‘Bullock-carts, bicycles –will maintain Indian village economy’

‘Bullock-carts, bicycles –will maintain Indian village economy’ and motorization demands more power/fuel energy which is very dear to India. Manually operated bicycles and cattle pulled bullock carts are rural friendly transport with less economy and requires less maintenance. The bullock cart is one thing you will find as a major means of transport in the rural areas of India. The ideal symbol of India should be the ever-present bullock-cart. In a school textbook, we had a lesson which showed an aeroplane in the sky above a cart plodding on a village road, and moved on to describe the contrast that this country was. In villages and small towns, bullock-carts were used as a means of transport. Most of our population live villages and their main occupation is farming. The distance from their homes to the fields was about two to three kilometers. Generally, they would either walk to the fields or enjoy their journey in their bullock cart.The bullock cart was also utilized as a means to carry goods like grains, vegetables, crops, hay, cattle feed and other essential commodities. It was the only means of transportation for members of a family residing in the village, to commute directly from their homes to other villages, towns, or places at district levels.The manufacture of the wheels and the body of the bullock cart was the main business of the carpenters in the village.

 Over half a century on, the creaky vehicle must have yielded place to a faster, more mechanised means of transport. Bullock carts are one of the earliest and most popular modes of transport in the 19th and early 20th century India. They were used for a variety of purposes, such as travelling and transportation of goods. Fittings done to the bullocks include placing a wooden platform with a sturdy tongue between the parallel wheels of the cart to create space for passengers or freight. The driver holding a yoke hitched to the two bullocks on one hand and a thin whip on the other was invariably an Indian with betel juice running from his lips. Bullock carts significantly contributed to the early economic development of Tamilndu as they were used to move goods. At construction sites, bullock carts were used to transport materials such as bricks. Bullock carts were also used in road repairing. Why hadn't even our IITs, ranking among the best technical institutions in the developing world with all the Western know-how at their back, done something about the indigenous mode of road transport.

Why is it that we succeed in nuclear research but not in bullock-cart technology? Once a means of transport for royalty and now known as ‘poor man’s chariot’, bullock-cart, is an original contribution of ancient Indian wisdom to the rest of the world. The historical object of a cart was once synonymous with the Indian economy. According to some others, bullock-carts survived the onslaught of transport revolution due to the duality of Indian economy. “With an increase in industrial activities in rural areas, the bullock-cart is being used more and more,’’ says Pannir of SEVAI. In Trichy, in Gandhi market several persons use carts for ferrying vegetables and other commodities. The reason given ranges is from cheap cost to easy availability and flexibility. If you approach a typical bullock-cart owner, hunching in his makeshift seat atop the cart for an explanation, the answer would be rather simple. “It gives us (the bullocks and the cart owner’s family) enough to eat twice a day. The mother of all vehicles has also got some touch-ups over the years and her good old wheels gave way to rubberised ones, giving her a smooth roll. Poor people use bullock carts and studies indicated that the income of about 50 percent of the poor rose above the poverty level.EtNS.

