this is a booklet i had written for my interim course at Srishti. i had gone to Wayanad and studied the working of a NGO, the biodiversity of that geographical region and the aborigines of those parts.
“Aashalata VWM Charitable Trust” was initiated in the year 2006 to facilitate quality of life amongst the weaker section of the society through means of education and medical aid, thereby enabling a larger participation as responsible social citizens.
Trinity Care Foundation listed in Times Of India amongst the 15 ideas from Karnataka, India making an impact on social change on occasion of 68th Indian Independence Day !
Vandna dubey cooking classes a community participation entrepreneurshipJamia Millia Islamia
Food is one of the necessity for human survival, and it’s essence is more realized while one is on the tour. We all love to enjoy food as per our taste and preferences, but homemade have no comparison. But, is it possible in some foreign country, where only tour managers/guides could hardly able to understand the innate desires of tourists
“Aashalata VWM Charitable Trust” was initiated in the year 2006 to facilitate quality of life amongst the weaker section of the society through means of education and medical aid, thereby enabling a larger participation as responsible social citizens.
Trinity Care Foundation listed in Times Of India amongst the 15 ideas from Karnataka, India making an impact on social change on occasion of 68th Indian Independence Day !
Vandna dubey cooking classes a community participation entrepreneurshipJamia Millia Islamia
Food is one of the necessity for human survival, and it’s essence is more realized while one is on the tour. We all love to enjoy food as per our taste and preferences, but homemade have no comparison. But, is it possible in some foreign country, where only tour managers/guides could hardly able to understand the innate desires of tourists
Here is a story of Mr. Mansukhbhai Raghavbhai Prajapati; who was a poor potter from Wandaner, Gujarat. But, with his preservation, resilience & passion for his ancestral work; pottery. This craftsman struggles across life’s barriers to become a leader who drove the socio-economic development in his state Gujarat and led to be country’s most known rural entrepreneur.
Dhanu’s village
Today all the relatives have come to Dhanu’s house to celebrate Dushera. They have come with their luggage in their bullockcarts. Dhanu’s father is the eldest in the family. So all the festivals are celebrated at their house. Dhanu’s mother (aai ), mother’s brother’s wife (mami ) and father’s brother’s wife (kaki ) are busy making puranpoli (sweet rotis made from jaggery and gram).
Along with this a spicy kadi dish is also made. The day passes in laughing and chatting. But by evening everyone’s mood changes. The women and children begin to pack their luggage. The men sit down with the mukadam (agent who lends money) for the meeting. The mukadam gives the details of the loan taken by each family.
Listen to the untold story of Marjina - A Rag Picker. Her story will make you think twice before facing with any rag picker on a road-side. Rag pickers provides a great service to our city, but still our perspective on them is still the same. Listen and judge yourself..
The Niti Valley lies in the Joshimath subdivision of Chamoli district in the state of Uttarakhand (formerly Uttaranchal in the state of Uttar Pradesh), India, at an altitude of between 2,100 and 7,817 meters. The valley’s major river is the Dhauliganga which flows south-southwest and has two main tributaries – the west-southwest flowing Rishiganga and the west flowing Girthiganga – with a confluence near the villages of Reni and Kailashpur. Upstream of Reni, the area is inhabited by a substantial tribal population, the Bhotiyas, with two main sub-tribes, the Marchha and Tolchha. The area falls within the buffer zone of the Nanda Devi Biosphere Reserve (NDBR). The core of the reserve is adjacent to the villages of Lata, Reni, Paing, and Tolma.
http://farbound.net/sunshine-himalayan-adventures/
Terasia.co
The Next Level Media, bring unique assets from where tradisional culture come and where will it develop in the modern commercial era
We Bring 3 Spirit
- Spirit of Tradisional Culture.
- Urban Commerce Culture.
