Parenting doesn’t come with a manual, but I learnt a lot when I became a first-time mother. It was a great feeling — he was someone that I had to keep healthy and happy forever. I was a quick learner and figured out the drill pretty soon, starting with diapering.

I always leaned towards ‘natural parenting’ and listened to my mother and mother-in-law for advice on infant care. My predisposition to all things natural, coupled with the fact that my baby was prone to allergies and rashes just strengthened my resolve to cloth diapering.

And that’s what started my quest for the perfect cloth diaper.

Modern Cloth Diapers (MCDs)

My first child was born in the US, where several cloth diaper brands were available to us. These Modern Cloth Diapers (MCDs) had styles and designs to choose from, and they served different needs (night time, heavy wetter, etc.).

Cloth diapering with MCDs seemed like the right choice. These were a tad better than the average langots we saw in India. There was some thought that went behind the choice of fabric, the one-size-fit-all and they claimed to work like any other disposable while being rash-free and leak-proof — the only two features in a diaper that mattered.

I started with a small stash of MCDs and enjoyed the process. At first, I was just happy to do my bit for the planet. It was reassuring to know I was being green and leaving a better world behind for my children.

Not as Convenient

MCDs seemed convenient when we started our cloth diapering journey. It was easy to do once you got used to the routine.  But there if anything went wrong — one would have to start all over again. For example, if the baby was sick, the piles of laundry (not to mention the smell of used cloth diapers) quickly became overwhelming.

The commitment was challenging to maintain. To truly convert to cloth, one had to have an ever-ready ‘stash’ of at least 8-10 cloth diapers with different sized inserts (an absorbent layer put inside the diaper) at all times. And they weren’t cheap.

Another issue that I was facing with cloth was that of leaks. It takes some time to find the right fit — especially in the ‘one-size-fits-all’ variety. And by the time you figure out a setting, the baby grows out of it. So, leaks were inevitable in several scenarios, often leaving me to figure out where I went wrong.

There was also the additional laundry time, needed to clean and wash cloth diapers.

Even on the ‘being green’ front, things were not as bright as they first appeared. I later learnt that cloth diapers consume a lot of groundwater during production thanks to their use of Polyurethane Laminate (PUL). Also, some of the trims on the cloth were imported, adding to the overall carbon footprint. And all that additional washing added detergent and softeners to the groundwater. All this and more increased the greenhouse gases that these diapers generated.

Deflecting to Commercial Disposables

The final blow came when I moved back to India with my 8-month-old. Delhi’s groundwater is ‘hard’, i.e. contains high mineral content. That, coupled with the heat, impacted the core functionality of my diaper – increasing leaks and rashes.

So MCDs did not work for me in the long run. I would often shift back to commercial disposable diapers. Initially, it was while going out and night-time diapering. But eventually, I was using disposable diapers throughout the day.

While the convenience of disposables was a hard habit to break, I wasn’t able to deal with the guilt I felt over the amount of trash I generated daily.

To reduce toxic waste, I tried to turn to imported biodegradable disposables diapers.

However, over time I learnt that not only was the process of bio-degrading waste not adequately implemented in India, but our waste management system did not separate organic and inorganic waste. And the disposables were exorbitantly priced to boot.

My search for options continued.

Converting to Hybrid Diapers

Hybrid Diapers are simply diapers that separated into covers (the outer layer with designs) and soakers (the absorbent inserts). These diapers sit on the spectrum between a disposable and a cloth diaper, hence the word ‘hybrid’.

Hybrids brought with them the best of both worlds between cloth and disposables. The cloth took away the guilt of generating excessive waste, and the insert made the diapering process less bulky. There are several brands which sell both reusable and disposable inserts as well, reducing that worry also.

They seemed like the perfect option. Hybrids were more comfortable to use and learn, required less washing, and fit better than regular MCDs.  They were also cheaper than regular MCDs and needed a smaller ‘stash’ to make them work.

Health of Cloth and the Convenience of Disposables

The hybrids available in India were not entirely convenient. A significant issue was that the covers came with snaps that could hold only the inserts that came with that particular cover. But I liked hybrids and wasn’t going to give up on them. So I finally decided to stick to the hybrids, but only after I came up with a solution myself.

That is when I designed ‘Bdiapers’, a hybrid diaper with a patented 2-part pouch system that separated the ‘cloth’ from the ‘diaper’. Bdiapers are sold with washable and disposable inserts which makes it convenient; reduces washing and encourages reuse. And the pouch system makes it easier to secure any type of insert (home-made included) – making it one of the healthiest diapering options in India.

While the pouch system reduces washing and water wastage, the inserts encourage proper waste disposal. You need to toss away solids in the toilet bowl before wrapping these in paper and disposing of them like any other non-biodegradable separated waste, like say, a sanitary napkin.

To sum up, hybrid diapers worked best for me, and I have been committed to bringing these to other moms who are always looking for an alternative to disposables and are not able to commit fully to the cloth.

While diapering is an essential part of our parenting journey, it is vital to figure out a system that works best with your temperament, predisposition and the health of your child. I hope this journey helps you make the right choice for you.

Amrita Vaswani is a mother of 2 boys, 4 & 9 years old, and the owner of Bdiapers, India’s only Hybrid Diaper with Chemical Free Disposable bio-soakers. Amrita is a passionate advocate of Organic, Natural and Eco-Friendly Parenting

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The views expressed in this article are that of the writer’s and do not reflect the opinions or position of The Better India.

Image courtesy: Bdiapers

(Edited by Sruthi Radhakrishnan & Vinayak Hegde)

Ever since the lockdown began in March, it has been marked with uncertainty and fear owing to the pandemic. To escape from these testing times, people have embraced technology to stay connected with loved ones. We have found ways to keep ourselves entertained, thanks to OTT platforms or home-delivery services. However, news has become more depressing and there appears to be a change in content preferences among netizens – podcasts. 

As a result, podcasters and listeners are undergoing rapid change in their style of audio content creation and consumption, respectively. Listeners are preferring to access more positive and uplifting stories. To address the need, many new podcasters have entered the field. 

Inspiring through stories of critical-illness

Delhi-based Pallavi Rao Narvekar hosts Can Inspire, a podcast that explores real-life stories from fighters of critical illness. Pallavi’s journey into the world of podcasting wasn’t easy. In the past two decades, she has worked as a radio jockey at All India Radio and Radio Mirchi. Things were going well in her career as she enjoyed interviewing interesting people for her shows. 

However, tragedy struck when she got diagnosed with cancer. It was so severe that her vocal cords got affected and her doctors told her that she couldn’t speak anymore. “The doctors literally gave up on me but I was adamant to work things out,” says Pallavi. “After intense medical care, yoga, and will power, my health eventually improved and I could start speaking again.” 

But her health faced complications yet again in 2015 and she got admitted for treatment. It was here when she started writing a book based on the people around her. “Storytelling and narration have always been a part of my DNA. I spent most of the time speaking with everyone at the hospital from doctors to nurses and I would ask them about other patients,” she says. Pallavi spent her days writing the book at her hospital bed which was later launched at the same place. 

“People reached out to me saying that the book motivated them,” she says. Pallavi started observing her own life experiences from a different perspective; she realized that there must be people like herself facing numerous health-related challenges whose stories could inspire more. Thus sparked her dreams to start her very own podcast.

“My show starts with a bit of my own personal narration and it’s followed with a brief introduction of the guest. Later, we share common characteristics in our stories,” Pallavi recalls. “I had a guest speaker who survived breast cancer and later went on to climb Mount Everest.” At a time when COVID-19 appears to take away the grim limelight from other critical-illness such as HIV or cancer, Pallavi’s podcast has become a symbol of hope for many listeners. 

Speaking on the benefits of podcasting, Pallavi notes that it gives her liberty and allows her to record or edit at her own pace. “It is an intimate medium and it needs a well-researched content. You should do your homework well before starting. Also, listeners’ engagement is very important.”

Travelling through sound

Once the pandemic started ravaging across the globe, borders were closed, trains, airports, buses and malls were shut. People had nowhere to go. For travel blogger  Meenakshi Shrivastava, the coronavirus forced her to stay at home. As an ardent traveller who is keen to experience new things and visit the newest of places, the pandemic changed her plans. Meenakshi says that she has turned this dull situation into an opportunity of learning by creating a travel-based podcast, “Inspiring Explorers”.

“As my father is a banker, we have been travelling around as he gets assigned to different places. In the beginning, my travels were more of just sightseeing. But later as I grew up, they became more on finding experiences and meaning,” says Meenakshi, who then created an Instagram page @mybohovoyage to share her experience with others. Having met numerous people in her journey, she found the urge to tell their stories. “People also ask me on money for travelling, how to live abroad, or having an unconventional career and not being bound to a nine-to-five job,” says Meenakshi. 

Having nowhere else to go due to the lockdown, she quickly devised a plan to start a podcast. So she started reconnecting with people she had met on her journey. Thus was born, “Inspiring Explorers”, where Meenakshi interviews “successful personalities who despite all the obstacles did not give up and followed their passion and heart”. 

Her podcast aims to “inspire listeners to realize their inner potential and do what they love, become financially independent and explore the world”. Throughout the conversation, Meenakshi emphasized the need for people to adapt and to create opportunities, especially during this pandemic. 

Voices of Children

This pandemic has not just affected adults but also children who are facing their own difficulties such as navigating online classes and staying at home without going out to play. To address how children are coping, National award-winning filmmaker Gopi Desai created her show “Mujhe Kuch Kehna Hai” where she speaks to kids.

“Life changed after lockdown and everyone’s mind was in turmoil. That was when I wondered what the kids must be thinking, what must be going in their minds and how they cope. So I started my podcast “Mujhe Kuch Kehna Hai” for children between ages six to fifteen. It has been a learning experience for me,” she says. 

In her show, children talk with her about many things from online classes to learning new skills, activities, parents and friends. “I make it a point to ask them about unprivileged kids, migrant labourers and their return to their villages across India. Children talk with compassion and how they would love to reach out to poor kids. Kids also share their fantasies, aspirations and goals.” Gopi concludes with, “In this trying and testing time, podcasters have a major role to play as people also seek solace in listening stories.”

The Road Ahead

One of the reputed podcast coaches and producers in the country, Bijay Gautam, co-founder of WYN Studio and host of the Inspiring Talk, says that now is an “amazing time to be a podcaster”. When asked if the consumption for motivational podcast shows are on the rise, Bijay says that there is no data on content preferences among listeners in India. 

“There was a drop in podcast consumption and an increase in screen time in the first few weeks of lockdown but now people are slowly starting to try out different ways to stay entertained. Podcasts are now starting to get more downloads,” he adds. 

Bijay notes that the “pandemic has not affected podcasters much as people are trying to adapt ways to record their shows. “While it was a bit hard in the beginning as we couldn’t go to our studios, we eventually started using simple devices to start working and recording,” he says.

He goes on to add that in this lockdown period, podcast creators are also attracting listeners with entertaining content apart from non-fiction narrations. For instance, Bijay recently released “Heirs of The Pandavas”, a mythological series based on the epic Mahabharata, involving heavy sound effects and music.

Some podcasters like Kunal Mandal are opting to narrate stories with a very simple theme. Kunal hosts “Stuff Tales” where he narrates “extraordinary stories behind the ordinary stuff you use or do every day” from toothbrushes to WiFi and air-conditioners. Likewise, Deepika Arun runs “Kadhai Osai”, a storytelling platform, where she narrates stories written by famous Tamil authors. 

As the pandemic continues to spread across the country, there are still exciting groups of passionate podcasters hoping to create a positive impact among listeners.

About the author: Mohammed Rayaan is an independent journalist based in Chennai. You can find his writings at rayaanwriter.com. Follow him on social media @Rayaanwriter.

(Edited by Vinayak Hegde)

As a boy, ‘Vishwa’ had to trudge several kilometres on rocky, dry terrain to reach his nondescript school. He went on to become one of India’s greatest engineers and visionaries, earning a knighthood and the title ‘Bharat Ratna’ among many other accolades.

For his innumerable services to society, the birth anniversary of Sir M. Visvesvaraya, September 15, is celebrated as Engineer’s Day.

But one of his most far-sighted achievements is probably the importance he gave to education and the thousands of schools and institutions that he set up when he was the Diwan of the erstwhile kingdom of Mysore (1912-1918).

And in a great tribute to him, a rejuvenation of sorts is happening now in his hometown, Muddenahalli.

Government High School Muddenahalli in Chigatenahalli village, Chikkaballapur District, is a school founded in 2006 at the foothills of Nandi Hills. It was inaugurated on Independence Day as the first model government school in the district – changing the destiny of many students.

The compound is bright and welcoming, the pathway to the Anganwadi doubles up as a game board, pictures of great English, Hindi and Kannada authors of the past beam down from the walls in the Languages Lab, the ceilings have been painted with stars, and in the Science Lab, Warli art is used to depict the human skeleton, test tubes, rockets and mobile cell towers!