Arasangudi Bharthi Jothi Honoured on World Drama Day

TRICHY, 28, March: Veteran theater artist Arasangudi Bharthi Jothi was honoured on World Drama Day in Trichy was honoured by South Zone Board of Continuing Education on 27^TH March 2011 on the world drama day. The Board Chairman Dr.K.Govindaraju honoured Bharthi Jothi with an award titled’ Peace Theatre Award’ and Ponadai for his outstanding drama recently staged’Kallanaiyai Kattiya Karikaal Cholan’.On this occasion, Dr.K.Govindaraju, Chairman of South Zone Board of Continuing Education said’ ‘World Drama Day was created in 1961 by the International Theatre Institute. It is celebrated annually on the 27th March and various national and international theatre events are organized to mark this occasion with International Message ‘Theatre is for Culture of Peace’. Theatre activists all over the world observe March 27 as World Drama Day. The celebration was first held in Vienna in 1961 when the International Theatre Institute declared March 27 as the World Drama Day. From 1962 onwards this day has been observed all over the world. South Zone Board of Continuing Education identifies an outstanding personality in theatre with heart and spirit and the person was honoured with Peace Theatre Award for his/her outstanding performance and reflections on theatre and peace’. The Chairman also added that the role as Bharthi played by Arasangudi Jothi brought a fame as Bharthi Jothi and especially his role as Bharathi was a hit for the past couple of years. Aiming to impart the benefits of this theatre practice to the community, and to explore the possible impacts of long-term theatre performances on the inhabitants of Tamilnadu, South Zone Board of Continuing Education reviews some of the dramas already written and enacted in Trichy draws on attention with participants and their families, as well as with other members of the community. The Board Chairman started with an analysis of the present community context, and followed this with an outline of the theatre work developed over the course of the years’. Dr.K.Govindaraju also appreciated  the contribution of Mr.Muthvelalagar, Mr.Masthan, Mrs.Mangalam and several other senior artists in Trichy in the field of theatre. Chairman of Board mentioned the contribution of Muthuvelagar is to be placed on record as his dramas Jenma and Pathinnettampor  are  used for reading and also acting.As a senior living Drama Director,,Muthuvelagar Encourages  the youth to get into the live theatre. The guest of honour,Mr.Jawahar Arumugam,a member of Muthamil Kalai Panpattu Maiyam expressed that Trichy has a long historical standing in the filed of Drama and then Thevar hall was a symbol of Trichy drama history.The noted drama artists like MKT Bhagawadhar,M.R.Radha,Ethartham Ponnusamy,M.M.Mariyappa,  RR Shaba found FG.Nateshaiayar,Navab Rajamanickam were all from Trichy stalwarts of Drama and theatre. Ponnar Snakkar,Nirkolam,Kathavarayan are some of the drams enacted with Trichy origin with reflection of local way of life and also generated livelihood for the rural fork artists and also gave opportunity  for several persons to get into theature of dramas'.

Arasangudi Bharthi Jothi spoke on ‘The Impact of Theatre Practice in our Life.’ He said Trichy has created many artistes, directors, playwrights, technical designers and limited middle class audience. In that sense theatre has an impact only in micro level. It has no impact at all in the macro level or the social, economical or political aspects of Trichy. Even the middle class, the main audience of theatre, is reluctant to come and enjoy theatre due to the lack of theatre halls. The consequence is that a large number of people in the city have no idea of the rich tradition of our main stream theatre.He thanked Muthamil Kalai Panpattu Maiyam and South Zone Board of Continuing Education for titling  him as ‘Bharthi’. He further said ‘The Art of Theater is an interdisciplinary that takes us on a journey through many different aspects of our culture and history and tradition. Theater is an amazing way of expressing everything from feelings to Literary, historical and ethical standpoints. Theater is one of the broadest fields there is. It does not matter what your interest is, most likely there is a way to tie it to the world of theater’Jothi concluded. To conclude, Service Resource Centre drama troupe of South Zone Board of Continuing Education performed a street theatre.EtNS.

World Water day-A little school girl Sophia enlightens

Trichy, 27, March: The international observance of World Water Day is an initiative that grew out of the 1992 United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED) in Rio de Janeiro. Children are keen in India to observe water day here is a little Sophia of SEVAI shanthi Matriculation higher secondary school(www.shanthischool.in) enlightened the participants standing in a watershed model and said on 27^th March,’ World water Day  is observed to Raise awareness about sustaining healthy ecosystems and human well-being through addressing the increasing water quality challenges in water management and to Raise the profile of water quality by encouraging organizations, communities, and individuals around the world to actively engage in proactively addressing water quality e.g. in pollution prevention, clean up and restoration.’ Sophia further added’ Life Started From Water, Nature Flourishes with Water, Seasons Caused By Water, Development Progresses with Water, Energy Formed Of Water, Health Depends On Water, Religion Imbibes Water, History Made Of Water Trade Rides On Water,Bio-Diversity Needs Water, Water Sustains Life, It Brings Prosperity and Happiness. She also gave some tips: ‘verify your home is leak free, Repair dripping taps by replacing washers, Avoid flushing the toilet unnecessarily. Use water efficient flushes, plumbing fixtures having sensors, low flow faucet aerators which require minimum water. Turn off water while brushing teeth. Close faucets while soaping and rinsing clothes. Keep overflow valve in the over head tanks so as not to waste water. Use waste water of cloth cleaning to clean the floor. Use waste water in flush. Don’t use running water for releasing ice from tray. Don’t use extra detergent in washing clothes. Don’t use running water while hand-washing clothes. Operate automatic washing machine when it is fully loaded.Don’t use shower/big bath tubs in bathrooms. While going outdoor, turn off the main valve for water. Develop habit of monitoring water meters’. The Principal of the School, Mallika said ‘Any project for water conservation and recharging should be based on the principle of "making running water walk". This would increase the scope of water retention in the soil and the scale of water recharging. The deliberations touched upon the micro and macro level perspectives on water conservation and water recharging. While some elaborated on domestic water conservation programmes like rainwater harvesting, and  various aspects of soil conservation, afforestation, biodiversity. The rainwater pits would help prevent soil erosion and thereby preserve the biodiversity of the land. EtNS.

