ISSN 2347 - 7628

HELP Foundation’s River Watch Program

Coordinated through Paravur Lake & River Protection Council

Geographical Route Map of

Western Ghats Panchayat Segments – Sub Clusters 1. and (1km) 2. and Ittiva (5km) 3. Edamulackal and (5km) 4. Elamadu and Chadayamangalam (4km) 5. Chadayamangalam/(4km) 6. Chadayamangalam/Velinalloor & Catchment Area: Pallickal (1km) Originates from the low 7. Velinalloor and Pallickal (7km) hills of Karakunnu (250 8. Velinalloor and (2km) above msl) adjacent to in the foothill 9. and Kalluvathukkal (4km) region of the Western 10. and Kalluvathukkal (1km) Ghats and flows through Reserved Forest 11.Adichanalloor and (8km) area Total of 42 km

HELP Foundation Quarterly Journal September 2014 Vol: V Issue: 2 Page No:

Contents

ISSN 2347 - 7628 Sept 2014 Vol:V Issue: 2

Editorial Board

Prof. Peter Pradeep Jesmis J Kavunthanam Anna Mathews Sanoj Herbert Suneesh Kumar S Prof. Stanislaus Noronha Giles Fernandez

Managing Editors Jesmis J. Kavunthanam Anna Mathews MISSION GREEN Layout and Design Jesmis J Kavunthanam HELP Foundations River Watch Program

Energy Conservation Seminar Photo Journalist Mahesh S. Ambelil Mapping of the River Bank of Ithikkara River

PROJECT REACH Publisher Jesmis J Kavunthanam Start of Child Rights Survey Managing Director, MISSION HEALTH HELP Foundation Project DAYA– Dialysis Assistance Programme- Seminar Comments and suggestions for future columns are welcome and should be addressed to: SOCIAL INTERVENTION Social Accounting and Audit on HELP Foundation social The Chief Editor, performance HELP Foundation, Report of Internship P.O. -691303 DHWANI– FROM THE EDITOR’S DESK Tel. +91-474-255-6414 An unsustainable course Call Center : +91-9656-33-4444 [email protected] NATURE PHOTO DIVISION– WILD LIFE www.helpfoundatin.in Nature Photo Feature

HELP Foundation Quarterly Journal September 2014 Vol: V Issue: 2 Page No: 2 Mission Green Activity Report HELP Foundations River Watch Program HELP Foundations River Watch project envisages stringing together a coalition of Community Groups, Government Institu- tions, Local Administra- tion and College Eco Clubs along the entire stretch of Ithikkara River toward HELP Foundations long term goal of Developing an Ecosystem approach for integrated management of land, water and living resources that provides sustainable delivery of ecosystem services in an equitable way in and River watch teams meeting with Kalluvathukkal Grama Panchayat around Ithikkara River (, India) leading to Ecosystem Based Management (EBM). This is to be accom- plished through Paravur Lake and Ithikkara River Protection Council an independent registered body with adequate representation of the local community, Local Self Government institutions and next generation citizens. Smt Sugathakumari Teacher, poet and activist, who has been at the forefront of environmental movement in Kerala River watch teams meeting with Pooyappally Grama Panchayat

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Mission Green Social Intervention HELP Foundations River Watch Program Contd. volunteered to be the chief advisor of the program “HELP Foundation River Watch” and WWF is been supporting us in this endeavor. HELP Foundation released the geographical route map of the Ithikkara River from Sea through Paravur Lake showing the Panchayats and the length of the river River watch teams meeting with Ilamadu Grama Panchayat through each of the local bodies. This has been made available primarily through Paravur Lake and Ithikkara River Protection Council. As part of the project we have travelled to all Panchayat through which the river flows and met with the Panchayat officials and they have moved towards creation of a Committee River watch teams meeting with Idamulakkal Grama Panchayat comprising Elected Officials, Schools authorities and Parent Teachers Association Officials and BMC representatives. All Panchayats have been handed over with materials and maps with respect to the river and work guidelines they ought to accomplish through the River Watch River watch teams meeting with Anchal Grama Panchayat program. HELP Foundation Quarterly Journal September 2014 Vol: V Issue: 2 Page No: 4

Mission Green Activity Report HELP Foundations River Watch Program Contd.