- Policy Commerce Culture
Here is a story of Mr. Mansukhbhai Raghavbhai Prajapati; who was a poor potter from Wandaner, Gujarat. But, with his preservation, resilience & passion for his ancestral work; pottery. This craftsman struggles across life’s barriers to become a leader who drove the socio-economic development in his state Gujarat and led to be country’s most known rural entrepreneur.
Dhanu’s village
Today all the relatives have come to Dhanu’s house to celebrate Dushera. They have come with their luggage in their bullockcarts. Dhanu’s father is the eldest in the family. So all the festivals are celebrated at their house. Dhanu’s mother (aai ), mother’s brother’s wife (mami ) and father’s brother’s wife (kaki ) are busy making puranpoli (sweet rotis made from jaggery and gram).
Along with this a spicy kadi dish is also made. The day passes in laughing and chatting. But by evening everyone’s mood changes. The women and children begin to pack their luggage. The men sit down with the mukadam (agent who lends money) for the meeting. The mukadam gives the details of the loan taken by each family.
Listen to the untold story of Marjina - A Rag Picker. Her story will make you think twice before facing with any rag picker on a road-side. Rag pickers provides a great service to our city, but still our perspective on them is still the same. Listen and judge yourself..
The Niti Valley lies in the Joshimath subdivision of Chamoli district in the state of Uttarakhand (formerly Uttaranchal in the state of Uttar Pradesh), India, at an altitude of between 2,100 and 7,817 meters. The valley’s major river is the Dhauliganga which flows south-southwest and has two main tributaries – the west-southwest flowing Rishiganga and the west flowing Girthiganga – with a confluence near the villages of Reni and Kailashpur. Upstream of Reni, the area is inhabited by a substantial tribal population, the Bhotiyas, with two main sub-tribes, the Marchha and Tolchha. The area falls within the buffer zone of the Nanda Devi Biosphere Reserve (NDBR). The core of the reserve is adjacent to the villages of Lata, Reni, Paing, and Tolma.
http://farbound.net/sunshine-himalayan-adventures/
Terasia.co
The Next Level Media, bring unique assets from where tradisional culture come and where will it develop in the modern commercial era
We Bring 3 Spirit
- Spirit of Tradisional Culture.
- Urban Commerce Culture.
- Policy Commerce Culture
Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS) is an NGO working in the field of nature and wildlife conservation since 1883 and as a part of our educational activities and nature awareness campaign, we conduct various nature camps and wildlife safari camps across India like Kanah National Park, Lakshdweep Island, Dudhwa and many more and also at foreign destinations like Tanzania,Kenya, Malaysia, Bhutan, Madagascar. By participating in the camp with the BNHS you are supporting the BNHS and its cause for nature and wildlife conservation www.bnhs.org
En-route: To the land of weaves and the weavers!Priyanka Rao
Tennessee Williams once said, “Make voyages. Attempt them. There's nothing else.” This portfolio is a window to my journey into the colorful world of Traditional Handicrafts and Textiles till now. Each page portrays diverse work I have done with crafts NGO’s like ‘Dastkar’, ‘Mulberry’ and ‘Abhyudaya’.
It further shows the rich heritage we have and the potentials yet to be explored to reach out to new horizons.
Kauna Handicraft & its Occupational Ergonomic Assessment & Intervention ronaldo328621
Sustainability is important, and people are searching for tools to better incorporate
sustainability into their companies and products. The environmental influence of the fashion
industry has been under the spotlight, and many companies and brands have also been urged
to make joint and individual efforts to be more sustainable. The northeastern state of
Manipur has got an extensive range of handicraft products. Among them is the Kauna or
Kouna Handicraft. The Kauna Handicraft can be made into items like wall hangings, purses,
bags, jewellery containers, mats, because of its property to form any desired shape and form.
The Kauna material is a plant-based material harvested from the Kauna Water Reed. It
comes as non-toxic material with the the property to insulate heat. It is also water-resistant
which makes a good durable material. The plant is largely cultivated in Manipur’s
Khangabok village. This village is quite renowned for its art of weaving kauna. Many
successful entrepreneurs ran business helping many local artisans earning their livelihood.