TNOU-LRC -SEVAI Nagapatinam student Karthika University Topper honoured

Governor and Chancellor Surjit Singh Barnala distributing degree certificate and medal to Karthika, a LRC student of SEVAI,Nagapatinam at the 5th convocation of Tamil Nadu Open University in Chennai, Vice-Chancellor, TNOU, Kalyani Anbuchelvan  is in the picture.

Chennai, 24: “Education is an awakening agent and the only force for the liberation of women, “said Governor and Chancellor Surjit Singh Barnala in the fifth annual convocation function of Tamilnadu Open University organised today here. Dr.Kulanthaisamy delivered the convocation address and conferred degrees on the students. A rural student from FdnF supported Learning Resource Centre from SEVAI; Nagapatinam Karthika was awarded the Certificate of Merit for holding high ranking in the University Exams. Dr.Kulanthaisamy, in his convocation address, congratulated the achievers and called upon them to face the challenges of life with a positive attitude while striving for excellence in every sphere of life. He said the rural learning centres such as SEVAI Nagapatinam Professional course caters to rural and students of interior villages with quality Education under Tamilnadu Open University. The term Open University is an integral part in the evolution of higher education and the hope for rural poor and also serves those live in interior villages and education would help women to learn..K. Ganesan, Principal Secretary, Higher Education, and Kalyani Anbuchelvan, Vice-Chancellor, TNOU, participated. Nearly 2500 students in Tamilnadu graduated at the convocation.Nagpatinam Professional course centre is situated in Gowen Dispensary premises,Mrs.Indirani,Coodinator of SEVAI and Director P.Chitra,Jona Kalavathy,Shanmuvalli and others congratulated the student Karthika. Etram News service.

‘NYK Youths are the back –bone of a nation, they have matured heads in young shoulders’- Dr.K.Govindaraju, Chairman, South Zone Board of Continuing Education

Trichy 24:‘Nehru Yuva Kendra’s Youth have matured head in young shoulders and they have capacity to guide the rest of the youth as the back –bone of a nation’  said Dr.K.Govindaraju, Chairman, South Zone Board of Continuing Education in his presidential speech given in Youth Empowerment campaign organized by Nehru Yuva Kendra, Trichy. Dr.K.Govindaraju added that the State Elections for Tamilnadu is scheduled on the 13^th April and the NYK youth and the young women NYK groups to create awareness among the masses on the importance of voting and the need for ensuring cent per cent polling. It is also important that rural sports should be promoted and NYK youth should encourage the differently abled to take part in the special sports program of the State and Nation and they should get prepared for the Special Olympic for the differently abled.Dr.K.Govindaraju expressed his happiness that seven out of nine differently abled selected for special Olympic in Athens in June, these seven are from Trichy. It is important that youth to allot time for the differently abled services in rural areas were NYK is strong and operational.Mr.K.Subramanian, District Coordinator of NYK, Trichy enlightened the youth that the voters campaign organized by NYK in collaboration with District Administration and reputed NGOs of the District  have been evoking good response from all sections of the society as  the voters awareness campaign sensitizes  the electorate to their fundamental duty towards the nation building process. “Every adult citizen has a duty, responsibility and right to exercise his / her franchise without fear or favour which he / she must do diligently and judiciously, to create a healthy, transparent and accountable democracy, free of corruption – to create an informed citizenry and provide good quality of life to citizens etc. Mr.Theresnathan, AD of PIB, Chennai said “Every voter should be aware of the ‘Part’ and ‘serial number’ where his/her name appears in the electoral list.PIB-AD advised the youth ‘Please understand this model or formula, youths - same thinking young blood evincible – they have qualities to win target, vision – they should have great imagination or wisdom, Center – integration of above factor and will include in all youths. The above formula or model has come into existence with wide research. If every rational old – blood will awake young blood then it is the possibility of the integration of India.Mrs.Santhiya,Project Head of Tamilnadu Link Workers program said that it is very important that youth should have common responsibility of zeroing down the new HIV/AIDS prevalence and they can extend their voluntary service for Link workers scheme being implemented in all rural Blocks of Trichirappalli District. Today, Indian – youths have mislead with television or cable system. They are forgetting their culture and moral values after flowing into the water of western culture .our culture is our diamond – property. Youth should respect our cultural values for the progress of India. The words development, progress and unity lay vary much importance. Youth can easily integrate India but youths are also suffering the problem of violence. Prof.Irudayaraj,a renowned Social scientist mentioned that people should be aware of their rights and duties pertaining to voting process for democratic India’.

