Barli Development Institute for Rural Women observed the World Environment Day by concluding a three day
training workshop for 81 young rural and tribal girls and women from 44 villages in Dewas, Dhar, Jhabua,
Khargone, Badwani and Indore districts of Madhya Pradesh. Most of them had never gone to school and never
heard the word “Environment”
The theme of the workshop: "Reducing Carbon by Changing Habits.
Janak McGilligan Institutes Director in her welcome note, shared UNEP’s message to follow the 12 steps to
kick the Co2 habit, and to work towards a low carbon economy.
Inauguration of the Workshop
During the Work Shop
Conclusion of Workshop
News From Extension Centres of Barli Institute for Rural Women in
Chhattisgarh
This workshop was inaugurated on 3rd June by Professor. Rakesh Trivedi, well known environmentalist and
Professor of Zoology. He said Indore is known as one of the best education centres but Barli Institute is most
amazing, being an incredible practitioner, where actions speak louder than the words. Knowledge is applied and
has proved to be one of the best Institutes for environmental management. He said that Barli is way ahead in
reducing carbon and people should learn from here. He explained the meaning and ways to reduce carbon in a
very simple way
During this inauguration experience of recycling was shared by the members of staff, some who were trainees
turned trainers. They showed those gathered a collection of used and discarded materials, turning them into new
products.
Noori the tailoring trainer shared her a full range of eco-friendly products like small bags for mobile phones
pouches to gift money/ornaments handbags, and purses, old greeting cards turned into book marks, exhausted
dry cell batteries collected and artistically packed to make paperweights, glass holders for drinking hot tea,
multicoloured mobiles and hangings all made of cloth scrap after training in cutting and tailoring and knitting etc
and beautiful woollen embroidery on rice sacks which are turned into very sturdy and colourful carry bags etc..
Chanda Nikhare who teaches batik and block printing was so proud of showing the briquettes made out of waste
paper and dry grasses etc that she uses for melting wax for batik printing, how fallen hair is turned into brushes
for painting melted wax on fabric and how she heats the iron to press the finished work on the solar cooker.
Sunderbai from garden staff, showed at least a dozen of organically grown and solar dried vegetables like egg
plant, cabbage, cauliflower, fenugreek and herbs like tulsi, turmeric, garlic, lemon grass and many spices, lintels
and peas etc. She also shared how they grow all the vegetables and some grains to feed about hundred people
throughout the year using, vermiculture, composting of vegetable peels, and other garden and vegetables waste,
reuse of wash water and toilet water for irrigation.
Professor A. A. Abbasi, former Vice Chancellor of DAVV University Indore while presiding over the
inauguration said it was the most rewarding experience for him to see the Institute that has created an
environment with solar energy so efficiently used here and then the tribal women learn to use it and take to their
villages. He commended the vision and dedicated and silent work of Mr. Jimmy McGilligan for his environmental
training and untiring efforts is like that of Mahatma Gandhi.
Professor Shirin Mahaltai an economist said that humanity has abused the environment and now we must repair
it by making people aware of protecting it. While we only observe Environment Day once a year, we actually
need to protect and conserve the environment all year round. Environment Day draws our attention to the
importance of the environment and how we have damaged it.
The Director of the Institute, Dr. (Mrs.) Janak McGilligan gave an introduction of the Institute history of the
World Environment Day and its importance. She said the Institute has been working on environment education
for 23years. She stated that the Institute does not use chemical fertilizers in its field, re-uses water, makes
compost, and grows organic food and cooks food on solar for 100 persons during 300 days in a year. The
Institute encourages everyone to use of solar energy in cooking. In 1992 Institute was the recipient of UNEPs
global 500 Roll of Honour award for its work in the field of eradication of guinea-worms. This work was done in
302 villages of Jhabua district in Madhya Pradesh. The objective of training rural women in environment is aimed
at fulfilment of Agenda 21 and Millennium Development Goals.
As the present training course had just started 10 days earlier and majority of these trainees have never gone to
schools and most likely would have never heard the word “Environment” before this, and also having their first
experience of participating in such a open discussion. During these three days, the trainees would learn about the
meaning of Environment, what is pollution in general and carbon in particular and it’s affect on our lives. They
would learn about the dangers of the use and over use of pesticides and other chemicals in agriculture, and when
they are used how handle them without damaging their own health.
Institute has developed its own training materials written in very simple local language and using the examples
from local culture. There were sessions conducted by the programme officers Ms Archna Margonwaer, Ms
Dhedi Dawar, and Ms Noori. Dr. Geeta Handa , who is an organic Chemist, Dr. Anupma Negi an Aneasthesist,
Dr. Shakutla Sharma and Aryuvedic practitioner, Mr Narain Prasad Madhup from Kukshi.