All these creative ideas came from teachers and government officers. The artwork was envisioned and executed by drawing teachers working in government schools in the district.

So how did a modest government school get transformed into a modern, smart school that promises to be a visual and mental treat for its students?

“The result is totally due to the creativity, drive and hard work of our entire team,” says Fouzia Taranum, IAS, and Chief Executive Officer of Zilla Parishad, Chikkaballapur. “We have very good, highly-motivated teachers who come from a merit-based selection process. Together with officials of various government departments, the MNREGA team, the Panchayat Development team and the many volunteers and donors, we came up with a plan to create model schools and anganwadis in each of the 28 Zilla Parishad constituencies. But more schools heard about this, and now we have 38 schools and 50 anganwadis on our list,” she adds.

Cheerful anganwadis for early learners

The National Education Policy 2020 emphasises early childhood education in these words: “The learning process for a child commences immediately at birth. Evidence from neuroscience shows that over 85% of a child’s cumulative brain development occurs before the age of 6, indicating the critical importance of developmentally appropriate care and stimulation of the brain in a child’s early years to promote sustained and healthy brain development and growth.”

Even before the NEP was released in July 2020, the Chikkaballapur team had done its survey and drawn up plans to improve the infrastructure of the schools and anganwadis using funds allotted through the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA).

More than improving just the physical space, they wanted to make the anganwadis an energising and inspiring space. High school teachers collaborated to create a manual for anganwadis teachers, a guidebook in English and Kannada called ‘Chinnari Champs’.

The COVID pandemic may be keeping the little ones away from anganwadis and schools. Still, their teachers have been making innovative teaching aids and stocking anganwadis with storybooks and well-made Channapatna toys. Outside, old tyres and eucalyptus wood have been repurposed to build safe and attractive play areas. Moringa, banana and curry leaf plants have been planted alongside herb gardens. The heady waft of change is in the air already.

Concentrating on Education

When Fouzia Taranum, IAS Batch of 2015, was posted to Chikkaballapur in August 2019, her focus was on education. The mid-term Class 10 exams showed that the district stood 20th among the 34 educational districts. Teachers and officials sat down to discuss how things could be improved for the 15,000 students who had to write the board examinations in March 2020.

“When I went on field trips, I was very impressed that teachers were working voluntarily during the holidays to help students to prepare for their exams,” says the CEO.

Through the holidays, teachers worked to create helpful worksheets, made home visits, and mentored small groups of students. Students were also taken to the actual centres where they were likely to write their final exams so that they could be familiar with this new setting. The 3000 students who were identified as slower learners were given additional help.

When the results were announced in August, many headlines read: ‘Chikkaballapur district tops in Karnataka Class 10 exams’.

Sports, academics and more

The model school with its spanking new kho-kho, kabaddi and volley-ball courts, well-equipped social sciences, mathematics and science labs, and a serene yoga and meditation room await students. The aesthetics in the Languages Lab is meant to help children develop Listening, Speaking, Reading and Writing (LSRW).

Owing to the COVID situation, students have not yet started coming to school. Instead, they are helped to become self-learners through the Karnataka government’s Vidyagama programme, where teachers meet students in places like community halls, religious places or under trees.

The team had developed the model school on an approach called BALA (Building as a Learning Aid). “But improving infrastructure like building toilets and labs in educational institutions is comparatively easy. We wanted to bring about behavioural change too,” says Fouzia Taranum.

Going by the support received by the Chikkaballapur ZP team from the local communities, the members are confident that change is definitely in the air. They are sure that students will benefit greatly from schools like the model school in Muddenahalli. Maybe, the schools will even give rise to young girls and boys like Vishwa, the boy who grew up to be Sir M. Visvesvaraya!

Mala Kumar is a freelance writer and editor. She is the author of several books for children including ‘Sir M. Visvesvaraya: The Man who Built Bridges, Dams and a Nation’ published by Pratham Books.

(Edited by Vinayak Hegde)

This article has been published in partnership with RSPO

From lipsticks to soaps and chocolates–palm oil is undoubtedly one of the most versatile and popular edible oils in the world.

But, when it has not been sustainably produced and sourced, this very popular oil has been known to destroy the habitats of native species like the Orangutan, Sumatran tiger and Sumatran rhino, and threaten the ecology of over 25 million hectares of forests!

However, despite its reputation, the oil palm tree is a highly efficient crop using between 4-10 times less land than any other vegetable oil crop on the planet. It also contributes to food security for the masses and improvement of livelihood for millions of smallholder farmers in India and around the world. According to a 2017 study, nearly half of all the products we use contain an ingredient of palm oil–these include edibles like chocolate, ice cream, cosmetics like creams and lipsticks, as well as our soaps, detergents and more. But the problem is not with the crop itself – it’s with the way palm oil is produced, particularly in the past, where cultivation practices included slash and burn techniques for land clearing among other unsustainable practices.

So the question remains–do we stop the use of palm oil completely or do we produce it in a sustainable manner?

As per the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) on Responsible Consumption and Production, systemic cooperation among stakeholders in the supply chain, from producer to final consumer can help “reduce future economic, environmental and social costs, strengthen economic competitiveness and reduce poverty”. Additionally, the Climate Action goals suggest international coordination to help developing countries achieve a low-carbon economy. Together, these SDGs vouch for sustainable, coordinated, and conscious efforts of cultivation and production.

When it comes to palm oil, several organisations across the world are taking the latter route. They are working with stakeholders such as cultivators, suppliers, and brands as well as governments to make oil palm cultivation sustainable. One among them is the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO), an international, multi-stakeholder organisation co-founded in 2004. RSPO unites stakeholders from the different sectors of the palm oil industry including oil palm growers, palm oil processors and traders, consumer goods manufacturers, retailers, banks and investors, environmental or nature conservation NGOs, and social or developmental NGOs to develop and implement sustainable, long-lasting solutions through credible global standards.
WWF, IUCN, Unilever and PM Haze are some organisations and businesses who are working to support sustainable palm oil practices, production and procurement.

The Journey of Palm Oil

Palm oil is not a recent discovery, the oil palm (Elaeis guineensis) originated from West Africa and traces of it have been found in Egyptian tombs dating back to 3000 BC. Over the years, the oil started gaining popularity in other parts of the world– particularly in Europe. And with the Industrial Revolution, it became a highly sought-after commodity.

In 2018, the worldwide annual production of palm oil was 77 million tonnes. This number is expected to reach nearly 240 million tonnes by 2050. Since oil palms grow well in tropical areas, countries like Malaysia and Indonesia have taken the lead in its production. Together these countries account for about 13 million hectares of oil palm plantation– supplying 85 per cent of the world’s total production.

And, India consumes over 12 percent of the global supply!

Since 2001, our demand has increased by 230 per cent, but as we don’t produce enough palm oil, we import about 9 million tonnes every year–mostly from Malaysia and Indonesia.

Oil palm has been developed on various other types of land including degraded/disturbed forest, shrubland, pasture, other agricultural land/former plantations. Some oil palm has been developed on peatlands, which hold up to 28 times the carbon as a rainforest growing on mineral soil. If a single hectare of peatland is converted to oil palm, it can release about 6000 metric tonnes of carbon dioxide. The destruction of rich forests also takes away the homes of thousands of animals, including endangered species like the orangutan, rhinos and tigers.

The sheer amount of consumption and imports signal that we must adopt sustainable practices to lower the carbon footprint. Many have suggested we end the production and consumption of palm oil completely. But is the idea of not using palm oil a sustainable and viable solution?

No. In fact, it can cause more damage than good. This means if we stop producing palm oil and shift to other oil crops, it will lead to more destruction of forests and biodiversity.

Instead, what we need is regulations, sustainable practices, and a shift in norms to reduce the carbon footprint and environmental impact of oil palm cultivation.

Why should we demand sustainable palm oil?

“A boycott of palm oil means companies buy alternative oils that require 4-10 times more land, water and other resources that could cause more damage to the environment. As it currently stands, oil palms produce roughly 35% of the world’s vegetable oil on less than 10% of the land allocated to oil crops” according to an IUCN report.

Some of the key steps taken by RSPO to make sustainable palm oil the norm:

• Inclusivity of smallholders: RSPO has stepped up its collaboration with local partners in producing regions to improve smallholder inclusion. Its Independent Smallholder Standard aims to increase the inclusion of smallholders into the RSPO system through a mechanism which takes into consideration the diversity of challenges and situations faced by smallholders globally, together with their varying needs and concerns while adhering to the key pillars of RSPO’s Theory of Change (ToC): Prosperity, People and Planet. In addition to various types of training and resources, the RSPO also offers a Smallholder Support Fund that provides financial assistance to oil palm smallholder farmers, allowing them to become a part of sustainable palm oil supply chains more easily.
• Addressing deforestation and biodiversity loss: Sustainable palm oil production comprises legal, economically viable, environmentally appropriate and socially beneficial management and operations. This is delivered through the application RSPO’s Principles and Criteria (P&C), and the accompanying indicators and guidance. In fact, the results of a recent study found that RSPO certified sustainable palm oil has a 35% lower global warming impact and a 20% lower biodiversity impact from land use changes than non-certified palm oil produced in Indonesia and Malaysia.
• Achieving a sustainable palm oil supply chain: Bringing together all stakeholders from growers to consumers, the RSPO Supply Chain Certification Standard and Systems has created a robust traceability framework that encourages transparent and responsible behavior by businesses around the world.

Until sustainable palm oil becomes the norm, it is important for consumers to understand that there are different ways that palm oil can be produced. Labelling products that contain Certified Sustainable Palm Oil (CSPO) and the use of the RSPO Trademark on products are simple ways for consumers who do not know anything about palm oil, to easily identify “sustainable” palm oil.

Join the movement and ask your favourite brands if their products contain CSPO. Take the pledge now and tell your family and friends to do the same. Take the pledge here.

(Written by Tanvi Patel and Edited by Gayatri Mishra)

In a quiet corner of Belapur, Navi Mumbai, tucked between the hills on one side and the sprawling city on the other, is a small residential colony. This isn’t your regular colony in a busy suburb, however. Here grow fruits, vegetables and flowers. Butterflies and bees come and go aplenty.“While the world is struggling to buy essentials during these trying COVID times, we have a cherry blossom harvest here,” says Capt. Pawnday, one of the senior-most and pioneer volunteers of the AGRO Society.

In the late 1990s, a group of citizens who bought homes and settled down in Sector 9 of Belapur realised that the barren land adjoining their complex was being encroached upon. They realised the only way to save that land was to green it up. With CIDCO handing over the land under a high-tension wire, it was impossible to use it for anything else. Measuring nearly one hectare, the decision to green the land also gave way to the founding of the AGRO Society, a residents’ association committed to environmental friendliness and conservation of the sensitive ecosystem in that area.

“Our complex sits right in the middle of a rich and sensitive ecosystem — layers of green, a valley, the hills. It was natural for us to then fill our housing colonies with lanes that are lined with flowering shrubs, courtyard gardens, kitchen gardens and even terrace gardens,” says Suresh Bhagwat, another senior volunteer who has been involved in AGRO Society’s activities from inception.

The primary aim of the AGRO Society is to keep the open land free from encroachments and develop it as a green area. Under this broad umbrella of greening, the AGRO society has explored many concepts. They first terraced the land to prevent soil erosion due to the heavy rains Belapur gets in the monsoons. They followed it up with sinking a natural open well and then followed it up with creating a pump system, laying a network of pipes for irrigation. After this, they planted gardens and other arrangements resulting in a vast expanse of a vegetable farm, a relaxing Nana-Nani Park for senior citizens, and a lush playground for younger residents. When these were regularised, they also created a butterfly and botanical garden in 2014.

The vegetable garden aims to grow crops throughout the year and sell its fresh organic produce to the residents as well as neighbouring areas. Since its inception, AGRO Society’s volunteers have experimented with growing crops; most of it has been through trial and error. The success has been in experimenting and the lessons they learnt from it. Today, there is a large variety of crops including exclusive articles such as herbs, medicinal plants and fruits besides seasonal vegetables. The AGRO Society holds its vegetable sale twice a week and is managed through online groups where they take orders as well as for delivery coordination.

The Botanical Garden & Butterfly Park (BG&BFP), which came in the second phase of development, was developed on an extended land on the eastern side with a similar purpose, i.e. to save it from being encroached by the adjoining colony for car parking. Encouraged by the visit to Ovelakar Wadi in Thane, AGRO Society volunteers started planting a variety of host and nectar plants required for the butterfly park. They soon realised that the park could also be developed into a botanical garden, and combined the work for both.

From planting saplings, digging pits, filling dump areas, to making paved pathways from waste tiles, building small bridges over small streams, the BG&BFP has come a long way. Today, it works with an objective of protecting nature, providing an opportunity for people to interact with nature, supporting educational activity and is a source of material for consumers. Through continued voluntary efforts, the BG&BFP has grown into an extremely green expanse full of butterflies and a variety of plants.