Mrs.Percy, the District Officer of APAC Link workers scheme, being implemented by SEVAI said ‘Trichy district Link Workers scheme is enjoying the support of the Governments and also PRIs, public and NYKs, she added that Under NACP III, the Link Worker Scheme was launched to saturate the reach of the HIV related services to the high risk groups based in the rural areas. This reinforced the requirement of an intensive rural based intervention for reaching the marginalized groups which remain uncovered even after the expansion of urban based prevention programmes. The LWS aims to address the complex needs of the rural HIV prevention, care and support requirements through: Identifying and training, the village level workforce of Supervisors, Link Workers and volunteers on issues of HIV/AIDS, gender, sexuality, STIs and above all on mobilizing difficult-to-reach, especially vulnerable sub populations including high risk individuals, youth and women. Linking the HRG and vulnerable populations to the public health services for STI, ICTC, ART and then their follow up back to communities (saturation of coverage to HRGs), Generating volunteerism among the community for fighting HIV & AIDS and inculcating health values is another cornerstone of this strategy. Addressing issues regarding counselling, condoms and behaviour change, the link worker scheme will be useful to reach out to the rural population with the focus among the high risk population such as youth, women etc. The program will cover villages through a mapping exercise. The high risk group identified through these link workers scheme are linked with the NGOs implementing TI in the respective districts for promoting behavior change and linked with other services.  While the role and contribution of youth is of vital importance in all countries, it is particularly significant in a country like India where the proportion of the youth in the country's overall social and demographic profile is continuously increasing. According to the 2001 Census, there were approximately 355 million people in the 15 to 35 age group, 74 per cent of whom lived in rural areas. The number is expected to rise to approximately 510 million by 2016. Both central and state governments need to harness the energies of this large group, providing them with adequate infrastructure of world standards for excellence in sports at national and international levels. Kumar in his consolidated speech said. Adolescent youth in the 10-19 years age group numbered 230 million, accounting for 22.8 per cent of the population. It is proposed to target this segment of the youth population through specific intervention strategies that will focus on youth and power, gender justice, youth health and responsible living. The major thrust will be on involving the youth in the process of national planning and development and making them the focal point of development strategy by providing proper educational and training opportunities, access to information on employment opportunities including entrepreneurial guidance and financial credit, proper platforms for developing qualities of leadership, tolerance and open mindedness, patriotism, etc’. Earlier SYSTEM centre .Chitra welcomed the gathering and Mahesh Proposed vote of thanks.-EtNS.

ARECANUT LEAF PLATES (PAAKKU MATTAI PLATES) PRODUCTION IS A PROFITABLE ECONOMIC ACTIVITY FOR SELF HELP GROUPS.-SEVAI Experience