The making began with the cultivation which can be harvested 3 times a year. Then it is set in
the sun for drying. Mold are being made for shaping the form. They are generally made in
workshops ran by women thus providing employment over the locality. They have a huge
value at the handicraft market. People opt them for being a sustainable and durable material.
The present study further throw light on characteristics and uniqueness of Kauna craft and
the workplace ergonomic assessment of the Kauna artisans.
study of India's nomadic tribe "Rabari" and a study of their costumes and textiles. a small overview of the book published as a part of the craft cluster on the same topic.
Why explore Nature with BNHS ?
----------------------------------------------------
BNHS, a membership-driven organization, has been promoting the cause of
nature conservation for more than 130 years since 1883. The Society's guiding
principle has always been that conservation must be based on scientific
principles. Today a number of BNHS scientists are engaged in several nature
conservation projects across India.
BNHS nature walks and camps are all about the wildlife and here members share
their appreciation for nature and wildlife. Here is a perfect opportunity to develop
hobbies like nature photography and birdwatching in the company of like-minded
people and share knowledge with experts. BNHS programmes are specially designed
to let seniors as well as youngsters enjoy the pursuit of Nature appreciation. And
moreover, your participation in these activities help BNHS to generate the much-
needed funds for the conservation of India’s biodiversity.
The Family Tree - Inspiring Stories from Destinations Wild Asia
The Family Tree is committed to Fair Trade, sourcing products from over 30 social and environmental initiatives, including crafts cooperatives, women’s groups, ethnic minorities and artisans with special needs.
A Presentation made during the visit of Ms. Niyati Mehta, Programme Officer (Media and Arts) from the Sir Dorabji Tata and Allied Trusts to evaluate NFSC and its Tamilnadu Archive at Ashakulam in Villupuram district on April 12, 2010.
Understanding what sustainability means, the term, with respect to construction materials.
This is primarily relevant for India but is also informative for international scenarios,
Exploring different materials with a wooden look that can be proposed for a retail store interior flooring application.
Looking at materials for heavy duty use, maintenance measures and installation methods.
Sharing "white exterior cladding options"
This research was done for a Retail Store, nonetheless, it is applicable to any structure that demands a white facade.
These materials are high on FR grade, durability and also low maintenance (other than marble).
#Aludecor #DuPont #Corian #Marble #Fundermax #Hafele #CaesarStone #Dekton #Greenlam
After almost a year of study on materials used by architects, for interiors and exteriors, Indian made or International grade, certified or un-certified, etc, my assignment was to be able to categorize them and manage them for several projects at once. After the research, I managed to categorize the materials based on their area of applications and furthermore looked into the different finishes each material is available in.
ACP (Aluminium Composite Panel) Fire Test Ameeshi Goenka
Checking the flammability rate of non fire rated ACPs widely used as an exterior cladding material all over the world.
Fire rated ACPs are not readily available in India and are made only on MOQ basis. The Govt. has not made it mandatory for the use of Fire Rated Architectural Materials in India that can withstand at least a minimum of 2 hours of fire without allowing it to spread.
An example of a material palette with a minimal industrial feel by making use of bricks, white tiles, metal sections, birch ply, etc.
#BreakingDownImagesAndMakingConcepts
Ways to achieve a brick cladding finish for interiors and exteriors of residential houses and commercial spaces.