To a visitor, it is a green lush oasis in the midst of urban chaos. There are a few enthusiasts who come to sit by the lotus pond for hours, simply to be away from the urban setting. While there are others like the police inspector who comes by to be with nature since it acts as a stress-buster in his busy life.

Senior members take pride in the kind of activities this park and garden have given rise to. For example, a teenage philatelist enthusiast, with a specialisation in stamps with a butterfly theme, won an award for his project done using the butterfly park. Members of the Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS) visit the BG&BFP regularly for conducting surveys; several schools and other organised groups visit the garden.

The biodiversity of the entire AGRO Society plot includes a variety of around 250 types of trees, 100 types plants, which in total attracts 25 to 30 species of birds, 30 to 40 varieties of butterflies and numerous insects.

The AGRO Society has many events to spread the word of their work. It has been organizing activities and events such as the Basant Utsav, a popular environment conservation annual fest open to all nature lovers of Navi Mumbai. There is Smriti Udyan for those who wish to plant a tree sapling in the memory of loved ones. There are educational tours for school children to promote sensitivity towards conservation of natural heritage and workshops on Zero Budget farming, home gardening, terrace gardening. They also hold events to sensitize children and elders on the role and importance of butterflies and insects in our environment. This is apart from nature trails and informative walks in the Butterfly Park and Valley Park. They conduct various environmental, horticultural and agricultural awareness drives and offer research and Internship facilities for students undergoing vocational training courses.

Multiple partnerships with organizations with similar objectives have been established like the farming workshops with Subhash Palekar Natural Farming, plastic recollection drive to convert plastic into city amenities with Project Mumbai, nature trails with BNHS, electronic-waste collection drive for scientific recycling with Stree Mukti Sanghatna, nature sketching with Navi Mumbai Urban Sketchers, solar cooker making and terrace gardening workshops with Marathi Vidnyan Parishad, celebrating ‘music in nature’ with the Drum Circle, etc.

In the future, AGRO Society aims to develop a mini nature theme park for children to ignite young minds on burning issues related to the environment such as trees and plant life, types of butterflies in and around Mumbai, honey bees and other insects, types of birds around as well as types of snakes and their role in ecology. They plan to do this through subject models and informative boards. As an additional attraction, they plan to build a treehouse, which urban children may be completely unaware of. The BG&BFP is in the process of developing a spot for aquatic plants and an orchid house.

During months of the COVID19-related lockdown, the Society served its residents as well as its neighbouring residents with healthy, organic, safe and freshly produced essential vegetables and fruits managed by its own resident volunteers. The Society truly lived to the status of being ‘atmanirbhar’ before the countrymen could figure out its true meaning was.

The community demonstrates a workable model consisting of three wings; (i) The members (over 100) (ii) The volunteers who contribute to the vegetable farm and BG&BFP through various means (iii) partners who have joined hands with various environmentally-conscious initiatives for workshops, nature-related creative works, recycling drives, events, school trails, environmentally-friendly product creation, etc. All the three components contribute to funding, be it through events, membership, donations, vegetable sale, etc.

The open and flexible approach of the community has helped the society sustain so many years; however, the AGRO Society strives to better its position in achieving formal recognition. The community continues to appraise and influence decision-makers – CIDCO and Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporations for mandating the greening of land under high-tension wires and formally institutionalizing the community caretaker model. That would give Society a legitimate position to establish a steady financial arrangement.

Today, the AGRO society successfully plays a dual role for its community and the nearby areas in Navi Mumbai; growing vegetables along with its sale and maintaining ecosystem through the BG&BFP, and encouraging urban residents to take measures towards environmental sustainability.

AGRO Society is open to joining hands with environment enthusiasts and associations in any form to strengthen this experiment in Urban Community Living to stop valuable neighbourhood resources to revert to their earlier status. It welcomes people to join them or start more such self-sustainable initiatives in other similar areas through community ownership for a sustainable future. And as Mario Almeida, one of the most active AGRO members, says, “We need to keep experimenting and encouraging young volunteers to join this effort for as long as nature keeps giving its blessings, we have to take care of it, just like we do of our elders!”

You can reach out to the members at:
Facebook : agrocbd
Instagram: @agrocbd
Email : agrobelapur@gmail.com

(Written by Prachi Merchant and Edited by Sandhya Menon)

As new COVID-19 infections tear across India, setting new daily records for active cases and deaths that epidemiologists say were utterly predictable and disastrous. However, the virus was largely brought under control in the Ganjam district of Odisha by September, when compared to what it was in May/June 2020.

“In May and June, Ganjam was the hotspot for COVID-19 cases in Odisha, and the doctors in the area were working almost 48 hours at stretch, sometimes just enough time for a quick meal or change of PPE in between. Thankfully, that’s changed in the last few weeks,” says Dr. Jagdeep Nayak, Senior Resident at the Department of Anaesthesia at the MKCG Medical College, Berhampur, Ganjam.

As of 2 September, it recorded 107 positive cases only – the lowest since May. The district continues to witness a decline in the rate of infection, with a recovery rate of more than 80%, and the total death rate being 1.05%.

“We’ve seen a dramatic drop in the number of severe cases in the Ganjam region,” mentions Dr Nayak

How did this turn around happen?

For that, we will have to rewind to March this year. Even as the virus was making its appearance across cities, including Odisha — the Ganjam administration was praised for being COVID-19 free for a month despite being a popular tourist destination.

The problem began when the Odisha Government decided to bring back migrants stranded in various parts of the country due to the nationwide lockdown. Due to Ganjam’s connectivity both by rail and road, the government decided to bring back 50% i.e. 5 lakh out of the total 10 lakh migrants to Ganjam. As a result, Ganjam bore the brunt of thousands of cases caused by the migrant population and also because of its demographic characteristics; geographical positioning and links with other states. Most of the migrant returnees were from COVID-19 hotspots i.e., Gujarat, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and Telangana.

“Although we had prepared ourselves for the aftermath of this decision, we were shocked with its intensity in the initial days. The major people affected were the people with comorbidities and in their ripe ages,” says Dr Nayak.

As resources started to get updated and available, the situation on ground and in hospitals started improving. The administration increased testing, extensive contact tracing, testing of all close contacts, and a second round of screening of recovered patients to check for relapse. But then this pandemic started to take its toll on the weakest section in terms of health. The migrants had mingled with the society in spite of strong efforts from the administration, and there was a sudden rise in cases.

“The cases started to come in clusters and people with comorbidities and weak immunity started reaching hospitals in huge numbers. But this time we were even better prepared due to the increased number of ICU beds and manpower at our disposal. We now have more than 5895 Covid Management Committees at the grassroots level which are doing their best to contain the spread of the disease. The district now has three Covid-only hospitals with 588 beds (261 occupied), nine Covid Care Centres with 3,744 beds (around 450 occupied), 98 ICU beds (80 occupied), and 1,763 with oxygen cylinders available (121 occupied).”

The government predicted an emergency and to tackle the challenge, was prepared with a robust healthcare infrastructure which helped a lot in containing the spread of the virus. The Sarpanchs were given the Collector’s power within their jurisdiction to carry out the registration and quarantine exercises to ensure a smooth return. The migrant returnees were made to stay at the quarantine centers for 14 days and were provided with Rs 2000 as incentives. Furthermore, 144 Temporary Medical Camps (TMCs) and 521 Covid Care Homes(CCHs) were set up with a capacity of handling more than 16 thousand symptomatic and asymptomatic people.

Santilata Nayak, the Sarpanch of Manitara Gram panchayat under Buguda block in Ganjam who in May was the first to exercise the “Collector’s power” given by the State government and imposed 7-day long shutdown in the area to contain Covid-19 says, “We were made aware of the incoming dangerous situation where workers would return from Covid hotspots around the country which would cause spike in cases. Therefore, we ensured in our blocks all the quarantine and safety measures were followed strictly whether it was registering the workers who were returning or ensuring they were isolated for 14 days. Every resident of the village ensured the same.”

Furthermore, the stricter implementation of lockdown guidelines and social distancing norms, helped the district administration manage the situation. Such aggressive measures had an immediate impact on the improvement in parameters.

Also, focus on increased testing, tracking and treating of patients in the district helped the administration in bringing the numbers down. Ganjam was also the first district in the state to undertake door-to-door surveillance both in rural and urban areas to assess the health of the population.

“So far 84 per cent of the villages and 55 per cent of urban areas in the district are in the green zone and of the 3,053 villages in the district, 2,611 are in green zone and 544 in red zone. As of now, swab samples of one lakh people in the district have been collected. Of them, 14,122 persons were tested positive for COVID-19. The RT-PCR and rapid antigen tests have helped in checking the spread of coronavirus in the district,” claims Ganjam Collector Vijay Kulange.

Additional Initiatives

Beyond the diminished rate of infection, the district administration has taken a number of initiatives like providing tele-counselling to COVID-19 patients. This initiative is led by trained psychiatrists, and patients who have recovered from the disease will be appointed as ‘Covid Monitors’ to provide counselling to at least 10 patients. They are provided an honorarium of Rs 1000 for the same.

Regular feedback is also taken, to ensure implementation of the suggestions received during the calls made for counseling. Till 2 September, more than 10,000 persons had been contacted through tele-counselling.

Additionally, patients in home isolation will be provided a Medicine Kit and information about the process to consume the medicine will be provided in Odia. The Caregiver and family member of the patient are provided with necessary IEC material.

In July, the government further deputed additional three IAS officers, 18 senior OAS Officers and 77 ORS Officers to strengthen the official mechanism in the district. Similarly, 30 MBBS Doctors, 82 Ayush Doctors, and 27 lab technicians were deployed to reinforce the health infrastructure in Ganjam.

Starting plasma therapy treatment in Berhampur is also part of the multipronged approach to fight Covid-19 in the district.

Recounting his experience, Nageswar Rao, a businessman from Berhampur who recovered from COVID-19 says, “I was diagnosed on 21st July and was seriously ill. However, the nursing staff was very supportive and kept checking on me. Initially , the doctors would visit once in two days but after 5 days, they regularly came to check on me. The district administration’s arrangements were quite satisfactory considering that they were dealing with thousands of cases.”

While obviously caseloads and infection rates do vary wildly, often month to month, in general, the overall trend in the country is upwards. Which is why this article focuses on a particular time period – March to September.

Measures taken at the time show how the curve can be bent downwards, and are a good guide for the rest of the country. Let’s hope we all emerge from this pandemic stronger, and safe.

(Written by Taruka Srivastav & edited by Vinayak Hegde)

“A rhino,” pointed out my guide from the front of our jeep. All of us turned to look at the magnificent creature on our left happily munching away on grass, stopping only to drive away oxpeckers from its back.

I was deep within Manas National Park in north western Assam in January 2020. In front of me was a vast expanse of wooded hills, fertile grasslands, and tropical forests punctuated by periodic sighting of animals. Located on the foothills of Eastern Himalayas, Manas is home to many rare species of flora and fauna including the pygmy hog, Indian elephant, and greater one-horned rhinoceros.

We had finally spotted a rhino after five hours of driving around. The famous Indian one-horned rhino made an appearance from behind a thicket of tall yellow grasses. With a sea of blue mountains and wild green bushes behind it, the creature looked perfectly at home, safe and unperturbed.

However, things were not always so calm and peaceful in Manas.

Less than 20 years ago, Manas National Park was a virtual death trap for thousands of unsuspecting animals including the vulnerable Indian rhino.

Poaching was rife and killing of animals was rampant. And that was because Manas was located right at the heart of Bodoland, a culturally-diverse and politically-volatile autonomous region in India.

Bodoland had always been wrung by ethnic tensions. When the Bodoland Nationalist Movement started in 1986, the whole of north western Assam was plunged into a state of lawlessness.

Forests were left open and unguarded. Rhinos were poached and sold across the border in Bhutan. Elephants and tigers were ruthlessly slaughtered. Smaller animals were killed for meat. Trees were felled and timber was siphoned off. Manas was badly caught in the quagmire.

Rampart poaching and deforestation eventually led to a serious shift in the ecosystem balance within and outside the national park. After a while, there were no animals left to kill nor did any underground water remain. Springs dried up, trees disappeared, and Manas was left barren.

There had been as many as 100 rhinos in Manas at the beginning of 1980s. During the insurgency that lasted between 1986 and 2003, all of them were wiped out.

These years also saw the killing of six forest staff and several domesticated elephants and the reckless destruction of camps and range offices.

The wildlife sanctuary, which had been recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1985, stood at the brink of imminent disaster.

That is when the formation of Bodoland Territorial Council (BTC) in 2003 came as a godsend.

Ethnic tensions eased as Bodo autonomy was recognized in 2003. BTC members started taking an active role in conservation. They educated poachers on how poaching was affecting their own ecosystem. Most importantly, they encouraged locals to participate in the process and instilled in them a sense of pride and belonging for their motherland.