SEVAI promotes the production of Arecanut Leaf Plates'(Paakku mattai Plates) among Self Help Groups of Angarai Cluster of Trichirapalli District. The raw materials for Paakku mattai Plates comes from Kallar plam grove plantations near Mettupalayam.SEVAI works towards setting up small manufacturing units of disposable plates and bowls made from the sheath of arecanut plants. Each arecanut leaf plate manufacturing provides direct employment to 3 persons and there is an indirect impact of creating employment for 4 other persons. Hence the enterprise provides employability in a positive light for SHGs of Trichirapalli District. At the same time it leads to production of an eco-friendly product from a resource which is generally a waste in these regions. The marketing tie up arrangements has been done with Marutham Marketing Enterprises. It has been a very valuable learning experience for SEVAI over the last three years. We have realized that implementation of an enterprise development project is just not about creating a value chain but to simplify the process for each and every stakeholder in the value chain and creating a win-win relationship between all the stakeholders. We have successfully created this relationship, but what needs to be done hereafter is to strengthen this relationship both in terms of quantity and quality is to create employment opportunities through the promotion of sustainable community level micro enterprises. The product has been launched is plates and bowls of different shapes and sizes made out of arecanut leaves. These disposable utensils are being used for serving and eating food. Some of the qualities of the raw material are as follows: Completely Eco-friendly,Bio-degradable and Compostable, Chemical free and Non-Toxic,Hygienic,Natural and attractive appearance,   Microwave-oven & Refrigerator safe, Sturdy and light which makes it possible to use in buffet parties, Can hold liquid for 3-4 hours, Can be easily moulded into different shapes and sizeshe above qualities of the raw material makes these plates much better than the existing disposable plates available in the market, made out of plastic, thermocol, paper and sal patta. Thus it has a potential demand at places like marriage halls, hotels, food chains like Haldirams, temples etc. If marketed properly then international environment friendly natural product based markets are also accessible.
The model scheme developed by SEVAI requires an initial investment of Rs.1.4 lakh to establish a manufacturing unit. Each manufacturing unit consists of a machine room (includes finished product stocking space) and a raw material stock room. These units have 2 areca nut leaf plate machines with 3 dies of different sizes. The dies can be easily interchanged and each die can be attached to any machine. The parts of the machine are also flexible and can be easily replaced or repaired. The units have a capacity to process 1,50,000 pieces of arecanut sheaths per annum producing around 4,50,000 plates/bowls. In most of the cases the entrepreneur contributes 5% of the capital and the rest is a bank loan with 30% back end subsidy. This is the most commonly used model but some single also go for single machine smaller units. Presently some SHGs have also opted for 3-5 machine units which require an initial investment of more than Rs.2 lakhs. On an average a person earns not less than Rs.4000 per month. SEVAI has identified that there are seven stages of work in promoting an arecanut leaf plate manufacturing unit. Survey and baseline study of potential area, Creating awareness amongst community and promotion of the project amongst enabling agencies, Capacity building of interested new entrepreneurs and old entrepreneurs, Financial linkage of entrepreneurs raising initial investment, Stage Technical linkage of entrepreneurs for establishing units and producing arecanut leaf plates, Marketing linkage of entrepreneurs for selling arecanut leaf plates, Research & Development for increasing efficiency and effectiveness of units,Continuous monitoring and evaluation of process to identify the loopholes and bottlenecks and thereby improving the process. –EtNS.

‘Voters Awareness- will strengthen the hands of democracy’ – K. Petchiammal, District Revenue officer, Trichy

SHG organisers perform a street play in Trichy.

Trichy24, March: ‘Voters Awareness- will strengthen the hands of democracy’’ said The District Revenue Officer K. Petchiammal, launching a campaign ‘a street play’ and Voting Machine demonstration in Trichy on 23, March. The members of well-known theatre group of  SEVAI  in Trichy has been engaged in creating awareness among the masses on the importance of voting and the need for ensuring cent per cent polling. These campaigns have been evoking good response from all sections of the society. It is the District Administration that has spearheaded the campaign as part of sensitising the electorate to their fundamental duty towards the nation building process. ‘The campaign has been necessitated to improve the percentage of polling in both the urban and rural areas’ Mrs.Peachiammal, District Revenue Officer of Trichy District. The beats from a ‘Thavul’a folk instrument in the background of a folk song were quite enough to attract many onlookers to witness an street theater awareness programme on exercising the franchise. The street play conducted focuses on the need of the masses to exercise their fundamental right to vote by electing the right candidate. Street plays and other modes of creating awareness about the importance of elections and the need for public participation in it draws good response among the voters of Trichy District. Street plays draw attention of voters and creates voter awareness among the electorate. The street play narrates, “ Every adult citizen has a duty, responsibility and right to exercise his / her franchise without fear or favour which he / she must do diligently and judiciously, to create a healthy, transparent and accountable democracy, free of corruption – to create an informed citizenry and provide good quality of life to citizens consisting of good health, hygiene, housing, education, employment, social security, etc. for themselves and their future generation and not based on any one time such as lure of cash or freebies which would last hardly for a day. The hour-long programme projected on to the public, the importance of voting and emphasised the need to exercise franchise. The 20 member cultural troupe headed by Mrs.P.Vanitha,SHG coordinator of SEVAI and Mrs.J.Amala of SEVAI, of Service Resource Centre(performed Kadayani, oyilattam, Pudiyabharatham, skits, awareness songs and folk dances, the cultural troupe consisted of differently abled persons and also transgender too. One of the women who were less inclined to cast her vote is conveniently convinced by others to go to the polling booth. The whole process of voting was explained.“Every voter should be aware of the ‘Part' and ‘serial number' where his/her name appears in the electoral list,” says a woman. A visually challenged person spoke on the facility and even appealed to other similarly visually-challenged persons to cast their votes without fail. The District Revenue Officer K. Petchiammal, conducted a demonstration on casting vote using electronic voting machines and said that the voters should desist from accepting any gift and should not avail themselves of any conveyance facility offered on the Election Day to reach the polling booths.