- Brick cladding
- fire bricks
- clay tiles
- clay panels
- flexy clay
- textured paint
Implact Edge- A restaurant in every village (Final Semester Presentation)Ameeshi Goenka
This project is a part of the Andhra Pradesh Government’s effort to develop food related enterprises, through a holistic entrepreneurship cycle. It will cause positive externalities for the tourism and the highlights of the process include the research, final visual communication and business structure, and the entire process behind the spatial design. Being a spatial design student, the intention behind the design is based on the research entirely, keeping in mind the client’s requirements, and the community apprehensions, and the customers’ aspirations. My project includes the design of the parking, landscaping, and the physical, exterior structure. The primary aim of the project is to create an environmentally sustainable restaurant, which fully exploits the natural lighting and ventilation available, while employing rainwater harvesting techniques to recharge the underground water table. The landscape and the restaurant itself will be designed so as to allow for maximum air flow, with ambient vegetation to provide a natural source of shade and cooling. The ambiance of the restaurant will be maintained as relaxed and peaceful as possible, to provide for a more pleasant dining experience. The design will be a blend of the traditional and the modern, due to the mix of local sourcing, and sustainable design philosophy.
INTI (Impact Edge- A Restaurant in Every Village)Ameeshi Goenka
This project is a part of the Andhra Pradesh Government’s effort to develop food related enterprises, through a holistic entrepreneurship cycle. It will cause positive externalities for the tourism and the highlights of the process include the research, final visual communication and business structure, and the entire process behind the spatial design. Being a spatial design student, the intention behind the design is based on the research entirely, keeping in mind the client’s requirements, and the community apprehensions, and the customers’ aspirations. My project includes the design of the parking, landscaping, and the physical, exterior structure. The primary aim of the project is to create an environmentally sustainable restaurant, which fully exploits the natural lighting and ventilation available, while employing rainwater harvesting techniques to recharge the underground water table. The landscape and the restaurant itself will be designed so as to allow for maximum air flow, with ambient vegetation to provide a natural source of shade and cooling. The ambiance of the restaurant will be maintained as relaxed and peaceful as possible, to provide for a more pleasant dining experience. The design will be a blend of the traditional and the modern, due to the mix of local sourcing, and sustainable design philosophy.
Impact edge, A restaurant in every village. Seminar 2 Ameeshi Goenka
The presentation briefly talking about the research, the business model canvas of the proposed highway restaurant, detailed concepts and the design process.
A community research backed by the existing business models of works the SHG of Andhra are involved in to create a food business platform for them which will be owned and operated by them only.
In this report, the main subject of discussion is Lakshmi Nivas, house no. 301, situated on Narayan Pillai Street. The paper focuses on looking at the entire region of Shivajinagar historically and then narrowing it down to Narayan Pillai Street. The entire streetscape of Narayan Pillai Street was done collaboratively by all the students of class before we broke into our individual house reports. The information gathered as a whole has also been included in the paper which adds more depth to it. Lakshmi Nivas’ historical significance has been derived from the information shared by the owners of the house and the neighbouring shopkeepers. The analysis of the physical structure has been performed through several site visits and photographs. The proposal is based on the concept of shop-housing, which is the local socio-economic trend prevalent, also inspired by the conservation of shop-houses done by the URA on Joo Chiat Road in Singapore.
Short paper on Adaptive Reuse and Heritage Selection Criteria. Also, looking at Bangalore as the spatial context as it was during the colonial period and how it is today.
Discover Palmer, Puerto Rico, through an immersive cultural tour that unveils its rich history and vibrant traditions. Experience lively festivals, savor authentic cuisine, and explore local markets. Visit historical landmarks, museums, and stunning colonial architecture. Engage with friendly locals, enjoy live music, and hike scenic nature trails, all while participating in cultural workshops and discovering unique artisan crafts.
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The Cherry Blossom season in Hunza begins in the second week of March and lasts until the end of April, varying with altitude. During this enchanting period, tourists from around the world flock to Hunza Valley to witness its transformation into a vibrant tapestry of white, pink, and green. The valley comes alive with cherry blossoms, creating a picturesque and mesmerizing landscape that captivates visitors.