Budheswar Bodo, an ex-poacher from the 1980s who lost an arm in a nasty wildlife encounter, recounts, “BTC members made me realise that the protection of my motherland rested on my shoulders. For the first time in many years, I felt that Manas truly belonged to me and my fellowmen. It was my forest and it was my responsibility to nurture and care for it.”

A prolonged discussion with Budheswar and two other ex-poachers made it evident that these people had given up poaching not necessarily for an assured income or a respectable lifestyle (though they were important factors) but for their own sense of belongingness. Recognition of Bodoland had finally made the poachers feel at home.

Over the second half of 2003, a 3-tier structure was put in place to restore Manas to its former glory. It included members of the BTC, ex-poachers, and local youth organizations that played a vital connect between the government and the erstwhile rustlers.

Kalen Basumatary, head of Manas Maozigendri Ecotourism Society (MMES) – one such grassroot organization, fondly reminisces of the time when they would go out with a mission every day to reform former poachers. Kalen and his friends were instrumental in shifting public opinion from poaching to protecting. They ran anti-poaching and anti-logging campaigns.

“It wasn’t an easy task”, Kalen notes. “But it was definitely a fulfilling one. Every time I brought a poacher back into the fold, it felt deeply gratifying.”

He proudly points out that none of their employees have gone back to poaching in the last decade even though it has seemed lucrative at times.

With the launch of Indian Rhino Vision 2020 in 2005, rhinos began to be reintroduced into Manas.

Ex-poachers were made an integral part of the entire effort. They knew the forests of Manas like the back of their hands. They knew all about animal habitats, feeding times, cries, and calls. They could track and bring back animals if they went astray. Needless to say, they made the best protectors.

Slowly but surely, the rhino number at Manas increased. It is now back at 40.

Tigers and Asian elephants can be seen again. Even migratory birds who had sensed danger earlier have started flocking back to the sanctuary. Tourism is much better now giving locals the hope of an eco-friendly and sustainable future.

Manas is now home to countless birds and animals as well as hundreds of poachers who, for a while, had forgotten the touch of their motherland.

As I wrapped my head around this human face of wildlife conservation, I stumbled upon a water hole that was bubbling with the clean underground water. Birds swooshed by over my head and a peacock called from a distance. I could almost hear elephants trumpeting back home while a baby rhino played in the mud. Manas was fecund and green again with life and hope.

(Written by Soumya Gayatri. Edited by Vinayak Hegde)

When the pandemic began, little was known about COVID-19, except that it was highly contagious and people with comorbidities were worse off. But even that much spurred 61-year-old Pushpa, who has been a diabetic and suffering from hypertension for over 15 years now. She resolved to (finally) start on a journey towards being healthy and fit.

“What do you do when you are in the midst of a pandemic with no cure in sight? The only logical thing for me to do was to take care of my family’s physical and mental well-being by way of nutrition” says Pushpa Kansil, Founder of Vedic Blends.

“Growing up, the answer to all wellness and nutritional first-aid came from my mother’s kitchen. She had a solution for almost everything; her form of nutrition was functional. I took a leaf out of her book and started using herbal blends, teas, and concoctions to better my family’s health.”

As the weeks passed and the pandemic spread, it became clearer that it would take months, if not years, for normalcy to restore. At the same time, the economy was nose-diving, taking with it many businesses – big and small – including that of her husband, who has a manufacturing facility catering to the automotive aftermarket sector.

The COVID-19 induced lockdown seemed like the final nail in the coffin.

“On the COVID-19 front, there was no cure in sight, and on the business front, no visibility on cash flows. With the livelihoods of our employees dependent on us, we just couldn’t get ourselves to close down the business, knowing it could be months before they would find other opportunities. We had to adapt, and quickly,” says Pushpa.

By then, Pushpa had created several recipes that boosted immunity using superfoods and herbs. The word also got out, creating a steady demand within her extended family and among her friends. This is what sparked the idea for ‘Vedic Blends’ – a bootstrapped startup focussed on creating plant-based functional herbal blends and concoctions.

A befitting response to both the sides of the pandemic – it aimed at not only bringing back a focus on health but also helped sustain employment for existing employees of the family and expanding to accommodate more, despite the economic downturn.

“When we started, I was making our products at home, and the reach was limited by word of mouth. But it helped us find our feet and a set of loyal customers who speak highly about the quality, taste and efficacy. The real growth started when my son helped us build our presence online. The same set of people who were using our unbranded products became our biggest proponents.”

Vedic Blends now has an FSSAI approved facility, retails on Amazon India and their own website, ships pan India and has an in-house nutritionist. Current offerings include products aimed at physical and mental well-being – Project Metabolism, Project Immunity, Project De-Stress and a one-of-its-kind Turmeric Almond Latte.

“We want to create value-added, functional products using nature’s best adaptogens, herbs and superfoods. When I think of a new product, I think of my kids and try to answer the following questions – can they fix it in under 2 minutes? What value does it add? Is it effective? Does it taste good? We knew we had got our products right when we started getting repeat orders, for us there can be no greater validation” says Pushpa, a mother of two.

Overcoming challenges of building a new business from scratch (raw material supply chain, packaging, production and logistics) during the lockdown wasn’t easy, especially for a 61-year-old who used to struggle with technology.

“The way to do business has changed completely. Most things had to be managed and coordinated remotely or online to minimize exposure. Everyone chipped in. My husband helped me set up food-grade manufacturing and establish best practices. Technology played a big role in helping us locate and connect with quality suppliers all over India. Extended family located in different parts of the country helped. I am proud to say that Vedic Blends now sources from farms & suppliers in Tamil Nadu, the Western Ghats and other parts of India. It is a phenomenal experience, and the learning curve is steep. The biggest challenge for me was and remained to get comfortable with technology – some things I understand, some things I don’t, but I learn every day.”

The micro-manufacturing unit is located in New Delhi. “Batch type production enables us to ship out the freshest blends to our customers.” Vedic Blends is funded by the mother-son duo’s savings. “It wasn’t an easy decision, putting our savings in a business that is fiercely competitive. Hence, it is a matter of great pride for us that our customer repeat percentage is more than 48%, we featured on Luke Coutinho’s wellness market and this Diwali we are doing festive gifting for a few families, startups and corporates, including Coromandel.”

A Botanist and Masters in Law by education, Pushpa, has worked as an editor at a law publishing in the past. “So many people are struggling without jobs, and the economic outlook looks dim. Small businesses will play a big part in the recovery and movements like ‘Vocal for Local’ help. We must all do our best to bring more people into the workforce and ensure a part of our spend goes to small businesses. I believe in Empowerment by Employment, and so far, Vedic Blends has enabled me to employ two women. My vision is to be able to support five more in the next six months.”

What can we expect in the future from Vedic Blends?

“We are strengthening our product portfolio with two product launches planned this year and a new category launch early next year. We will stay true to our product philosophy – all of these products will be proprietary plant-based recipes and formulations in the wellness and nutrition category. We are working to partner with e-grocery retailers and speciality stores. The ultimate goal is to spread the magic of India’s heritage at a global level.”

Get in touch with Vedic Blends here.

(Written by Abhinav Kansil and edited by Vinayak Hegde)

Chandranath Pandey, a 51-year-old resident of Baldirai village of Sultanpur district, Uttar Pradesh, was hoping to find a “high-paying job in a big city” to fulfil his dream of living a better life. While he did not get a job in the city, he still managed to achieve his dream through farming.

After earning his diploma in electrical engineering from Government Polytechnic Faizabad in 1988, he worked as an electrical engineer in a government office in Sultanpur, where he earned Rs 4500 monthly. Unhappy with his job and unsure of the scope of his career, he began working as a contractor in his village. Simultaneously, he also began farming his own land.

“As a contractor, I could not increase my earnings by much. I wanted to earn more to give my children a better education and a better life for my family. I also wanted to do something unique with my farmland and not just grow crops that are necessary at home like rice, wheat and veggies. I wanted to make it a profitable business,” says Chandranath, who has dabbled in farming for almost three decades now.

By growing sugarcane, Chandranath was earning a profit of less than Rs 1 lakh, which wasn’t worth “the time taken” or his efforts. So, he strived to find something unique, more profitable and low-risk and eventually stopped growing sugarcane in 2018.

About five years ago, Chandranath heard of Ram Saran Verma, who won the Jagjivan Ram Kisan Puruskar award for cropping varieties of banana in his farmland in Barabanki. He also won about 20 awards at district, state and national levels. Inspired by his success, Chandranath went to meet Ram to learn how to grow bananas efficiently and earn a profit.

After noting down the tricks of the trade from Ram, Chandranath began harvesting bananas in a quarter-acre plot of farmland. By the 14th month, the fruit was ripe for the picking and Chandranath yielded a profit of nearly Rs 4 lakh for the first time. Since then, he has been dedicating a quarter acre of land to grow bananas.

Tips and tricks on banana farming

Chandranath reveals that banana farming is low-risk as every season is suitable for the banana plants. He says that even heavy rain can’t affect the crop. “It also doesn’t demand much care as compared to sugarcane or any other crop,” he adds.

He further adds that farmers must be careful while buying compost fertilizer. He says that instead of believing medicine and fertilizer sellers blindly, farmers should consult experts before making such purchases.

He also suggests that farmers grow different crops in one place – a phenomenon called crop-rotation. For example, if a particular piece of land is used for growing bananas in one year, then it should be used for other crops in the following year. This technique helps to yield better crops.

Farming, a profitable venture

“From farming alone, I earn more than Rs 12 lakh a year. My day job earns me just Rs 11,000 a month,” says an assertive Chandranath, who adds that now he has farm labourers to help him with his harvest.

He adds, “Farming is a very profitable business. Those who have farmland but are facing a financial crunch should opt for a farmer’s loan and then work hard to become successful. It’s just a matter of striving to farm in more efficient ways.”

Chandranath also grows crops like tomatoes, tarui (sponge gourd) and other vegetables along with bananas. From his tomato produce, he earned nearly Rs 2 lakh as a profit. He also yields watermelon from a quarter-acre, which he reveals is ready to sell in just three months. “Growing watermelon is also profitable as it is harvested in three months and will earn you more than Rs 2 lakh in a quarter-acre farmland,” he shares.

“Although I wanted to fulfil my dream while securing a well-paying job in a big city, I am doing it in my homeland. Now I have everything that I have ever dreamed of,” says Chandranath, adding that he bought three acres of farmland through the profits he has been earning from farming for the past five years.

Chandranath has two sons — one is a software engineer and working with HCL (Hindustan Computers Limited), Pune, while the other is working as a junior engineer in a government department in Sultanpur district. “I am happy with both my sons, who are now financially independent. My dream of seeing my children happy in life is fulfilled,” he says.

After improving his earnings through farming, Chandranath now tries to help farmers with tips and tricks of optimising farming techniques. “I want Sultanpur district to be the hub for all the crops like bananas, cauliflowers, tomatoes, green peas and lauki (pumpkin). Farmers in Sultanpur should supply various vegetables and fruits to other parts of India,” he says.

(Article by Bilal Khan. Edited by Yoshita Rao)

The current global pandemic, caused by the novel coronavirus (Covid-19) has created unprecedented conditions in the whole world. Consequential effects include the fall in economic growth, loss of daily wages, mental health issues, problems regarding migrant workers, and more. Healthcare workers faced some form of violence too, due to the stigma attached to Covid-19. These hurdles brought to light a law, drafted during the colonial rule in India, known as the Epidemic Diseases Act. In an attempt to limit the spread of the virus, this act has been enforced across various Indian states since March 2020.

About the Act

The Epidemic Diseases Act was passed in 1897 as a means to prevent and control the spread of epidemic diseases, if the need arises. According to this Act, the government (both, State and Central) is given the power to issue special measures and prescribe temporary regulations—if the ordinary provisions of the law in force, at that time, are insufficient for the purpose—to prevent the outbreak and spread of the disease in question. They can also order the inspection of any ship or vessel leaving or arriving at any port in India and can inspect people travelling by railway or other modes of transport. It also provides for segregation, in hospital, temporary accommodation or otherwise – of those suspected of being infected with any epidemic disease. These regulations are to be adhered to by the public; anyone that disobeys an order or regulation made under this Act shall be deemed to have committed an offence punishable under Section 188 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC).

New and improved

In order for this legislation to help us in contemporary India, specifically with regards to the current global pandemic, the Government introduced the Epidemic Diseases (Amendment) Ordinance, 2020, which was promulgated on April 22, 2020. This bill specifies that any of the following acts committed against a healthcare service personnel qualify as ‘acts of violence’:

(i) harassment impacting living or working conditions

(ii) harm injury, hurt, or danger to life

(iii) obstruction in the discharge of their duties

(iv) loss or damage to the property or documents of the healthcare service personnel.

The property, here, is defined to include a:

(i) clinical establishment

(ii) quarantine facility

(iii) mobile medical unit

(iv) other property in which a healthcare service personnel has a direct interest, in relation to the epidemic.