Mrs.P.Vijayalakshimi,Project officer 'Mahalir Thittam' said that SHG members should create awareness among new voters of exercising their franchise without fail during elections.Earlier Mr.K.Subramaniam, District Coordinator, Nehru Yuva Kendra welcomed the gathering and District Disabled welfare officer Mrs.Syamala proposed vote of thanks.  .-EtNS.   

World Water Day-2011 by SEVAI.‘Most of the world's population lives in cities’: Water for cities- urban challenge, Waterday-2011 Street plays Performed in Trichirappalli by a local NGO -SEVAI.

World Water Day has been observed by SEVAI in Trichy and SEVAI team conducted street plays and Kala Jathas in esteemed presence of  Mrs.Pechiammal Trichy District Revenue officer and officials of the District.   Thousands of people gathered. Ms.P.Chitra, Project Director, SEVAI in her valedictory address of a week-long street plays performed by SEVAI in Trichy urban slums here said ‘An international day to celebrate freshwater was recommended at the 1992 United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED). The United Nations General Assembly responded by designating 22 March 1993 as the first World Water Day. Each year, World Water Day highlights a specific aspect of freshwater. Each year, World Water Day highlights a specific aspect of freshwater. This is the first time in human history that most of the world's population lives in cities: 3.3 billion people ...and the urban landscape continues to grow.38% of the growth is represented by expanding slums, while the city populations are increasing faster than city infrastructure can adapt. The objective of World Water Day 2011 is to focus international attention on the impact of rapid urban population growth, industrialization and uncertainties caused by climate change, conflicts and natural disasters on urban water systems. This year theme, Water for cities: responding to the urban challenge, aims to spotlight and encourage governments, organizations, communities, and individuals to actively engage in addressing the challenges of urban water management. The other themes covered so far have also been incorporated in street plays performed by SEVAI team (www.sevai.in). The highlights of the street play themes are water quality, reflecting its importance alongside quantity of the resource in water management, to raise awareness about sustaining healthy ecosystems and human well-being through addressing the increasing water quality challenges in water management and to raise the profile of water quality by encouraging governments, organizations, communities, and individuals around the world to actively engage in proactively addressing water quality e.g. in pollution prevention, clean up and restoration. The other theme incorporated in street play is “Shared Water - Shared Opportunities".

Special focus is placed on transboundary waters. Nurturing the opportunities for cooperation in transboundary water management can help build mutual respect, understanding and trust among countries and promote peace, security and sustainable economic growth. In 2008, World Water Day coincided with the International Year of Sanitation, and challenged us to spur action on a crisis affecting more than one out of three people on the planet. The growing problem of Water Scarcity was the also the topic for World Water Day street play. The theme highlighted the increasing significance of water scarcity worldwide and the need for increased integration and cooperation to ensure sustainable, efficient and equitable management of scarce water resources, both at international and local levels. The theme 'Water and Culture' street play drew the attention to the fact that there are as many ways of viewing, using, and celebrating water as there are cultural traditions across the world. Sacred, water is at the heart of many religions and is used in different rites and ceremonies. Fascinating and ephemeral, water has been represented in art for centuries - in music, painting, writing, cinema - and it is an essential factor in many scientific endeavours as well..The message of the street was also: Weather, climate and water resources can have a devastating impact on socio-economic development and on the well-being of humankind. According to the World Meteorological Organization weather and climate-related extreme events, such as tornadoes, thunderstorms, storms, cyclones, floods and drought, account for nearly 75 per cent of all disasters. They lead to an enormous toll of human suffering, loss of life and economic damage. Monitoring these events, predicting their movements and issuing timely warnings are essential to mitigate the disastrous impact of such events on population and economy,’ Chitra concluded. Earlier SEVAI/APAC TI project head of SEVAI Ms.Suda welcomed the gathering and Mrs.Amala, the project coordinator of Street theatre team proposed vote of thanks.EtNS.