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1. SRISHTI SCHOOL OF ART,
DESIGN AND TECHNOLOGY
INTERIM COURSE
FIELD TRIP DIARY REPORT
AMEESHI GOENKA
FST 101
2. ITENERARY:
DAY 1-
M.S. Swaminathan Foundation (Wayanad)
Uravu
1st micro industry
2nd micro industry
Lunch at a home-stay
Trek to see different species of bamboo
Temple
Uravu bamboo nursery
DAY 2-
1ST cluster (Neravu)
2nd cluster (Unarvu)
Lunch (Kerala thali)
3rd cluster (Sneha)
4th cluster (Soubhagya)
DAY 3-
Edakkal cave
Lunch at New Taj
Heritage museum
Waterfall
DAY 4-
Trekking behind M.S. Swaminathan Foundation
Lunch at M.S. Swaminathan Foundation
Kanavu (indigenous school)
DAY 5-
Uravu
Enroute to Bangalore
3. My interim course at Srishti needed me to go to
Wayanad district which is on the border of
Karnataka and Kerala to understand the working
of a NGO that deals with bamboo craft, the
aborigines of that region and the biodiversity of
that geographical region.
OVERVIEW:
URAVU
We went to Uravu, which is a legally constituted non-
governmental organization (NGO) started by a group of
people in the year 1996. Uravu seeks to achieve small
scale changes directly through projects, product orders
and supporting self-help groups. They mobilize financial
resources, natural resources, other materials and
salaried personnel to create localized programs in the
field. They apply to the government and organizations
for grants and contracts in order to raise money for
their projects. Uravu trains indigenous and other local
men and women in bamboo craft, and empowers them
to work on their
4. own or continue under them after the training period.
They are paid every month based on the number of
days they work. Uravu heads six clusters and renders
support to several others. These clusters are mainly
self-help groups, like Sneha, Neravu and
Soubhagya, which are based in the Wayanad district.
Uravu is dependent on the government for funds and
projects. Uravu has a finance team, a designing team,
marketing company and trained labourers. The main
aim of Uravu is employment generation.
Uravu has its own bamboo nursery and also has the
permission to cut bamboo from different parts of
Wayanad in a sustainable manner and buy them from
the Government at highly subsidized rates. Uravu
functions every day except Sundays and festival
holidays. To make a product they cut the bamboo,
process it to prevent fungal growth, dry it, cut them
into required pieces and prepare reeds, then they make
the product, polish it, price them, package, and
distribute them to various places all over India
according to the approved orders. To get a product
made by the clusters under them, they provide
5. the processed bamboo, polish the end products,
price, package and then distribute them to different
places. Uravu is a trust itself and also has an Uravu
marketing company linked to it to facilitate market
research and analysis, pricing, packaging,
transportation and sales. Uravu as a trust uses the
subsidies provided by the Government and as
separate entity (company) helps the Government
with various projects, such as the promotion of eco-
tourism. Getting a live experience of working with
bamboo in a bamboo factory was amazing, a lot of
work and tiring.
CLUSTERS (SHG)
An SHG is usually composed of 10–20 local women
that make small regular savings contributions over a
few months until there is enough capital in the group
to begin lending. Funds may then be lent back to the
members or to others in the village for any purpose.
The clusters under Uravu receive orders and raw
materials, capital goods, training and complete
support from Uravu in every matter whereas those
that are not
6. under Uravu may or may not receive orders from
them but can ask Uravu for assistance if necessary.
The women working in the clusters work for
approximately 7 to 8 hours per day, six days a
week. They get holidays for festivals and one paid
holiday for Onam. Two members from each
cluster attend the exhibitions that are held all year
round in different parts of India. They are paid
₹ to ₹ per day, depending on the product
120 180
they produce and the quantity thereof, paid every
month counting the number of days they work.
Each member is required to have mandatory
health insurance through the village panchayat.
The women working in these clusters do not take
any work home. None of them throw away any
waste materials because what is waste for them
may be useful to another cluster. Children of every
member of the cluster are educated till 12th
standard at least. Each cluster produces only one
object at a time and believes in division and
specialization of labor. The members of the cluster
usually stay near their work place.