The Ordinance expands the powers of the central government to regulate the inspection of any modes of transport. Further, it can regulate the detention of any person intending to travel by these means, where failure to the stated provisions they may be liable to pay compensation.

Owing to the fact that this law was drafted in 1897, it is quite antiquated. For example, it doesn’t mention transmission of epidemic diseases via air travel, because the Act was passed 30 years before air travel became popular! This creates a need for an amendment, other than the ones already present in the ordinance, so that it may be applicable in today’s times.

Do you have an idea about how this law could be made better? We at Civis, provide you with the platform to voice your opinion. Inputs collected will be shared with the Government in order to further strengthen the Act. To give us your feedback, simply click here.

W hen you step into Farmer’s Share, Ambrose Kooliyath’s organic farm and craft centre on the outskirts of Shornur,Kerala you immediately feel a sense of calm. A few women are occupied with working the looms at the Khadi weaving unit, while the heady aroma of butter emanates from the kitchen and warehouse.

Here, cookies are being baked in unconventional flavours like curry leaf and moringa leaf, which taste heavenly.

The centre’s pottery unit’s talents are displayed via terracotta pots with different kinds of hanging and flowering plants. Hibiscus bushes surround the area, with carpets of red flowers laid out in the sun to dry. A worker gathers a batch of colourful sun-dried leaves and flowers, which will be used to make dye. Adorable indie dogs run around — their occasional barking, and the splashing of fish in the irrigation pond are the only sounds that break the silence in this part of the farm. Walk further, and you enter the woods, and finally the Nila River.

Ambrose’s wife Mini Elizabeth, their two sons Amal and Akhil, and a few teenagers staying on the farm to learn and help, go about their duties quietly. Twenty-year-old Amal designs the orders at the handweaving unit with his friend Rashid, while 18-year-old Akhil designs the terracotta cookware and planters.

On his philosophy in life, Ambrose says, “The essence of it all is the Gandhian concept of self-sufficiency and self-reliance. His idea of a just society is one where the basic needs of a person — food, clothing and shelter, are met with products sourced from within one’s locality, and not imported from outside. The farm is an attempt at that.”

“There was a time when families survived on the produce from their compound and made houses using locally available material. Now, for every morsel of food, every household item or piece of clothing, we’re dependent completely on the market and international brands. Kerala currently imports more than 80 per cent of the rice it needs from other states,” he adds.

Farmer’s Share is also a centre for learning, where children and adults can learn practical life skills like farming, weaving, construction, pottery and associated crafts.

‘There is no school that teaches children such farm skills’

One may wonder why the youngsters on the farm are not in school on a weekday morning. However, Ambrose’s two sons have never attended school, or been homeschooled. “We might be 100 per cent literate in Kerala, but how many know how to grow their own food or build a house for themselves? There is no school or education system that teaches children such basic life skills either,” Ambrose says. That, he adds, is precisely why he decided to teach his children such skills instead of sending them to conventional schools.

Read More: Maharashtra Man Quits Steady Job To Farm Figs, Has Turnover of Rs 1.5 Crore/Year

“I’m continuously bombarded with queries about my children’s future. But this is not an alternative education model. I just moved my kids away from a system which churns out education aimed at a particular “respectable” set of professions that consider all else below their dignity,” he says.

He quickly adds that he is well aware that total self-sufficiency and self-reliance is impossible in the current circumstances, and he only does what he can. “I’m not saying everyone should grow their own rice and weave their own clothes. But we should try and see why a farmer doesn’t want his son to follow in his steps. Because he is not given a fair price for his produce, neither is he allowed to set one. In our farm, we sell our own produce, and associate with neighbourhood farmers and help them sell their products at a fair price,” he says.

‘It’s their right, not charity’

The focus of the food section is hibiscus products — tea, concentrate, jam, honey and dye. The reason behind this, Ambrose says, is because hibiscus is native to their state. “It grows easily, with least chances of pest attacks. The same goes for tulsi. These are rich in Vitamin C and have plenty of other health benefits. Also, corporates have taken over our mountains for tea estates. Why depend on a market for a cup of tea when you can grow your own in your garden?” he asks.

The property also has plenty of jackfruits, mango and plantain trees, the produce of which are used to make daily meals for the residents. “The idea is that nothing should go to waste. Everything is available in plenty in the markets, which is why people throw away anything which looks less than perfect. We utilise each and every edible part of the vegetables, fruits and plants, and preserve the rest by pickling, drying and powdering them – even tomato and onion,” Ambrose says.

The hibiscus and trees are planted randomly, and farming is done in such a way that birds and squirrels are allowed to eat first. “It’s their right, not charity. The moment one stops expecting a particular amount of yield, things become easy. I make sure to harvest the hibiscus flowers in the evening so the bees can get their share of honey in the morning,” he adds.

While the weaving unit is associated with Khadi, the colouring of the textiles using natural dyes was developed by Ambrose.

“We use flowers and leaves of hibiscus, rose, turmeric, and also weeds considered useless, like communist pacha, for the dyes.”

Ambrose himself is the engineer and architect of all the buildings in the property. Materials used include earth, sawdust, stones and bamboo sourced from the neighbourhood.

An entire cabin for visitors has been made with left-over wood from a guitar manufacturing unit, while the roof of an outdoor hut is thatched with dried river grass from the nearby area of Bharathappuzha.

‘Why I left it all to launch Farmer’s Share Farm three years ago’

“I am basically a stonemason. I had to leave school to work in construction at the age of 15, to support my family,” Ambrose, who is a native of Vypin in Kochi, says. However, those seven years working as a mason helped him with all his craft ventures, he says. “Technically, I’m a school dropout. But my confidence comes from my knowledge and ability to build a house for myself.”

The turning point in his life came when he joined a Gandhian movement named Swashraya Vypin at the age of 22, “I learnt about the possibilities of organic farming and food in camps held as part of the movement. Later, I improvised on it and started a minimal investment organic eatery named Grasshopper in Kochi with a few friends. It was part of a tourist home where all kinds of art and culture programmes were held. I met all kinds of people.”

It was the first time Malayalis felt organic food could be tasty as well, and a regular visitor named Manjunath suggested that he and Ambrose collaborate. Together, they started a full-fledged organic restaurant named Lumiere, which ran for 14 years, first in Kochi and later in Bangalore. “It was very fulfilling, but I always wanted to focus on the concept of self-sufficiency; permaculture farming is just one part of such a lifestyle. I wanted to expand the concept of self-sufficiency to all aspects of life, which is why I left it all to launch Farmer’s Share three years ago. I included handweaving and pottery because both are dying fields,” says Ambrose.

The farm is owned by a trust comprising Ambrose, Mini and their friend Manoj Kumar IB, an IT engineer cum organic food enthusiast.

People often ask him about his alternative way of life, but Ambrose can’t understand why he is considered different. “Shouldn’t self-reliance be the norm? During the lockdown, we minimised shopping and treasured every bit of food, because we feared scarcity. Isn’t that how things should be all our lives? I don’t wish to find fault with society, I have immense faith in the power of human beings to change and adapt. But I’m a small man with no great power of influence. I can only send a message through my own life, which is what I’m doing,” he signs off.

(Written by Asha Prakash; Edited by Divya Sethu)

Parenting doesn’t come with a manual, but I learnt a lot when I became a first-time mother. It was a great feeling — he was someone that I had to keep healthy and happy forever. I was a quick learner and figured out the drill pretty soon, starting with diapering.

I always leaned towards ‘natural parenting’ and listened to my mother and mother-in-law for advice on infant care. My predisposition to all things natural, coupled with the fact that my baby was prone to allergies and rashes just strengthened my resolve to cloth diapering.

And that’s what started my quest for the perfect cloth diaper.

Modern Cloth Diapers (MCDs)

My first child was born in the US, where several cloth diaper brands were available to us. These Modern Cloth Diapers (MCDs) had styles and designs to choose from, and they served different needs (night time, heavy wetter, etc.).

Cloth diapering with MCDs seemed like the right choice. These were a tad better than the average langots we saw in India. There was some thought that went behind the choice of fabric, the one-size-fit-all and they claimed to work like any other disposable while being rash-free and leak-proof — the only two features in a diaper that mattered.

I started with a small stash of MCDs and enjoyed the process. At first, I was just happy to do my bit for the planet. It was reassuring to know I was being green and leaving a better world behind for my children.

Not as Convenient

MCDs seemed convenient when we started our cloth diapering journey. It was easy to do once you got used to the routine.  But there if anything went wrong — one would have to start all over again. For example, if the baby was sick, the piles of laundry (not to mention the smell of used cloth diapers) quickly became overwhelming.

The commitment was challenging to maintain. To truly convert to cloth, one had to have an ever-ready ‘stash’ of at least 8-10 cloth diapers with different sized inserts (an absorbent layer put inside the diaper) at all times. And they weren’t cheap.

Another issue that I was facing with cloth was that of leaks. It takes some time to find the right fit — especially in the ‘one-size-fits-all’ variety. And by the time you figure out a setting, the baby grows out of it. So, leaks were inevitable in several scenarios, often leaving me to figure out where I went wrong.

There was also the additional laundry time, needed to clean and wash cloth diapers.

Even on the ‘being green’ front, things were not as bright as they first appeared. I later learnt that cloth diapers consume a lot of groundwater during production thanks to their use of Polyurethane Laminate (PUL). Also, some of the trims on the cloth were imported, adding to the overall carbon footprint. And all that additional washing added detergent and softeners to the groundwater. All this and more increased the greenhouse gases that these diapers generated.

Deflecting to Commercial Disposables

The final blow came when I moved back to India with my 8-month-old. Delhi’s groundwater is ‘hard’, i.e. contains high mineral content. That, coupled with the heat, impacted the core functionality of my diaper – increasing leaks and rashes.

So MCDs did not work for me in the long run. I would often shift back to commercial disposable diapers. Initially, it was while going out and night-time diapering. But eventually, I was using disposable diapers throughout the day.

While the convenience of disposables was a hard habit to break, I wasn’t able to deal with the guilt I felt over the amount of trash I generated daily.

To reduce toxic waste, I tried to turn to imported biodegradable disposables diapers.

However, over time I learnt that not only was the process of bio-degrading waste not adequately implemented in India, but our waste management system did not separate organic and inorganic waste. And the disposables were exorbitantly priced to boot.

My search for options continued.

Converting to Hybrid Diapers

Hybrid Diapers are simply diapers that separated into covers (the outer layer with designs) and soakers (the absorbent inserts). These diapers sit on the spectrum between a disposable and a cloth diaper, hence the word ‘hybrid’.

Hybrids brought with them the best of both worlds between cloth and disposables. The cloth took away the guilt of generating excessive waste, and the insert made the diapering process less bulky. There are several brands which sell both reusable and disposable inserts as well, reducing that worry also.

They seemed like the perfect option. Hybrids were more comfortable to use and learn, required less washing, and fit better than regular MCDs.  They were also cheaper than regular MCDs and needed a smaller ‘stash’ to make them work.

Health of Cloth and the Convenience of Disposables

The hybrids available in India were not entirely convenient. A significant issue was that the covers came with snaps that could hold only the inserts that came with that particular cover. But I liked hybrids and wasn’t going to give up on them. So I finally decided to stick to the hybrids, but only after I came up with a solution myself.

That is when I designed ‘Bdiapers’, a hybrid diaper with a patented 2-part pouch system that separated the ‘cloth’ from the ‘diaper’. Bdiapers are sold with washable and disposable inserts which makes it convenient; reduces washing and encourages reuse. And the pouch system makes it easier to secure any type of insert (home-made included) – making it one of the healthiest diapering options in India.

While the pouch system reduces washing and water wastage, the inserts encourage proper waste disposal. You need to toss away solids in the toilet bowl before wrapping these in paper and disposing of them like any other non-biodegradable separated waste, like say, a sanitary napkin.

To sum up, hybrid diapers worked best for me, and I have been committed to bringing these to other moms who are always looking for an alternative to disposables and are not able to commit fully to the cloth.

While diapering is an essential part of our parenting journey, it is vital to figure out a system that works best with your temperament, predisposition and the health of your child. I hope this journey helps you make the right choice for you.

Amrita Vaswani is a mother of 2 boys, 4 & 9 years old, and the owner of Bdiapers, India’s only Hybrid Diaper with Chemical Free Disposable bio-soakers. Amrita is a passionate advocate of Organic, Natural and Eco-Friendly Parenting

—-
The views expressed in this article are that of the writer’s and do not reflect the opinions or position of The Better India.

Image courtesy: Bdiapers

(Edited by Sruthi Radhakrishnan & Vinayak Hegde)

On World Human Rights Day, 10 December, the conversation in the media twisted ever so slightly towards child rights when Bollywood star Ayushmann Khurana chose to speak about it.

Featured image source: Facebook

As of 2011, there were as many as 10.1 million child labourers in India, with many estimates not covering the unorganised sector, having still dismal statistics. It was in 1992 that the government ratified the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Children, as a part of its liberalisation agenda. However, it was the crusade, which had begun in the 1980s, based on management principles that helped change the course of India’s struggle with the menace of child labour.

