep insects at bay and has zero-water exchange.

No wonder this farm is a source of learning for the farmers in the village and researchers across India!

Boriah learnt the BFT from professor Yoram Avnimelech of Technion, an author and professor at the Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa.

Interestingly, Avnimelech studied the farm techniques Boriah used and even wrote about it in one of his papers on cultivating shrimp in small ponds.

Understanding The Problem

Shrimp farmers use a lot of chemicals and culture during shrimp farming which is susceptible to diseases like the White Spot Virus. While the chemicals do help in preventing the disease outbreak, they can end up in the shrimp, putting consumers at risk.

Another challenge that comes with shrimp farming is the artificial feed given to the shrimps to ensure high-density farming.

“When the proportion of feed is high, the shrimp waste discharged in the pond is also high. And the excess feed contain high amount of proteins that eventually breakdown into ammonia, which is the biggest challenge in aquafarming,” the 66-year-old explains.

With excess waste and feed in the ponds, an effective waste-treatment facility is necessary considering that farmers have to flush out the pond water once every month. If the water in unfiltered, it can pollute the water body it is being discharged into or even pollute the neighbouring farming lands.

Facing the Problem

Boriah started his company Hitide Seafarms in 1989 to cultivate shrimps. He used the traditional method of pumping water from estuary to exchange pond water but the estuary’s water quality and level is usually affected by scanty rainfall.

While he continued battling with minor problems, his practice was severely hit during 1996-97 when the farm was attacked by the White Spot Syndrome Virus, a viral infection affecting penaeid shrimp.

To counter this, he started interacting with experts in the field and fortunately, during a seminar in Kochi, he met Avnimelech who told him about BFT and also spent some time in Boriah’s village to guide him.

Addressing the Challenges

“The BFT enhances the water quality in aquaculture in a sustainable manner,” informs Boriah.

A biofloc looks like brown or green sludge which is an aggregate of uneaten feeds, shrimp waste and microorganisms such as bacteria, algae, fungi, invertebrates and detritus, etc. It uses photosynthesis to convert the waste into nutritious food.

Boriah uses heterotrophic bacteria as a major component in the open pond. Heterotrophic bacteria multiplies upon consuming ammonia.

Boriah also adds molasses in the pond to increase bacterial growth. The bacteria, in turn, becomes protein that can be fed to the shrimps.

When the population of bacteria is high, they combine together to become floc which also naturally filters the gills of the fish.

To protect the shrimp from diseases, Boriah has laid High-density polyethylene (HDPE) sheets in the pond. The most important element in BFT is the aeration or oxygen that has to be supplied constantly. For the same, Boriah has installed an aerator.

“On the one hand the heterotrophic bacteria needs oxygen for life processes and on the other hand, solids in the pond reduce the ability of the water to hold oxygen. In such a scenario, oxygen must be added through aeration process. One has to ensure 100 per cent power back up otherwise the entire exercise can fail,” he adds.

The Result

The production per unit at Boriah’s farm is approximately four times higher than conventional cultivation. “Presently, the biofloc pond gives up to 20 tonnes of shrimp per hectare as against five tonnes,” Boriah shares.

As for the investment cost, one requires an investment of Rs 30 lakh per hectare to set up an eco-friendly shrimp farm.

“Aerators, bacteria and a reliable team of 75 people are behind the success of sustainable shrimp farming,” says Boriah.

The shrimp farmer highly recommends sustainable farming that will not only give higher profits and yield but also work in harmony with nature.

“You just have to follow the rules of the land by using natural inputs and avoid pesticides or antibiotics. Lastly, ensure that waste water is not dumped in the river,” he signs off.

Also Read: 74-YO Ex-IPS Officer Turns Organic Farmer, Grows Paddy & Shrimp in Kerala!

Picture Courtesy: Suryakumar Boriah

(Edited by Saiqua Sultan)

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In the summer of 2019, Chennai was battling a severe water crisis. Dried out taps and faucets let out a helpless whirring whenever opened. Armed with bottles, buckets and tumblers, people stood in miles-long queues for a bucket of water.