They learned about caring for the environment with a focus on role of women, appropriate and sustainable
solutions to the current problems of forest degradation, the depletion of groundwater resources and rainfall
dependant vegetable gardening.
Methods of how to organically grow dry, process, store and preserve fruits, vegetables, herbs, spices and lentils,
rain-water harvesting, reuse of waste water for irrigation, waste management and composting, nursery
development and plant propagation. They also learned about the importance and benefits of solar cooking,
especially for women to prevent the daily back-breaking work of fuel gathering and to help to preserve forest
and woodlands and while doing so reduce air pollution.
Learning how the trees and plants absorb the pollution and carbon, and to understand that as we breathe out the
trees breathe in and as they breathe out we breathe in a cleaner air.
Dr.Prabhakar Pandit organic farming researcher and writer, was the chief guest and Dr. Arun Dike the
agricultural scientist presided over this function. Prabhakar Pandit said that he was deeply impressed with the
sustainable model of Barli Institute training of grass-root young women who are the real managers of
environment in the villages and he emphasized on the organic farming.
Dr. Arun Dike highlighted the urgent need to switch over to organic farming and address all the issues relating to
carbon reduction. He said he was fascinated with the briquetting, initiative of Barli Institute as one of the most
practical, simple and inexpensive solution to reduce carbon.
he trainees shared their experiences of learning in the workshop.
Miss Pooja Rathore from Khargone spoke about the saving water and reuse of water and she will now always
reuse the water after cleaning and mopping in the garden.
Miss Maya from Dewas said that now she understands the merits of organic farming and she will try to practice
in her community.
Miss Kamla More from Badwani District explained the meaning of environment and its conservation that she
never heard before.
Miss Barkee drew everyone attention to how much trees give us and the time is come for us to protect and save
them.
Miss Kiran Chouhan from Khargone district shared information on environment pollution
Mrs Neha Kanoje shared benefits of trees.
Miss Idi, Miss Jendoo, Miss Uma and their group composed and sang sons about environmental conservation.
Also present on the Dias were
Dr. Anupama Negi, Anaesthesist and counselor for breast cancer
Mr. Pramod Narayan Kulkarni, Retired Principal, Central School Mumbai,
Dr. Geeta Handa ,the organic Chemist and Mr. Jimmy McGillgan Manager of the Barli Institute
Miss Lata Yadav and Ms Sonwati from Kanker have sent the following news of 2 programmes on World
Environment Day organised by the graduates and trainees of Extenssion Centres of Barli Institute, in tribal
areas Kokpur and Bhandari Para of Kanker in Chhattisgarh . The participants included Mahila Mandals( Women
Groups ) from Bewarti, Kokpur Dongripara together where they took out rallies to make people aware of
carbon reduction. In her welcome address .Ms. Lata Yadav and Mrs. Santoshi introduced the importance of the
World environment day, UNEP and told that it is a day to focus our attention towards the conservation and
preservation of environment, “because all of us should feel our moral duty to take care of the Environment
because it is in our own interest.
She said that we should plant and protect more trees. Panch ,Sarpanch, Mahila Mandal Chairperson and
Anganwadi worker of Kokpur and Dongripara about 60 women and men participated in each rally that walked
through the villages with signs relating to save the environment, No pollution, plant more trees, Care for the
environment is service to the community, importance of healthy environment and to care for land, water, animals
and forest etc.
Inauguration of the Workshop
Dr. Janak McGilligan
speaking during the
inauguration of the
Workshop
Noori showing how she teaches
the trainees how to make very
strong and fashionable carry
bags out of rice sacks.
Chanda Mai explains how she
collect hair for brushes, uses
waste paper and dry grass
briquettes in the batik training
Sagri bakes chappatis on the solar
cooker.
insert: Sharmila and Sagri explain
in detail how they cook for 100
person 300 days in a year
Sunderbai tells the audience
about her growing vegetable
for all the trainees and shows
samples of the solar dried
vegetables
Professor Abbassi former Vice Chansellor DAVV Indore
|
Professor
Shirin Mahalati
Professor
Rakesh Trivedi
During the Work Shop
Children of Institute Staff
members showing news paper
reporters toys and others thing
they have made from shampoo
bottles etc.
Conclusion of Workshop
Mr.Arun Dike
Mr. Prabhakar Pandit
Mr. Pramod Kulkarni
Dr. Geeta Handa
News From Extension Centres of Barli Institute for Rural Women in Chhattisgarh
Mahila Mandals from Village Berwati and Kokpur Dogripara take out a
rally on World Environment Day
Barli Development Institute for Rural Women Celebrates World Environment Day 5th June 2008
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Barli Development Institute for Rural Women Indore
|
6th June 2008