River watch teams meeting with Adichanalloor Grama Panchayat River watch teams meeting with Chadayamangalam Grama Panchayat

River watch teams meeting with velinallor Grama Panchayat River watch teams meeting with Mayyanad Grama Panchayat

River watch teams meeting with Ittiva Grama Panchayat River watch teams meeting with Pallickal Grama Panchayat HELP Foundation Quarterly Journal September 2014 Vol: V Issue: 2 Page No: 5

Mission Green Social Intervention Energy Conservation Seminar HELP Foundation hosted an Energy Conservation Seminar and Free CFL Distribution jointly with WWF-India. The program was hosted with support of Mayyanad Gramapanchayat, Energy Man- agement Centre & KSEB. Five Se- lected BPL families from every ward of Mayyanad Panchayat partici- pated in the session. In essence all 23 wards of Mayyanad Panchayat were represented in the seminar. Mayyanad Panchayat Vice President Shri Lesslie George inaugurated the seminar. Shri Subhash Babu of the Energy Management Centre con- ducted the session. CFL Distribution to replace incandescent bulbs was inaugurated by Shri Renjan Mathew, Vote of Thanks being delivered by Shri Rajeev of Mayyanad Panchayat State Director - WWF, Kerala. Mapping of the River Bank of Ithikkara River (File opened at Kollam Collectorate)

As part of our visit to 12 local bodies through above HELP Foundation also took up the matter which the river flows we have listed out 14 with the concerned IAS Officer Incharge of Survey. issues which need to be addressed on a war 1. Drinking Water footing to salvage this river. They are as below. 2. Encroachments In short most of it points to the river bank being 3. Biodiversity Loss not protected or lack of demarcation. Most of 4. River Bank Demarcation the Panchayats have thrown up their hands as 5. Check Dam the elected representatives only care for votes 6. River Bank Construction and they are not for enforcement of the laws 7. Health of River Upstream and in most cases are aiding such illegal 8. Health of River Downstream activities. After several discussions with Kollam 9. Loss of Paddy Fields along the river banks Revenue Authorities and the Survey Head of the 10. Sand Mining District a file was opened for creation of a team 11. River Changed Coarse to resurvey the river or rather identify the 12. Non Perennial revenue markings so that steps can be taken to 13. Destructive Fishing evict encroachments and thus start the long 14. Rivulets are left unprotected process of protecting the river. Based on the

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Project Reach Activity Report Start of Child Rights Survey

As part of HELP Foundations efforts to make Mayyanad Panchayat the first child friendly Pancha- yat in Kerala, we have been working to- gether with Social Justice Department, Child Welfare Com- mittee-Kollam, Juve- nile Justice Chairman, Kollam and May- yanad Panchayat So- cial Welfare Standing Committee. Under directions from Child Protec- tion Officer of the district, HELP Head Master of Mayyanad Higher Secondary School handing over the survey report to Foundation worked Mayyanad Panchayat President with various institutions and the Juvenile Justice it’s being carried out in all schools of Mayyanad Chairman, Kollam to come up with a Survey form Panchayat. The leadership provided by Shri Abeen comprising 50 questions so as to find out the issues of SJD and Smt Shiela Kumari in the effort has children of Mayyanad Panchayat are facing. This been exemplary. The survey has now reached the survey was kick started with involvement of An- 60 % mark and activities are going on in full steam ganwadi Workers and the Government employees to complete the activities by October end. in all wards of the Panchayat. In the second phase

Social Accounting and Audit on HELP Foundation’s social performance

SAN INDIA (Social Audit Network, India), which VMVOA (Vision, Mission, Values, Objectives & is affiliated to the Social Audit Network, UK has Activities) and a mapping exercise of the key voluntarily come forward to assess the social value stakeholders. generated by HELP Foundation through a process The entire process of accounting and audit is ex- of accounting and auditing on its social, environ- pected to be completed by December 2014 and mental & economic performance impact. the report to be published by January 2015 as The 1st stage of the process got completed on Sep- confirmed by the SAN India representative. tember 2014 with a workshop on redefining the

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Newspaper Clippings Environment

Dialysis Supporting Dialysis patients has been some- thing which has been very emotionally draining due to their short lifespan. Added to that now there is a spate of applicatants walking into our office requesting help and we are unable to raise funds to cater to the long list of patient queue in spite of our strict scrutiny. We have now started to reach out to individual sponsors who can choose a patient from our list and possibly start to support part of the finances needed for the pa- tients to continue on with their lives. To date we have supported 750 Dialysis procedures entirely free of cost. These beneficiaries have been identi- fied through proper background cheks and fur- ther vetted through the PanchayatiRaj Offices. Those of who you see this or know of somebody who wants to lend a helping hand please get in touch with HELP Foundation at 9656334444 or Recognize and support us when ever you see DAYA Boxes via email: [email protected] Press Meet announcing the launch of HELP Foundation River Watch

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Internship Report from an MSW student of DePaul Institute of Activity Report Science and Technology—Angamaly in HELP Foundation