Miraculously, Jaswant Singh’s little ‘green’ home in Mogappair never faced any problem with water even during those days. The groundwater table at his house has never run dry. “In fact, we had so much excess water that we distributed it for free among our neighbours,” he shares with The Better India. 

Ditch the sugar in your food. Go for organic jaggery instead. Healthier, sweeter and a better option.

Even in 2016 when Cyclone Vardah ravaged Chennai, Jaswant Singh’s home, which has a treehouse, was spared. 

Wondering what magical charm is protecting Singh’s humble home against natural mayhems? The answer is a mini forest that Singh has nurtured for the past 35 years. 

This forest, which spans across 10,000 square feet, houses thousands of plants comprising 350 rare species, which Singh has painstakingly collected from all over India in over three decades.

The 58-year-old civil engineer who owns a construction business, possesses an astounding knowledge about each plant species in his garden. Chennai’s beloved Sadarji has all sorts of info about his plants on his fingertips ranging from their scientific names, medicinal benefits to mythical legends about them. 

Though his ancestors hailed from Jalandhar, Punjab, Jaswant Singh, who was born and brought up in Chennai, is more parts Chennaiite than Punjabi. Perhaps, he is one of the very few in Tamil Nadu who can recite all 1,330 Kurals (couplets) of the ancient Tamil poet Thiruvalluvar. His garden boasts of an intricate carving of the Bard that Singh had engraved on the oldest mango tree.

Jaswant carving the image of his favourite poet on a tree in his Chennai home
In his youth, Jaswant had followed in his father’s footsteps and opted for a career as a civil engineer, though gardening is where his penchant lies. 

Trees always intrigued him, but it was not until he was 19 years of age that he explored gardening as a hobby. 

“It was the late 1980s. The perils of pollution had started to manifest itself, thanks to rapid deforestation for expanding the city. We would hear how, without trees, humanity would perish,” he recalls, later quoting a Thirukural which asserts the indispensability of trees for human survival. 

That was the cue which prompted young Singh to pay more attention to the trees around him. “It all started with a Tulasi (holy basil) shrub,” he says. Gradually, from Tulasi, he moved on to other beneficial plants.

The rapidly rising number of plants necessitated a bigger space, so Singh embarked on converting his entire property into a plant museum.

His love for travelling joined hands with his passion for plants. No matter whichever place he visited in India, he would end up amassing rare plant breeds native to that place. As a result, Singh’s prized collection now constitute the mystical Brahma Kamalam from the mighty Shivalik Himalayas which blooms once in 12 years as well as the rare Thillai or Blind-your-eye mangrove from Chidambaram.

“This Thillai tree is almost impossible to find these days. Only a few are still surviving discreetly at the Thillai Natarajan Temple in Chidambaram, which gets its name from the surrounding grove of Thillai trees.”

Once upon a time, leprosy patients from all corners of India used to throng the shrine. Ancient hermits prepared a medicinal concoction from Thillai extracts which, as legend has it, cured leprosy. At the same time, a single drop of the milky juice from the plant can keep a person blinded for quite a while.

With an air of excitement, Singh moves on to his next fascinating find – the Crescentia or Beggars Bowl. Singh explains, “Ancient sages used this fruit as a bowl for eating. It is deemed to have antimicrobial properties. Legend is, even if somebody serves poisoned food in these fruits, it would be rendered detoxified.”

Singh’s mini-forest in Chennai is perhaps one of the handfuls of places in Tamil Nadu where one can find the state flower Flame Lily (Gloriosa superba) in all its blazing red glory. The flower, though fatally poisonous, had traditional usage as a potent antidote for snake venom. 