7. Neravu cluster started with 20 people but now
there are only 19 working women. They use
reed bamboo and elephant bamboo to make
flower vases, candle stands, frames and lamp
shades. As and when they finish the production
of one order they immediately process the next
order. They are liable to Uravu for everything.
Every week each member deposits ₹ into50
Malabar Gramin Bank.
Unarvu cluster was started by 18 people five
years ago but now has only 12 working laborers.
The women left mainly due to dust allergies.
They were free to make their own designs and
implement their own ideas in making bamboo
jewellry. They use elephant bamboo for that
purpose, which they buy in bulk every month
with the money they deposit in the banks every
week. Even though they are not under Uravu
directly, the polishing of their ornaments is
carried out by Uravu.
Sneha SHG was started by 15 people but 5 of
them left on account of marriage. They are
8. not directly under Uravu but receive orders and
raw materials from them. They are also free to
process orders from third parties. They mainly
make utensils and photo frames. Uravu performs
the polishing of their products.
Soubhagya cluster has about 15 members working
on various objects like trays, spice boxes, bottles,
wall hangings and pencil stands. Each member
deposits ₹20 every week into the Malabar Gramin
Bank. It is mandatory for them.
WATERFALL, MUSEUM AND EDAKKAL CAVE
The Soochipara waterfall, tribal museum, and
Edakkal cave in Wayanad were amazing, however
the surrounding areas could have been
maintained better. At the waterfall, we had to pay
an entry fee and digital cameras were prohibited.
People were allowed to bathe in it and there was
an old security guard helping everyone. Though
some of the local people were helpful they didn’t
appear that way. There was only one man made
sitting area. For some
9. reason the trees had really smooth trunks. We were
there to understand the biodiversity of the region. We
had to buy an entry ticket for Edakkal cave, pay
separately for the digital cameras and we had to pay
for a sticker to stick to our plastic water bottles which
would be refunded on our way out since it was a
plastic free zone. It was a steep climb to the cave and
we were not permitted to take pictures from our cell
phones. There were guards everywhere. The cave is
known for its rock-cut carvings from the Stone Age
era. There was one carving behind the stairs which
was not open to public. The tribal museum was
located in the town and also required an entry ticket.
It was a small museum with ancient local artifacts and
bamboo work.
BIODIVERSITY TREK
We were taken for a short trek on the hill behind the
M.S. Swaminathan Research Foundation. A local
scientist was our guide who spoke only in Malyalam.
The land belongs to the aborigines of that region.
They had to fight for their land but now it’s legally
theirs. They
10. They don’t buy food from the markets
instead dig and pluck them from the
forest. The forest is loaded with
medicinal plants, different species of
spiders and lovely flowers, like the
peacock flower, and butterflies.
KANAVU
We also visited an unregistered tribal
school named Kanavu which was
started by Joy Mon Baby located
about 20km from Kalpetta. That
school is run by the tribal families.
The elders teach folk music, martial
arts, history and other subjects which
are learnt or practiced by kids and
teenagers. They go for exchange
programs all over India to learn
pottery, weaving, agriculture, etc.
That land was bought was Vistar in
1993 for the adivasis of
11. that region for cultural and educational
reasons. Vistar used to provide for their
exchange programs and other expenses
but they stopped doing so in 1996. The
aborigines have to carry out their own
expenses now. They perform music and
dance in troops in order to collect money.
The children there start working at an
early age and hence are exposed to
substance abuse at that age. They also
have rehabilitation center for the
aborijines who are addicted to substance
abuse to have a fairly better future.