Management education was introduced in India in the ’60s. It was the establishment of IIM Ahmedabad and IIM Calcutta in 1961 that the management education seeped into the broader society. The intellectual genius of Ms Shantha Sinha, the founder of the Mamipudi Venkatarangaiya Foundation (MVF — a child’s rights organisation), and a recipient of a Padma Shri and Ramon Magsaysay awards, combined the elegance of management principles with the epidemic of oppression of child rights.

India has had a complicated relationship with child rights, and thanks to the efforts of people like Mrs Sinha that the country stands a chance to win the war against child oppression. In an exclusive interview with her, she tells me how the anti-child labour movement was uncovered and has stood the test of time.

Let us start at the beginning. Who or what inspired you to undertake the struggle for child rights in India?

I think all of us are the products of our era. You are young, and your era is much different from what it was in the 1960s, which was characterised by radical democratic movements for egalitarian society and justice. That was the most inspiring influence on all of us. It isn’t easy to talk of one person but we can talk of the mood of the era, the zeitgeist, to which all of us belong. In 1962, what influenced us was the war with China. I was in class VIII or IX, and we were given woollen balls to knit sweaters to participate in the National Defence Fund. Nationalism was the order of the day, and the mood was for justice, and that is where I owe the call for change and transformation.

What were the roots of the movement? How did the movement grow and who were the key people for catalysing change?

I would like to focus on the key enablers which helped the movement expand. It was the triad of management principles, organisation principles and expansion. Everything started with the belief that if you follow a confrontationist stance, you are polarising the society. What is much more important is how you can harmonise society rather than leave debris of hatred and violence. After much soul searching, we focussed our energies on making and leaving behind a self-sustaining community that supports children, not one where the polarisation of different stakeholders makes everyone feel anxious about the change.

I was very much influenced by the Gandhian principles from the nationalist movement – wherein I looked at his (The Mahatma’s) process of resolving conflict. Whenever there is a change, there is bound to be conflict. But how you resolve that conflict and how you harmonise the society became the core organisational principles for Mamidipudi Venkatarangaiya Foundation (MV Foundation). When we study a movement, we look at the narrative – but what is much more important are the management principles which shape the movement along the way.

In this light, I admire the work of Mother Teresa. We admire the work that she did, but what we forget is that she had her organisation in more than 90 countries. It was an all-women organisation (headed by nuns) but nobody tries to find out how she did it. All the high-quality work was based on management principles, which to the world, just seems to be happening! I would encourage everyone to look at the management principles whenever we look at a movement.

So, it was back in 1992 that we framed our Programmatic Principles and the Code of Conduct. They have stood the test of time, and they continue to guide us. These principles are all based on the constitution of India, and engender the tenets of non-violence, inclusion and trust in the front-line workers. Any movement is based on emotion and very little is written about the interlinkages of these principles (i.e. the ideology) and the emotive content. Together, these become powerful forces of change.

Even in the pandemic, we see youth-led activities as bubbles of positivity everywhere. What is your message for the youth of today?

My only lesson would be to go with the constitution of India even when you feel you do not align with it. There is so much we can take-away from the constitution and the amendments.

Watch the full interview here:

Aayush Gupta is a second-year management student at the Indian Institute of Management Ahmedabad.

Parenting doesn’t come with a manual, but I learnt a lot when I became a first-time mother. It was a great feeling — he was someone that I had to keep healthy and happy forever. I was a quick learner and figured out the drill pretty soon, starting with diapering.

I always leaned towards ‘natural parenting’ and listened to my mother and mother-in-law for advice on infant care. My predisposition to all things natural, coupled with the fact that my baby was prone to allergies and rashes just strengthened my resolve to cloth diapering.

And that’s what started my quest for the perfect cloth diaper.

Modern Cloth Diapers (MCDs)

My first child was born in the US, where several cloth diaper brands were available to us. These Modern Cloth Diapers (MCDs) had styles and designs to choose from, and they served different needs (night time, heavy wetter, etc.).

Cloth diapering with MCDs seemed like the right choice. These were a tad better than the average langots we saw in India. There was some thought that went behind the choice of fabric, the one-size-fit-all and they claimed to work like any other disposable while being rash-free and leak-proof — the only two features in a diaper that mattered.

I started with a small stash of MCDs and enjoyed the process. At first, I was just happy to do my bit for the planet. It was reassuring to know I was being green and leaving a better world behind for my children.

Not as Convenient

MCDs seemed convenient when we started our cloth diapering journey. It was easy to do once you got used to the routine.  But there if anything went wrong — one would have to start all over again. For example, if the baby was sick, the piles of laundry (not to mention the smell of used cloth diapers) quickly became overwhelming.

The commitment was challenging to maintain. To truly convert to cloth, one had to have an ever-ready ‘stash’ of at least 8-10 cloth diapers with different sized inserts (an absorbent layer put inside the diaper) at all times. And they weren’t cheap.

Another issue that I was facing with cloth was that of leaks. It takes some time to find the right fit — especially in the ‘one-size-fits-all’ variety. And by the time you figure out a setting, the baby grows out of it. So, leaks were inevitable in several scenarios, often leaving me to figure out where I went wrong.

There was also the additional laundry time, needed to clean and wash cloth diapers.

Even on the ‘being green’ front, things were not as bright as they first appeared. I later learnt that cloth diapers consume a lot of groundwater during production thanks to their use of Polyurethane Laminate (PUL). Also, some of the trims on the cloth were imported, adding to the overall carbon footprint. And all that additional washing added detergent and softeners to the groundwater. All this and more increased the greenhouse gases that these diapers generated.

Deflecting to Commercial Disposables

The final blow came when I moved back to India with my 8-month-old. Delhi’s groundwater is ‘hard’, i.e. contains high mineral content. That, coupled with the heat, impacted the core functionality of my diaper – increasing leaks and rashes.

So MCDs did not work for me in the long run. I would often shift back to commercial disposable diapers. Initially, it was while going out and night-time diapering. But eventually, I was using disposable diapers throughout the day.

While the convenience of disposables was a hard habit to break, I wasn’t able to deal with the guilt I felt over the amount of trash I generated daily.

To reduce toxic waste, I tried to turn to imported biodegradable disposables diapers.

However, over time I learnt that not only was the process of bio-degrading waste not adequately implemented in India, but our waste management system did not separate organic and inorganic waste. And the disposables were exorbitantly priced to boot.

My search for options continued.

Converting to Hybrid Diapers

Hybrid Diapers are simply diapers that separated into covers (the outer layer with designs) and soakers (the absorbent inserts). These diapers sit on the spectrum between a disposable and a cloth diaper, hence the word ‘hybrid’.

Hybrids brought with them the best of both worlds between cloth and disposables. The cloth took away the guilt of generating excessive waste, and the insert made the diapering process less bulky. There are several brands which sell both reusable and disposable inserts as well, reducing that worry also.

They seemed like the perfect option. Hybrids were more comfortable to use and learn, required less washing, and fit better than regular MCDs.  They were also cheaper than regular MCDs and needed a smaller ‘stash’ to make them work.

Health of Cloth and the Convenience of Disposables

The hybrids available in India were not entirely convenient. A significant issue was that the covers came with snaps that could hold only the inserts that came with that particular cover. But I liked hybrids and wasn’t going to give up on them. So I finally decided to stick to the hybrids, but only after I came up with a solution myself.

That is when I designed ‘Bdiapers’, a hybrid diaper with a patented 2-part pouch system that separated the ‘cloth’ from the ‘diaper’. Bdiapers are sold with washable and disposable inserts which makes it convenient; reduces washing and encourages reuse. And the pouch system makes it easier to secure any type of insert (home-made included) – making it one of the healthiest diapering options in India.

While the pouch system reduces washing and water wastage, the inserts encourage proper waste disposal. You need to toss away solids in the toilet bowl before wrapping these in paper and disposing of them like any other non-biodegradable separated waste, like say, a sanitary napkin.

To sum up, hybrid diapers worked best for me, and I have been committed to bringing these to other moms who are always looking for an alternative to disposables and are not able to commit fully to the cloth.

While diapering is an essential part of our parenting journey, it is vital to figure out a system that works best with your temperament, predisposition and the health of your child. I hope this journey helps you make the right choice for you.

Amrita Vaswani is a mother of 2 boys, 4 & 9 years old, and the owner of Bdiapers, India’s only Hybrid Diaper with Chemical Free Disposable bio-soakers. Amrita is a passionate advocate of Organic, Natural and Eco-Friendly Parenting

—-
The views expressed in this article are that of the writer’s and do not reflect the opinions or position of The Better India.

Image courtesy: Bdiapers

(Edited by Sruthi Radhakrishnan & Vinayak Hegde)

When Sonam Shekhawat was around five years old, her father took her to watch Jurassic Park in the theatre. While watching the movie, she found herself in awe of the characters, who, as her father said, were created by humans. This thought remained stuck in her mind — she, too, could create characters for television and the big screen. This drove her to begin writing stories.

At the age of 11, Sonam, born in Karauli and raised in Jaipur, wrote poems that were published in several newspapers and magazines, and for which she also won a few national awards. At the age of 15, she began writing long stories, and even wrote a 500-page novel, which she eventually didn’t publish. “I was writing a story about four brothers. It was like Ramayana, but in a modern context. I only realised how long it was when I finished all my school notebooks while writing it, and had to ask my mother if we could buy more. My parents were surprised — it was only the beginning of the year, and I was already asking for more notebooks!”

Many feathers in her cap

Soon after her schooling, Sonam pursued a degree in Animation and Multimedia from the Birla Institute of Technology. After finishing college, she got the opportunity to work with Reliance Animations as a 3D artist intern for three months. While she was working there, one of her senior colleagues, Sathya Narayanana, told her about Mensa (the largest and oldest high IQ society in the world), and suggested that she sit for a test. The result was astounding — Sonam found out that her IQ matches with only two percent of the world’s population. This explained her high precision memory and creativity. 

While still interning, she was provided an opportunity to write for a series named Shaktimaan Animated, which used to air on Sonic and Nickelodeon. She wrote the series’ title theme, as well as several tracks from its soundtrack. 

In 2012, Sonam moved on to Green Gold Animations, which was, at the time, the only company working with Disney. She wrote for a show named Mighty Raju. She went on to write 50-60 episodes for Chhota Bheem, and even wrote the script for four to five movies and 20-30 songs of the franchise. 

Sonam also conceptualised and created shows like Little Singham, Golmaal Junior and Bhoot Bandhu. So far, 17 shows produced in India have been written by her. She has also conceptualised and created shows airing in Europe and the US.

When asked how she connects with children through her shows, Sonam says, “I’m a child trapped inside an adult’s body, so I find myself connecting with children very easily. I’ve always felt like I belonged in the animation industry.” 

In 2015, looking for a change in the content she was writing, Sonam joined Dreamworks Animation – Awesomeness TV. Here, she wrote for a show called All Hail King Julien, which is currently streaming on Netflix. All three seasons of the show were nominated for an Emmy Award, and Sonam won for Outstanding Writing for her animated series’ third season. With this, she became the first Indian to win an Emmy for writing. 

At present, she heads the Children and Family division of Nucleus Media, London. She credits her six-year-old son as having played a major role in her victory, and helping her gain a better understanding of children.

“My son watches a lot of cartoon shows, and he himself is a great storyteller, and very creative. He inspires me to never stop what I’m doing — he tells his friends that his mother makes cartoons, and that he would like to do the same thing when he grows up,” Sonam says.   

She adds, “I always knew I liked kids, but when my son was born, I realised how much I truly loved them. He’s the most wonderful aspect of my life. Through him, I learned how much children observe when they watch something on TV. It’s not just the characters they watch — they absorb every detail in the background as well. Another aspect I love about them is how their solutions are always unconventional and creative. This brought a change in my writing, and I would make my characters solve problems using creativity.” 

‘Encyclopedia of Animation’

“I was only 20 when I started my career, but I seemed 16 — not because I was short, but because I was always childish by nature,” Sonam says, adding, “I was very curious, jumpy, and on edge. It was easy for people to not take me seriously, but I made a lot of changes eventually. After a point, people started noticing my work and creativity.”

Her photographic memory soon earned her the nickname ‘Encyclopedia of Animation’. She was able to remember episodes frame by frame during production, and was able to recall what frames or shots can be reused from whichever episode at any given time. 

She says that while she has won many awards, the Emmys will always be special to her, as she was the first Indian writer to receive one. 

“Being an Academy Award-winning writer is definitely a matter of pride. People suddenly started recognising me on international platforms. It completely changed the direction of my career. Instead of worrying about what studio would take me, I was now able to choose which one I’d like to work with instead,” Sonam adds. 