A series of plush sandalwood trees, both the white and red varieties, adorn a corner of Singh’s garden. The Tamil Nadu state law, which legalised sandalwood plantation by individuals at home only in 2002, now strictly prohibits the cutting of any sandalwood tree. Needless to say, Singh has little intention of ever felling his prized collection, rather he keeps on adding to the number of sandalwood plants in his garden. 

A captivating aroma from a crushed leaf of Borneo Camphor wafts through the garden as Singh speaks about the plant like a pro. Camphor, now synthesised commercially, was traditionally obtained from these leaves! 

At Singh’s home, there is no place for refined sugar. He sweetens his tea and favourite desserts with a few leaves of Stevia or the Meethi Tulasi (Stevia rebaudiana), which is claimed to be 250 times sweeter than regular sugar. 

“Sugar is the root cause of modern lifestyle diseases like diabetes,” says Singh who always recommends everyone to grow at least one Stevia plant in a pot. “All their sweet needs would be sorted, in a much healthier way.”

It was after Singh spoke about Stevia to a leading news daily that a number of agricultural researchers probed into the plant and reaffirmed its benefits with conclusive research. 

Singh’s family has adopted an all-organic diet with fresh vegetables, fruits and herbs from their home garden. The first floor of his house is reserved for vegetables whereas another floor is entirely dedicated to a fruit orchard, that has been beautifully simulated to resemble a forest ecosystem. 

“We have let a horde of lovebirds and other small birds live freely in the fruit orchard. You can see them fly around, build nests and chirp merrily all day long!”

He has set up drip irrigation throughout the area, and condensed water from the air-conditioner is redirected to water the plants through these pipes. 

He also practises apiculture and has kept boxes where honey-bees have thronged to build beehives. At a time when many species of bees are on the verge of endangerment, Singh’s entire garden has all-natural pollination.

Singh powers his sustainable home by 1.5 kilowatt-worth solar panels fixed on the roof. All the lights are LED, saving up to 60 per cent of energy consumption. 

The sprinklers on his lawn and the drip irrigation pipes on his terrace gardens are all improvised to save water. For instance, the water is automatically adjusted as per the seasonal requirement. 

The house has a large composting pit which supplies biogas for up to 90 minutes every day, aside from providing green manure and vermicompost ingredients. 

At the Singh household, food is prepared in an end-to-end traditional and sustainable procedure. Singh himself is an excellent chef who has featured in cooking shows for local TV channels. Not only the ingredients come fresh from his garden, but the food is also cooked in sustainable vessels over an earthen hearth. 

At present, Jaswant Singh’s garden has turned into a key tourist spot in Chennai. Even students from Tamil Nadu Agricultural University drop in for a hands-on experience with the plants they are more accustomed to seeing on their textbooks and laptop screens. Singh provides a guided tour of his extensive garden, accompanied with his captivating stories and intriguing insights, and often a plate full of homemade organic snacks. 

Wife Geeta heartily shares how obsessed Singh is with his plants. “He has been like this since our marriage. Not a day goes by when he doesn’t spend hours after hours with his plants. I often help him out in the work. It’s really peaceful, to be with the plants.”

She adds how often students, tourists and even dignitaries keep dropping in at their home. Many of them had even had a hearty and healthy meal atop their 13 ft X 13 ft treehouse on the mango tree, that can support up to 27 people!

“We have had people coming from Europe, Dubai, South-East Asia, who were mesmerised by our garden,” says Geeta. 

“People come to my garden often with a sceptical mind and apprehensions, but I can vouch that they all leave with peace and calm in their hearts,” Singh chimes in. 

He continues, “We have come from the soil and we will all go into the soil. There are as many colours of soil as there are human races. It is only our baseless social construct and mindless exploitation that has caused the soil to be ‘dirty’. We have to start respecting this ‘dirt’ and all the creatures nourished by it. That’s the only way humanity can escape a doomed end.”

Also Read: Plastic Bottles to Discarded Tyres: Forest Officer Upcycles Waste Into Stunning Garden!