‘Challenges of urban water management -world water day’ -2011 by SEVAI.

Trichy 22, March: International World Water Day is held annually on 22 March as a means of focusing attention on the importance of freshwater and advocating for the sustainable management of freshwater resources. ‘The challenges of urban water management are a crisis management strategy that draws together all facets of water cycle viz. water supply, sewage and storm water management to integrate strong social, economic and environmental development. The urban water management essentially provides for effectiveness in water saving, equity in water sharing and delivery efficiency followed by sustainable use of available water resources. Thus there is a need for the integrated policy and planning for appropriate use of river, ground, rain and sea water, sewage and other water resources. We take this day to renew our commitment to achieving our vision - the day when everyone in the world can take a safe drink of water, but also to celebrate our progress over nearly 15 years of bringing 100,000 people clean water and sanitation in Trichy and its neighborhood districts’ said by Dr.K.Govindaraju, Chairman South Zone Board of Continuing Education while addressing the bare foot multipurpose urban works and volunteers of water sanitation committees promoted by user groups SHGs Federation of Trichy urban areas in function organized in SEVAI in commemoration of world waterday-2011’.‘WORLD Water Day is being observed today with a view to creating awareness about clean water for healthy world.  ‘If wastage of water continues, then by 2025, there will be acute scarcity of water, forcing people to stand in queue to get the rationed out water. Drinking Water had become so scarce it is important to protect water sources, prevent pollution in them, removal of encroachments on irrigation channels, prevent over exploitation of ground water, recycle used water and use the defunct deep bore wells for storing rain water. The other objective of World Water Day 2011 is to focus international attention on the impact of rapid urban population growth, industrialization and uncertainties caused by climate change, conflicts and natural disasters on urban water systems. We need to focus attention on the importance of fresh water and advocating for the sustainable management of freshwater resources. NGOs and statutory and international organizations are mostly are celebrating World Water Day. An international day to celebrate freshwater was recommended at the 1992 United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED). The United Nations General Assembly responded by designating 22 March 1993 as the first World Water Day. Each year, World Water Day highlights a specific aspect of freshwater. Every government needs to ensure that its citizens have adequate water needed to lead a healthy, happy and productive life. As a country’s population and economy grows the national demand for freshwater increases. Hence the need for a country to ensure that there is enough freshwater to meet the needs of all. However, in most cases, available freshwater is not evenly distributed and often not appropriately managed. As a result protocols and other relevant bilateral and multilateral agreements have been signed by countries to ensure that proper measures for sharing and managing this valuable resource are put in place. Globally, pollution figures are alarming the course of action to preserve our clean water sources. Every day reports show that 2 million tones of human waste are disposed into water sources. In developing countries, about 70 % of untreated industrial wastes are dumped into waterways, polluting the usable water supply’, Chairman of Chairman South Zone Board of Continuing Education added.

‘It is further reported that since 1900 to date, half of the world’s wetlands have been lost, our principal source of renewable freshwater. One can thus infer that by the end the 2000 millennium, all the wetlands would be dried off by our own doings. It thus presents a challenge for to all human kind to be responsible and care for our water sources. Water and sanitation targets feature under environmental sustainability, the update is also the first to confirm longstanding fears that the explosion of urban populations in poorer countries is too fast for municipal authorities to keep up. Caring for this through efficient use of fresh water, rain water harvesting, and water recycling where possible as well as careful disposal of all waste material. Putting an end to the deterioration of trans-boundary wetland ecosystems is critical for securing a stable supply of water. Climate change also impact on water resources and their management. Very high temperatures influence the change in rainfall patterns, increasing the risks of floods, droughts and other water related disasters in many areas in all countries sharing water courses. Also it influences occurrence of acid rains which adversely affect the crop productivity levels and later impact on food security; consolidated Dr.K.Govindaraju.Mrs.P.Chitra presided over the function and she addressed that SEVAI has imparted training to around 10,000 women in Trichy urban areas on water and sanitation and school sanitation in urban areas are given top priority.Mrs.P.Vanitha proposed vote of thanks.EtNS.