“When the news was printed in Rajput magazines, many women came to me and said they were inspired to build their own careers the way I had,” she says, adding, “Women can have a career and a family. I’m a writer, but I’m also a mother. If this is the kind of space we create for all women, we can excel.” 

Sonam says that after she got married, she told the people she worked with that she now had other responsibilities to take care of as well. “I should never be asked to choose between my family and work. I was extremely upfront about it, unlike many others who felt like they would appear weak if they brought up familial responsibilities. But it’s not really their fault, because men have made a difficult world for women, and that needs to change,” she adds. 

The initial stages of her career were not easy. The first challenge she faced was convincing people that she could, in fact, write. “Everyone, from producers to marketers and directors, considers themselves writers,” she says.

“When my husband introduces himself as an investment banker, or my brother says he’s an architect, no one says, ‘Wow! Investment banking is something I also do as a hobby.’ It’s the same for writers. Sitting in a room full of directors, producers, and artists, it was difficult to tell everyone they’re not going to be the ones writing the show — I am,” she says. 

Another challenge was being able to tell compelling stories. “It takes a lot of experience to be able to make your story look good on TV. You have to rely on your storytelling skills. You should be able to stand in front of 50 people and narrate a story that can make them laugh and cry, and experience every emotion you’re trying to portray,” she says. 

Sonam said she gained a lot working in the creative industry. “The people from the industry taught me the principles of storytelling,” she says. One of them, she says, is to work on the hook, hold, and payoff rule. Other principles include understanding and managing a character’s conflicts, working on their strengths and weaknesses, and creating obstacles for them that they can overcome and emerge as heroes.

A moment to remember

Among the sea of fan mails Sonam receives as a prominent screenwriter, one has stood out. It was from a person named Sushant S Mohan, who also runs a news channel in India. 

“Hey Sonam, I saw the Chhota Bheem bioscope episode. I hope you are the writer. I want to thank you, because this episode made me remember my childhood days. I used to run with 10 paise to the bioscope in our village to see the story of the prince and princess,” the letter read. 

 “This message was from an adult,” Sonam says, “who put aside his bustling news life for a while and watched an episode of a cartoon show. He took out the time to look me up and drop me a message. This is the most special message I’ve received.” 

What’s next?

Currently, Sonam is working on projects like Space Delivery, and some shows centered around Indian mythology. The latter, she says, is a bid to “create excellent shows for international audiences” and bring forward the “true colours of Indian culture”. 

“The Indian animation industry creates shows for local audiences, and while we have seen some gain popularity on international platforms, nothing has become as epic as, say, Avatar, or Deathnote. I want to create an epic like these that will be remembered for generations,” Sonam says on her plans for the future.

Written by: Krishna Prasad 
Edited by: Divya Sethu

Democracy is often identified with participation and participation is a fundamental aspect of any democracy. While voting is one way we participate in democratic processes, the Pre-Legislative Consultation Policy (PLCP) provides a way through which we can become pro-active citizens in our day-to-day lives. It provides citizens with a channel to provide their feedback and comments on future laws. This piece aims to cover the basics of the pre-legislative consultation policy and how one can participate in the process to make their voices heard.

What is the Pre-Legislative Consultation Policy (PLCP)?

It is a process through which citizens engage with the government by providing feedback and comments on policies and draft bills. A draft bill is a proposal made to the Parliament to become a law. It is this draft bill that is placed before the public for their feedback. Prior to 2014, this process was not uniformly recognised or followed consistently.

However, in 2014, the Central government introduced the PLCP. Under this, it has been mandated that every Ministry must place draft bills in the public domain for comments/feedback for 30 days. The document put out for public consultation should also provide reasons for the need of the law, financial considerations and explanation of legal terms in simple language. The document is also required to cover the possible impact it could have on the citizens and their fundamental rights. It is only after the completion of this process that the draft is sent for approval to the Cabinet.

How is the policy being implemented currently?

The 2014 policy required every Ministry to publish the draft bills on their websites and any other means through which it could reach a wider set of citizens. In case, the law impacts a specific group of people, it is the duty of the Ministry to ensure the relevant information reaches the group concerned. The feedback and comments are made public on the Ministry’s website as well. Since 2017, the number of laws which are opened for public feedback are growing at a rate of 111%.

The main issues being faced by the government are in terms of awareness of the
Pre-legislative consultation process. At times consultations are put out in the public domain but there are no responses from the citizens. On the other hand, large volumes of feedback are often not processed because of internal capacity constraints.

How can you participate in the pre-legislative consultation process?

Taking part in this process can seem intimidating as all of us are not familiar with legal language. However, the policy requires each department to release the key objectives of a draft bill when calling for public comments. This makes it easy to go through the draft bills. User-friendly platforms like Civis —a non-profit organisation that makes it easy for you to find out about the upcoming laws and policies, and MyGov also regularly update the bills up for consultation along with a summary of the draft bill in simple language, free of any legal jargon. While websites like OurGov.In aggregate all laws open for public feedback.

On Civis, one can submit their own feedback on the site and see other responses as well. It gives one the opportunity to understand what your fellow citizens feel about a particular issue. This facilitates public dialogue. All of the feedback from the Civis platform is then conveyed to the appropriate government department, and updates to the law are shared with citizen leaders.

One can also participate by spreading awareness about the pre-legislative consultation policy. This can be done by sharing one’s own feedback on various channels and encouraging people to do the same. This will also tackle the issue of awareness being faced by the government. The more citizens get involved, the higher the success of the process.

Why should you participate in the PLCP?

As we currently witness the protests of the Farm Bills we know that laws have a huge impact on all aspects of our lives. The PLCP gives us a chance to ensure that future laws reflect the needs of the citizens. It also provides an avenue for us citizens to bring to the notice of the government the concerns they may have with the draft bill. Through participation in the public consultation process, we contribute towards creating a vibrant and proactive citizen body.

Written by Kopal Mittal, Research Fellow, Civis; Edited by Yoshita Rao

Growing up in Northeast India, earthquakes had always been a part of Dr Ranjit Das’ life. His quest to understand the occurrence of earthquakes made him a scientist. Finally, at the age of 40, this Bengali boy, originally from Assam, invented a new scale that measures earthquakes which came to be known as the Das Magnitude Scale (Mwg). It replaces the 84-year-old Richter scale introduced in 1935.

The Indian geophysics scientist made a Physics-based earthquake measuring system with a greater degree of accuracy than the American scientist Charles Francis Richter’s ‘localised’ creation. The Mwg is a fundamental contribution to understanding the physics of earthquakes and the tectonic processes that cause them.

Based on the data collected from 25,708 global earthquakes at the International Seismological Centre and Global Centroid Moment Tensor between 1976 and 2006, the Das Magnitude Scale has been scientifically validated in August 2019.

This earthquake scientist has travelled a long distance from a small town in Assam to the South American country where he now lives in Chile. He works with the National Research Center for Integrated Natural Disaster Management (CIGIDEN) in Santiago, Chile. He also teaches in the Universidad Catolica del Norte in Antofagasta, Chile. Besides he is an Associate Editor of an International Peer Reviewed Journal — Journal of Geophysics.

Thirst for knowledge about earthquakes

Born in Dhekiajuli in the Sonitpur district of Assam, Dr Ranjit, who will turn 42 in May this year, is the sixth child among nine siblings. His father, late Dhirendra Das, left his railways’ job to run a fruit shop close to their residence while his mother, Bedena Das, was a housewife.

After his father’s demise, all the members of the family encouraged him in the “proper direction”. He attributes his success to his two elder brothers — Dhiraj Das and Ranesh Das.

Dr Das completed his schooling in Assamese medium and went on to pursue his B.SC (Physics) from Guwahati University in 2001.

After graduation, he completed his Master of Computer Application from Tezpur University in 2004, followed by M.Tech Computational Seismology from Tezpur University in 2008. It was in the year 2013; he completed his PhD from the Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee (Earthquake Engineering) and went on to finish his Post Doctorate from the Indian Institute of Technology Bombay in 2015.

“As a young boy, I always wondered why earthquakes could not be forecast or controlled. My first formal exposure to seismology, theories of earthquake occurrences, seismic wave propagation, strong ground motion and its damaging effect to buildings, etc. started when I joined M.Tech in Computational Seismology in 2006,” recalls Dr Das.

To catch a tremor

He was among the top 50 to have received the National Doctoral Fellowship (NDF) awarded by the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) in 2009, who also received the ‘Young Scientist Award’ from Uttarakhand Government in 2012. He worked with several multinational companies in Bangalore as a Research & Development Specialist before moving to Chile in August 2016.

According to him, Chile is one of the highest seismic areas in the world experiencing frequent moderate to intermediate magnitude events. He chose Chile for doing earthquake research because major earthquakes strike the area every 12-15 years.

Being a life member of the Indian Society of Earthquake Technology, Dr Das has made 22-peer reviewed high impact factor scientific publications. He also made several basic algorithms useful for science and engineering. He also was a member of the Seismological Society of America and American Geophysical Union.

To correctly represent the earthquake size since 1935, a number of scientists devoted their valuable time to the task. In 1979, Japanese seismologist Hiroo Kanamori and his American counterpart, Thomas C. Hanks, developed another version of measure called (Moment magnitude or Mw) to replace the Richter scale but it had its own limitations.

Talking to The Better India over a phone interview, Dr Das states that the Mwg scale will play an important role in emergency management because it is possible to estimate quick seismic moments from the first few cycles of P-waves. This scale is very closely related to seismic energy and earthquake damage potential.

“Mwg has a significant bearing on hazard mapping in seismic zones such as the Himalayan belt where a major earthquake is due but cannot be pinpointed,” the inventor mentions, “Furthermore, this scale will help us in preparing a strong national building code.”

However, recently, an earthquake measuring 6.2 magnitudes claimed 105 lives in Indonesia on 15 January 2021. When asked why his scale has not been used or recognised worldwide, he says, “Recognition in the public domain takes a long time. Only a few people know about the Mwg scale because of the popularity of the Richter scale. However, most of the scientific community is aware of all these updates and developments.”

On a lighter note, Dr Das, who mentions he can speak and write Bengali, Assamese, Hindi, English and a bit of Spanish, says he likes to relax by playing Chess with his friends. Our discussions end with Dr Das mentioning how he intends to come back to India, someday, and work for the development of his nation in the field of education.

If you would like to know more about Dr Das’ work, you may contact him at ranjit244614@gmail.com.

(Written by: Partho Burman; Edited by Yoshita Rao)

In Koraput district, Odisha, lies a remote village called Kanjariguda which is home to an Adivasi community of farmers who predominantly grow ragi and rice. The village is so remote that villagers have to walk several kilometres—across forests and mountains—to hull their rice or access basic services such as mobile charging, photocopying or printing.

In 2019, a women’s self-help group (SHG) established a decentralised rice and millet milling centre in Kanjariguda. This eased the drudgery that came with a lack of access to a mill for more than 500 rice farmers and 270 ragi farmers. Earlier, they had to spend much more time and money to get basic work done. Now, the income generated by the centre is equally divided amongst the SHG members.

Apart from milling, the centre also offers other essential services such as printing and mobile charging—services that are in high demand as they are needed for school work, government documentation, and other purposes. Everything at the centre is powered by solar energy.

During the COVID-19 lockdown, Kanjariguda went into a strict lockdown, alongside other villages in the district. Later, when shops began to open up, the disruptive power cuts and lack of access to diesel (for those reliant on generators) made it difficult to get work done.

So, local nonprofits took it upon themselves to spread news of the functional solar-powered centre to the nearby villages. Within a few weeks, people from 17 villages in a 12-15 km radius began coming to the centre for essential services. This increased the mill’s demand and income, helping farmers in these uncertain times.

Solar-powered equipment (in an area that experiences frequent and long power cuts) made the centre seem reliable. New customers, recognising its convenience, continue to use it even post-lockdown.

Rajani Jani, the president of the SHG says, “Farmers get milling services within a very short distance. We have been moving from village to village to share information about our milling machine. Spreading the message this way has been very effective in promoting our business. Ragi is very nutritious—especially for young children, as well as pregnant and lactating women. We plan to start sale of ragi powder to the nearby anganwadi centres, to ensure a supply of nutritious food for the children.” And Rai Jani, the secretary of the group agrees.

One of the biggest challenges going forward, for entrepreneurs from poor households and those who are restarting their businesses, will be their ability to take risks. Decentralised livelihood models, driven by sustainable energy, that build on existing local institutions like SHGs allow for risk to be shared, while also benefiting the whole community.

This story was sourced from ‘Let’s Rise Up’, a campaign by SELCO Foundation and IKEA Foundation and was published on idr.

(Text by Pradyumna Kumar, Pushpa Kumari; Edited by Yoshita Rao)

The bicycle today has become an item of luxury and a fitness accessory for many of us. For people from my generation–having grown up in the late 80s and 90s–the humble bicycle would find a mention in our parents’ nostalgia trips, famed stories of how they travelled from one end of a city or town to another on them. I would often hear my mother and her siblings wax lyrical about their father’s (my grandfather) bicycle, which is a constant companion in so many of his old pictures. Since all of my mother’s sisters lived in New Delhi. I’d often hear about my grandfather, the late Atulya Kumar Banerjee’s travels’, particularly about an epic bicycle journey that he undertook in his 20’s from Calcutta to Kashmir in 1933.