(Edited by Saiqua Sultan)

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Itches, rashes and a burning sensation down there are the worst. You regret that synthetic underwear at such times. As if the fabric itself wasn’t bad enough for your skin, the artificial dyes add to the risks. Three in four women are at the risk of getting a vaginal yeast infection at least once in their lifetime and your panties may just be the culprit.

Silk and synthetic fibres are not breathable. But worry not! Tamil Nadu’s Thuvam is making pure cotton underwear without dyes or bleach. What’s more, you could save about 100 litres of water with every piece of underwear.

Click here to get your skin-friendly underwear right now!

Why is cotton underwear the best?

Well, for one, it is breathable! Your skin needs air to avoid the growth of bacteria and yeast infections.

“Women have been conditioned into thinking that underwear must be of a particular type, with respect to fabric, elastic, design etc. Thuvam hopes to break that conditioning by offering a solution that’ll keep their private areas healthier and happier,” Ponmani Pethurajan shares with The Better India.

Underwear made with a thought:

There is very little awareness of the importance of using the right underwear. Some women are also too shy to discuss the problems of the wrong fabric. With Thuvam, Ponmani wants to ensure that even if the topic is still hushed, at least women don’t suffer because of unbreathable synthetics.

The fashion technology graduate began her career in a cloth shop in Madurai. As a teenager, Ponmani would design her clothes and wanted to make a profession out of it.

However, she wanted her art to follow three crucial issues—use fewer chemicals, water and machinery to make her clothes, make comfy garments and empower rural women.

With these factors in the focus, Thuvam was born. You can purchase their amazing products by clicking on this link.

Making skin-friendly underwear that conserves water!

A cotton garment is bleached, dyed and then printed. Even if you don’t include these three steps, growing cotton, making the cloth and stitching it into a garment uses anywhere between 100 to 150 litres of water.

Thuvam simply eliminates these steps, conserves water and makes panties that are safe for your skin!

The panties have a pocket in the centre to insert cotton cloths on a period emergency or simply as a panty liner. Ponmani says that one of their designs uses elastic simply because women are more used to it than the string that Thuvam prefers.

Both these designs are available on our Karnival shop, which you can purchase by clicking on this link.

“Knitted fabric requires heavy machinery. That’s not the case with hand-woven fabric. Moreover, most of the stitching for woven fabric can be done on simple sewing machines. There is zero usage of plastic in the making and shipping of Thuvam underwear – an ideal solution for people following the no-plastic lifestyle. There is no wastage in the production process. Leftover cloth bits are used in making stuffed toys and given to kids in the village,” informs Ponmani.

They also empower!

Thuvam is based in the Puliyanoor village in Tamil Nadu. With most men having left the village to search for jobs in the city, Thuvam is providing employment to the women in the village.

Ponmani shares, “Through our tailoring school, we try to provide a means of livelihood for the women. The women work on a daily wage basis from 10 AM-3 PM when their children are at school. This gives them time to run errands and spend time with their kids in the evenings. The idea is to make their life easier while giving them a source of income. There’s a cloth cradle hanging in the tailoring school for mothers with newborn children.”

Click here to purchase safe, sustainable underwear.

You may also like: 8 Awesome ‘Made by Mom’ Brands That Keep Your Kids Safe From Harmful Chemicals!

(Edited by Saiqua Sultan)

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Meet 23-year-old Guhan RP, the co-founder of Coimbatore-based Gugu Energy, an electric vehicle technology startup along the lines of Tesla Energy.

This reusable N95 mask by Pure Me can filter the PM2.5 present in the air and help you battle the scourge of air pollution.

“I was in my second year of engineering when I watched a Tesla video along with my friends, and it inspired us deeply. So, in 2015, we started building an electric car out of my parents’ garage. However, that initial spark of enthusiasm soon dissipated upon realising the cost of building one. But my passion never wavered, and instead focussed on building an electric two-wheeler,” says Guhan, speaking to The Better India.