.

Folk Theatre artistes stage plays to create awareness among voters in Trichy by SEVAI Resource centre-SRC

Trichy: 21: The members of well-known theatre group of SEVAI Resource Centre has been engaged in creating awareness among the masses on the importance of voting and the need for ensuring cent per cent polling. These campaigns have been evoking good response from all sections of the society. It is the South Zone Board of continuing Education that has spearheaded the campaign as part of sensitising the electorate to their fundamental duty towards the nation building process. ‘Wholehearted participation and cooperation from the people in the electoral process will help in strengthening the hands of democracy. The campaign has been necessitated to improve the percentage of polling in both the urban and rural areas’ Chairman of the Board Dr.K.Govindaraju said. The street play conducted focuses on the need of the masses to exercise their fundamental right to vote by electing the right candidate. Street plays and other modes of creating awareness about the importance of elections and the need for public participation in it draws good response among the voters of rural areas in Srirangam constituency, Trichy District. Street plays draw attention of voters and creates voter awareness among the electorate. The street play narrates, “ Every adult citizen has a duty, responsibility and right to exercise his / her franchise without fear or favour which he / she must do diligently and judiciously, to create a healthy, transparent and accountable democracy, free of corruption - to create an informed citizenry and provide good quality of life to citizens consisting of good health, hygiene, housing, education, employment, social security, etc. for themselves and their future generation and not based on any one time such as lure of cash or freebies which would last hardly for a day. A live Dance-Drama in Tamil was played by SEVAI team, Trichy at SEVAI Community college, Tamil Nadu, India, on Monday, March 21, 2011.Etns

South Zone Board of continuing Education performs voters’ awareness street play

TIRUCHI: With the elections to the state Assembly approaching fast South Zone Board of continuing Education has been engaged in creating awareness among the masses on the importance of voting and the need for ensuring cent per cent polling. These campaigns have been evoking good response from all sections of the society. It is the South Zone Board of continuing Education that has spearheaded the campaign as part of sensitising the electorate to their fundamental duty towards the nation building process. ‘Wholehearted participation and cooperation from the people in the electoral process will help in strengthening the hands of democracy. The campaign has been necessitated to improve the percentage of polling in both the urban and rural areas’ Chairman of the Board Dr.K.Govindaraju said. The street play conducted focuses on the need of the masses to exercise their fundamental right to vote by electing the right candidate. Street plays and other modes of creating awareness about the importance of elections and the need for public participation in it draws good response among the voters of rural areas in Srirangam constituency, Trichy District. Street plays draw attention of voters and creates voter awareness among the electorate. The street play narrates, “ Every adult citizen has a duty, responsibility and right to exercise his / her franchise without fear or favour which he / she must do diligently and judiciously, to create a healthy, transparent and accountable democracy, free of corruption - to create an informed citizenry and provide good quality of life to citizens consisting of good health, hygiene, housing, education, employment, social security, etc. for themselves and their future generation and not based on any one time such as lure of cash or freebies which would last hardly for a day. A live Dance-Drama in Tamil was played by SEVAI team, Trichy at SEVAI Community college, Tamil Nadu, India, on Monday, March 21, 2011.Etns

SEVAI Community college performs voters’ awareness street play

Street plays and other modes of creating awareness about the importance of elections and the need for public participation in it draws good response among the voters of rural areas in Srirangam constituency, Trichy District. Street plays draw attention of voters and creates voter awareness among the electorate. The street play narrates, “ Every adult citizen has a duty, responsibility and right to exercise his / her franchise without fear or favour which he / she must do diligently and judiciously, to create a healthy, transparent and accountable democracy, free of corruption - to create an informed citizenry and provide good quality of life to citizens consisting of good health, hygiene, housing, education, employment, social security, etc. for themselves and their future generation and not based on any one time such as lure of cash or freebies which would last hardly for a day. A live Dance-Drama in Tamil was played by SEVAI team, Trichy at SEVAI Community college, Tamil Nadu, India, on Monday, March 21, 2011.