ISSUES, REASONING AND SOLUTIONS:
URAVU AND CLUSTERS
At the moment, Uravu is facing a shortage of funds and skilled employees. Some of the women leave on
account of marriage, health reasons, family issues or they migration to the urban area. Given their existing
situation, they should first complete their pending projects and orders, consider diversifying their product
range, possibly invite educational institutions for bamboo workshops and volunteer programs, provide
better health facilities by supplying work-suits
12. and masks to their workers, and they could have some women work from home, like painting on cut
pieces of bamboo to make jewellery or taking reeds from the main work place, bringing them home and
processing a small order. Uravu being an NGO should hold fundraisers in different parts of India, in
exhibitions or workshops. Bamboo craft and furniture is the next big market after wooden craft and
furniture and their main target should be the general public. They need to get recognition by making
their products more appealing as per the latest fashion, giving them to stores as consignments or in
common exhibitions and melas, and having interactive sessions with the people. They need to spread the
word about the usefulness of bamboo, the history of bamboo craft and its future market. Since bamboo
is a highly versatile material they should come up with innovative ideas. The experts should do some
research and see if bamboo and technology can be linked and, for starters, they should make bamboo
toys and game items. If bamboo can be linked with technology it would take the whole industry to a
different level. Uravu should consider becoming a brand name and expanding beyond Wayanad so as to
reach people with higher income level to increase their profits. They could cut down on their packaging
expenses by hiring a kabadiwala and getting paper from houses at the cheapest rate possible and
recycling that paper. Uravu should allow its artisans to design and make their own products once in a
while so that they take pride in what they create. If they receive appreciation then they would feel more
confident about their work. After getting a hands-on experience of working with bamboo my idea of
thinking of the bamboo products to be over-priced has completely changed.
13. WATERFALL, MUSEUM AND
EDAKKAL CAVE
The waterfall did not have enough
security guards and lacked restrooms.
Considering that they have space and
could offer more employment, they
should make pay and use toilets near the
waterfall and some changing rooms.
They must have more than a single
security guard for safety reasons as there
are several unsavoury individuals
attempting to swim there. The heritage
museum requires English speaking
guide, and is not as appealing as it can
be. By increasing their entry ticket by ₹2
to ₹4 they could arrange for an English
speaking guide or train a local to
converse in English. They could have a
souvenir store to make it more
profitable. They could also make it more
appealing by improving their lighting
system or having interactive sessions.
The hidden
14. carving in the Edakkal cave should be allowed for
public viewing. If the concern is of someone
damaging it then they should build an enclosure
around it or allow only one person at a time to view
it. The profit margins of these places are quite low,
and may be improved by increasing the ticket prices.
Also, the tickets themselves may be made more
attractive, so as to double as a keepsake for tourists.
This would also help in the word-of-mouth
promotion of these places.
BIODIVERSITY TREK
The trek in the natural forest surrounding was fun.
Since the forest is abundant with flora and fauna,
and the land belongs to the aborigines. They have
extensive knowledge of the medicinal properties of
the local flora, which they could use to make the
natural medicines for themselves and sell the excess
in the market, thereby increasing the level of
income. However, they should practice sustainable
cultivation of these plants in order to ensure future
availability
It was nice to see the rubber, tea
15. and coffee plantations and acres of paddy fields that we walked
across. Pepper, there, is a commercial spice and honey is also
sold in large quantities. Banana is an important part of the diet
of people in Kerela and hence there were huge banana
plantations too. Eucalyptus and lemon grass are also available in
plenty and well commercialized.
KANAVU
Kanavu faces problems with getting students to learn, acquiring teachers
and raising funds. Since they are already performing in troupes
locally, they could expand that by going to neighbouring towns and getting
recognition. If they were registered and open to foreign companies for
grants they could approach an MNC for donations (such as KFC, which
adds ₹ to each bill as a donation to a charitable foundation). The elders
5
of the society should take more serious initiatives towards the school’s
growth by holding cultural fests and motivating their students to
learn, dream big and follow their dreams. They could attract more
children by providing better facilities and making them do more innovative
and creative things.