Two years later, Guhan reached out to Kannan A, a Coimbatore-based industrialist and early-stage investor on LinkedIn, among other angel investors. Impressed by Guhan’s vision, Kannan soon joined hands and co-founded Gugu Energy. He also pitched in with seed capital of $250,000. Subsequently, they even got a CEO of Dubai-based private oil and gas corporation onboard who invested $500,000.

Today, the startup is making significant strides in battery technology, developing their R-SUV, which is a cross between a scooter and a motorcycle, and have a moped named Gugu, which is already in pre-production stage at their in-house R&D centre in Coimbatore.

With a top speed between 45 and 50 km, which is ideal for mobility in urban settings, the Gugu moped will come in two variants⁠—the standard one, with a battery range of 80 km, and the long-range one going up to 180 km.

It will receive approval from the Automotive Research Association of India (ARAI) in three months, and be ready for launch in eight.

Equipped with remote diagnostics, advanced connectivity with smartphones, effective battery management system, cooling systems, and on-board chargers, the lightweight moped is seemingly ideal not just for personal mobility, but for bike-sharing companies and entities dealing with food delivery, courier services, etc.

Another exciting aspect is that the consumer can acquire the moped based on a subscription model.

“You pay a refundable deposit of Rs 20,000, and the subscription model will take care of service, maintenance and the vehicle, with the customer paying Rs 2,000 per month for a minimum retention period of 15 months. After 15 months if you don’t like the vehicle you can unsubscribe to our service and receive the Rs 20,000 alongside interest,” informs Guhan.

“The essential technology used in the moped and the R-SUV will be the same, but will differ in terms of form factor (complete design),” he adds.

Underpinning both the moped and R-SUV is the Gugu Energy-designed, first-of-its-kind lithium nickel battery unit that can supercharge a two-wheeler from 0-80 per cent in under 30 minutes, and offer a range of up to 100 km.

“The life of the battery pack will be 80,000 km or 1100 charge cycles which is will be more than six years of usage, and after 1200 cycles, the battery degradation will be 85 per cent. If the vehicle gives an average of 70km/charge, after 1200 cycles it will give about 55-60, which is 20 per cent less performance. So the battery will be good to last over a vehicle’s run time. But in the near future, Gugu will try to increase cycle life to more than 1500+ charge cycles which can eliminate battery life anxiety…,” said Guhan to the Financial Express.

Elaborating on this to TBI, Guhan said, “We have already crossed 20 patents with our battery pack manufacturing efforts. Our objective is to enhance the life-span of these batteries and make them water and fireproof, although battery swapping technology will not be available. You can charge these batteries at home or your office. Moreover, Gugu will try to increase the charge cycle to more than 1500.”

Conventional lithium-ion batteries have charge cycles ranging from 600-800, which is a maximum of three years.

“We are trying to increase it to five years and reduce the battery cell costs for 1KWh to $170-200. The standard in the market $200-250 from Panasonic to various Chinese manufacturers. We are currently at $185,” he quips.

To accelerate the development of the EV sector, you need low-cost batteries and institute the sort of core innovations Gugu is currently pursuing.

Several companies use lead-acid batteries, and there are different types of lithium batteries, like the lithium-ion or lithium ferro phosphate. Gugu’s focus is on how to improve the charge cycle of the battery, reduce the cost and automate the production process. Their focus firstly is on reducing the cost.

“We are eliminating cobalt content, the single biggest contributor to cost in battery pack manufacturing. It plays a key role in the thermal management system of the battery. Instead, we are increasing the nickel content and decreasing cobalt to about less than 5%. Another critical area of focus is safety, making it both water and fireproof,” says Guhan.

With these innovations in play, entities like Gugu could very well change the game for the electric two-wheeler sector and help India transition away from fossil fuels.

Also Read: 150 Km on 1 Charge: Meet Revolt RV400, India’s First AI-Enabled Electric Motorcycle

(Edited by Gayatri Mishra)

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