REPORT OF INTERNSHIP

One of the most significant and exciting compo- and Climate Change, Govt. of India. The project nents of social work education is the field place- focused on restoring the natural irrigation system ment. Hamilton and Else (1983) define it as, “a in Ela, a paddy field and wetland in consciously planned set of experiences occurring Mayyanad, together with the Local Panchayat. in a practice setting designed to move students The second one was aimed at conserving the bio- from their initial level of understanding, skills and diversity of Paravur Lake which was being threat- attitudes to levels associated with autonomous ened by destructive fishing practices. The trainee social work practice.” The field work practicum is was given an opportunity to visit the Mayyanad the central mechanism for transmitting theoreti- Grama Panchayat office and to spend a day ob- cal knowledge into the practical level of work and serving the activities of the Panchayat officials. plays a crucial role in providing the students with The day at the Panchayat office helped the trainee an opportunity to explore, learn and develop pro- to get more of an idea about the working of the fessional skills required for working with people, Panchayat, which is at the grass-root level of gov- the essence of the social work profession. ernance. During the visit, the trainee interacted The trainee, who was then a fourth semester with the Panchayat President, the ward members MSW student at DePaul Institute of Science and and the other staff of the Panchayat. During the Technology in Angamaly, got an opportunity to internship, the trainee mainly worked under Pro- work in HELP Foundation as part of the final ject DAYA or Dialysis At Your Alms and had one month internship, which had to be com- assisted in developing a fund-raising package for pleted as part of the curriculum. The internship the Project and also in organizing the accounts of period was from 1st August, 2014 to 29th Au- Project DAYA. gust, 2014. During the internship, the trainee had The internship at HELP Foundation had helped enlightening interactive sessions with the chair- the trainee to view social work profession in a man, various project heads and the expert per- new light. The trainee realized that a social work sonnel of the agency. The trainee attended a pre- professional can do a lot to alter the existing cor- proposal workshop organized by the Centre for rupted and contaminated system by using his/her Environment and Development in Thiruvanan- professional expertise and skills if he/she has the thapuram, organized as part of the National En- passion and the will to do so. The zeal and the vironment Awareness Campaign 2014-15 with fire in the personnel of the organization to do the Theme: Combating Desertification, Land their bit in changing the existing system had in- Degradation and Drought, as a representative of deed been a huge motivation to the trainee. The HELP Foundation. The trainee also assisted in internship had helped the trainee to grow both in preparing two project proposals submitted by the professional knowledge and expertise which is organization. One was based on the pre-proposal sure to be a huge asset in the road to becoming a workshop attended by the trainee and it was sub- good social work professional. mitted to the Ministry of Environment, Forests

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Dhwani From The Editor’s Desk An unsustainable course

The precipitous decline in the population of wild ani- mals should serve as a clear warning to humanity that it is living beyond its means. The Worldwide Fund for Nature and the Zoological Society of London recently reported that the number of wild creatures on earth has plunged to half of what it was four decades ago; in the case of some classes of animals, the loss is staggeringly high. Turtle populations, for instance, are estimated to have declined by 80 per cent. It is the developing world that should be particularly concerned at the data on ani- mal populations: habitat degradation, pollution, and un- sustainable extraction of natural resources in the emerg- ing economies are robbing them of biodiversity that is essential for human well-being. Impacts of climate change pose a new threat to flora and fauna in these countries. Significantly, some of these nations are also the biodiversity hotspots that harbour an extraordinarily large number of species — new ones continue to be discovered every year even as old ones disappear. These trends show that vital needs such as fresh water, clean air and benign climate patterns are threatened, and there is a need for urgent action. Governments in the global north and south must com- mit themselves to the full implementation of treaties and conventions on protection of wild animals and habitats if the erosion is to be stemmed. They can achieve this partly by strengthening the Convention on Biological Diversity which has, under the Aichi targets, resolved to increase the protected areas of the world from 13 per cent to 17 per cent of land by 2020 and to prevent the further loss of known threatened species. At the same time, restraints would have to be placed on commercial extraction of marine resources such as fish, to give depleted stocks time to regenerate. It is evident that with every passing decade, the capacity to trawl the seas on an industrial scale and harvest a wide variety of species is outpacing the natural cycle for rebuilding their stocks. More sustainable methods to grow food on land and in captive areas have to replace the unbridled ex- ploitation of nature. There is hope that good conserva- tion strategies will stem or even reverse the 40 per cent declines witnessed in key wild animal populations. The challenge is very real for India as it struggles with habi- tat loss and rising demand for energy and natural re- sources. It must resist the temptation to open up its last remaining forests and wetlands to commercial exploita- tion and encroachment if it is to safeguard ecosystem services such as water and food. The emphasis should be on restoration of habitat and an end to pollution through strict enforcement of environmental and forest laws. Source: Hindu Editorial

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Nature Photo Feature Wild life Supplement

HELP Foundation’s Wild Life Journal Photo Journalist: Mahesh Ambelil

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Wild life Supplement Nature Photo Feature

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Nature Photo Feature Wild life Supplement

HELP Foundation Quarterly Journal September 2014 Vol: V Issue: 2 Page No: 13

Quarterly Journal September 2014 ISSN 2347– 7628 Vol: V Issue: 2

Human Empowerment & Livelihood Promotion Foundation Mayyanad P.O. Kollam -691303 Kerala Phone: +91 474 255 6414 Call Center: +91 9656 33 4444 Email: [email protected] http://www.helpfoundation.in HELP Foundation Quarterly Journal September 2014 Vol: V Issue: 2 Page No: 14