My maternal uncle or Mama, Aurobindo Banerjee, a retired IRS officer told me all about it after noticing my growing curiosity after my older brother and I discovered a set of letters and pictures tucked away in a cupboard at home, belonging to my late parents. My uncle and my youngest aunt (my mother’s younger siblings) showed me an impeccably kept journal my grandfather and his friends kept of their bicycle trip, amusingly titled ‘Speedy Stars’.

The diary is complete with pictures from the start of the trip (they were flagged off with much fanfare), to careful cataloguing of the entire journey. It looks more like a conventional notebook, the kind you and I may have taken to school. Its hardbound cover neatly contained in a glossy sheet of coloured paper.

“The diary, along with a few other items was handed over to me by my father’s friend and reporter for the Speedy Stars, Romani Mohan Mitra. He was my maternal grandfather’s student and that is how he knew my father. They were very close friends and I suppose he knew of my interest in history and such things”, says my uncle (mama).

Compared to the frayed and tattered letters and pieces of paper with the ink barely legible, this diary feels newer than my notebooks would at this time. The diary is perhaps only half-full, with a combination of pictures (which are worn out and the people along with my grandfather are barely recognisable) and newspaper articles stuck to them with detailed descriptions of each.

The journey started on 12 March 1933, on the day of Dol Jatra (Holi) and was completed on 27 April 1933. Dadu and the rest of his team made it to their destination after about a month and a half, with a lot of the journey taking them through what is now Pakistan. “The money collected from the cyclists for the tour amounted to Rs 250. This would have been a lot of money today, almost Rs 2,50,000, I believe”, says mama. They also raised donations from other people and sold photos, according to the records in the diary.

No one in my family could tell me a lot about the origins of the club, but from the newspaper articles in the diary, it says that it was like a fitness club of sorts, and they were attempting certain speed and endurance records too. Why did they do it?

“Adventure. Plain and simple adventure. He was a writer. A creative person delves into all these things,” mama says. Mama is extremely passionate and a keen writer himself. He tried to get details of the journey published in the Indian Express a few years ago but to no avail.

The sights they saw…

Three pages contain details of the journey: the members of Speedy Stars who undertook the journey, the financial contributions they made or the fund that were collected, and details of when the adventure began and from where. They passed important places like Asansol, Bagodar, Sasaram, Benaras, Allahabad, Kawnpore (now Kanpur), Kannauj, Brindaban (now Vrindavan), Delhi, Karnal, Moga, Firozpur and Lahore during this journey.

While the diary doesn’t mention too many details about the team members, one of the newspaper clippings quotes Mr P Mullick, Secretary of the Speedy Stars Club, as saying that “the club has been organised with the purpose of giving an impetus to the sporting spirit and young men who have a special liking for sports.” Mama says that Mr P Mullick couldn’t go on the trip with the group. Maybe this handwriting is his and he started maintaining this while the others were away.

Pictures in front of the Red Fort in Delhi, the Taj Mahal, a junction at Sialkot, the Dal Lake and the Shankaracharya temple in Srinagar are some places that are evident from the pictures. The journal also contains clippings from now-defunct newspapers like Liberty, Advance and the Amrita Bazar Patrika.

Another article published in Liberty with an eye-catching caption – ‘Four Bengalees’ Lure of Adventure’ – reports of the group’s arrival at Cawnpore (Kanpur) from Fatehpur. “All of them were in high spirits, excellent health and good moods. They described their thrilling experience of the journey which led through hills and forests… the young men halted for 36 hours (at the Bengali Union) and were looked after with great attention and care. At dawn on the 29th ultimo (of last month) they joyously rode and whirled their wheels off towards Etawah amidst cheering, shouts and prayers. The Members of the Union pray that the young adventurers may enjoy perfect health and keep up their spirits to accomplish safely their daring enterprise.”

The diary is almost scrapbook-like, much like how I would make my own diaries of numerous Cricket and Football World Cups, I would keep a record of in school, without ever knowing about my grandfather’s book-keeping ways. It is unclear as to how long the Speedy Stars continued for (the club appears to have had a registered address), or how successful they were in championing the cause of sports and physical fitness.

The bike: my grandfather’s faithful companion

My grandfather, Atulya Kumar Banerjee, was born in Burdwan (Bardhaman) on 10 June 1910 and moved to New Delhi from Kanchrapara in North 24 Parganas, West Bengal in 1952 with his job in the railways. With his wife and six children in tow (my mother was the second oldest and would have been eight or nine), Dadu moved to the Railway colony at Tilak Bridge. However, his date of birth on the India-Pakistan passport issued to him in 1955 is different – 1 August 1911. This passport was issued to him because his job took him to Pakistan for work a few times.

He had dabbled with editing and publishing his own magazine, a Bengali literary journal called Rikta, which ran from 1932-1935, a profession my great grandfather had been in before him. Perhaps he never got the recognition; a collection of his manuscripts and writings remain unpublished, kept lovingly by my uncle and aunts.

Rikta covered mainly literature, politics and current affairs of the time. These are mainly copies of the originals with the covers missing. My uncle donated quite a few of these to the Aurobindo Ashram some time back. Dadu used a pen name, Shree Shebok, for this, but interestingly, his contact information as editor and publisher is mentioned at the bottom of the last page of the journal. You can see some interesting advertisements in the journal too, for quintessential items like ointments and tea and Boroline, of course!

There are several pictures of my grandfather along with his beloved bike, after he had been married; it remained a faithful companion for many years. According to my uncle, “He (like his friends accompanying him on the journey) had very ordinary cycles, mostly second hand, as were then available in those days, years before indigenous manufacturing activities started. I don’t exactly remember if he ever opened up on the trip (or on the Bengali journal he started around that time) to us. But if it was the same one we saw and was with him until it was stolen a few years before his death in 1984, it was an exquisite piece – a British Humber with a handle with a pure brass handgrip. He was extremely possessive about it and meticulously maintained it, though I used it extensively. Your mother too rode it.”

There’s another special thing about this bicycle journey my uncle tells me, “My maternal great-grandfather, Balai Deb Sharma, was a newspaper editor and a revolutionary. He went to prison quite a few times and funnily enough he met my grandfather in 1933 at the first stop of the bicycle journey in Burdwan. In fact, my grandfather promised him then itself that he would marry my grandmother.” Mama has heard this story from his mother.

I generally look at stories of Partition or when India was under British rule and not a lot of people talk about adventures and discovery by the youth, probably because people had other priorities.

Most of the articles highlight the reception they received from people wherever they made their pitstops – mostly at Bengali clubs. I have a fascination for travel, not only to experience a new place but the journey that takes me there and what one finds out along the way. Dadu’s picture with the bicycle has a shikaari shambhu look to it, but that is how I entertain myself when looking through such things. It is no coincidence that I made my first motorcycle trip in 2008 at around the same age my grandfather would have been in 1933.

(Text by Tanmoy Mookherjee, words by Aurobindo Banerjee, photographs by Tanmoy Mookherjee and Navdha Malhotra. This article was first published on The Museum of Material Memory).

I was always a plant lover but with several priorities and endless responsibilities that come along with being a practising architect, there weren’t many opportunities or enough time that would enable me to do enough justice to even call gardening a hobby!

But the pandemic turned a lot of things around. With work-from-home came so many opportunities; truly, as if life was waiting for this moment. Most important amongst them, was the chance to spend some quality time with my 4-year-old son. With small baby steps, together we continued our gardening activities which got full attention in due course and my son was engaged with me as a full-time assistant. What better can a parent wish as a learning experience filled with love, laughter and realisations?

So here are a few facts that made us our better selves in these months.

Soil Space

Space and size cannot be a constraint but the quality of sunlight and the direction of your plants/pots do matter.

During the lockdown, we got closer to our tiny little front-yard which provides approximately 138 sq ft of soil surface for plantation. Out of this, 77 sq ft is a lawn and hard surface together.

I deliberately reduced the lawn portion to enable more space for other plant species to enhance the diversity it brought to us. Hence in the remaining 61 sq ft lies our wilderness, tiny farmlets, edible landscapes, co-sharing experiences and a whole lot of joy. Our garden gave us some papayas which we could share with our neighbourhood friends, surplus tomatoes includes one of the harvests with 73 in numbers at a single go, handful of capsicums, chillies, brinjals, guavas, bottle gourds, curry leaves, mint leaves, ajwain leaves, drumstick leaves, beetroots, carrots, spinach, red spinach, methi, and endless blooms and fragrances.

For a Mumbaikar, 61 sq ft is a huge green space. So yes, a tiny space of soil can enhance your life.

Food for thought

Today, we realise that everyone should have knowledge about cooking; likewise, I would say that everyone, irrespective of their age should know how to grow their own food.

Growing an edible landscape is key to a lot of questions and healing for many illnesses. Apart from its endless benefits such as learning to be patient, valuing every bite of your meal, being conscious towards food wastage, developing a sense of gratitude towards the farmers and the traditional wisdom which we often ignore or simply value them very little. When you grow your own salad, you make sure it is consumed fresh and finished well.

The many challenges that come across while you plant a seedling and watch the failure or the miraculous harvests, you only learn to keep up with the unpredictability and enjoy the process despite some disappointments. You also start empathising with the farmers even more.

This empathy is important to come at an early stage in life as it teaches you to not be selective with particular shapes and sizes or specific colours or even the tastes of your harvest.

Today, if a 4-year-old understands to eat a papaya that could be less sweet than expected, a cucumber which is slightly distorted but delicious, a tomato that looks funny yet the same as others when it comes to taste, he knows it is perfect the way it is.

We then allow ourselves to evolve with our acceptance of diversity in all aspects of life.

Diversity as a lifestyle catalyst

We have a total of 113 plants in all sizes, habits, colours, variations and fragrances, in our front yard, inside our living spaces and on our terrace. The diverse flora happened only as a gradual and conscious process. When I learnt how a particular bird or an animal is attracted to a specific tree, I tried to explore more and brought some variety in the green space. This ensured more eco-guests (as I call them) visiting us and very often.

So we have varieties of finches, red-vented bulbuls, Mynas, common tailorbirds, purple sunbirds, Indian blue robins to name a few; and chameleons, ladybugs, honey bees, butterflies, of course, the monkeys and a few others that make guest appearances.

We saw the cocoon and how the caterpillars mutate into beautiful flying butterflies. Such miracles from nature are very inspiring. So few plants are dedicated to these butterfly cycles. Like a lemon plant is purely for the cocoons on it, we don’t expect lemons from it, there is another lemon we planted to receive a harvest.

This space became our learning platform.

We saw how each plant nurtured a specific bird or an animal and how diversity has brought so much love and charm to the space. I would only say that all the sanity that I have throughout this period and still going on, I owe to this newly developed love affair with the growing wilderness in my front yard and the learning experience of co-existence.

Zeroing the waste

Our green waste goes to the compost earthen pots (matkas) and we love feeding our plants with the same. Watching the whole cycle has given us much pleasure. All our green wastes like the peels, leaves goes into making a compost and that segregation is another important factor. We are still developing this process further to encourage as many in the neighbourhood.

Happiness attached

So here come the mental benefits as a perk of the process. Listening to the chirping birds, watering your plants, mulching, playing with the soil and harvesting has really given us more than food. It has kept us away from the negative thoughts, it has drained our energies in something productive, it has given us happiness amidst all the stress and tantrums (respectively to me and my child).

We look forward to it, we enjoy the tiny habitats or ecosystems that we have participated in, and we learn to change with the changing season and along with our co-exiting companions who do it very wisely. So now we want to share this happiness, and so whenever there is somebody’s birthday or celebration, we gift them a sapling and in return we get to hear some happy stories. Another fact to share, children love planting, especially when you tell them that this one’s for you!

I am also one of the active members in the green committee of our society. With the availability of our physical presence with work-from-home, we as a team decided to add more greens to the private and common areas by encouraging members and taking guidance from the professional gardener.

Till June 2020 we had successfully planted around 101 saplings in common areas and encouraged 80 houses to include a sapling in their private spaces, again with a diverse approach in mind.

We led a silent plantation drive keeping all the safety and precautions, ensuring no one gets infected. Today, the society’s green WhatsApp group is flooded with photos of increased bird species and shared tips for more organic gardening along with all praises to children who are developing this as a passion.

So I end my experience sharing on a note to develop furthermore. I intend to research co-existence in urban areas, planting for mental health and waste management at home-level first, then neighbourhood level and further as it grows to a global level one day. I could start today only because of my parents and grandparents who have given me this exposure in my childhood and the least I could do is, to pass it on further which I am happier to do now.

(Written by Ruchita Jagzap; Edited by Yoshita Rao)