A glimpse of online activities of MH Vatavaran (2019-20)
MH Vatavaran, the Environment Society of Miranda House, has been taking great strides in the betterment of our environment since its inception in 1998. Its soul resides in the hustling of its volunteers at paper recycling plant and ensuring composting of the organic waste generated in college canteen and hostel mess. However, with the ongoing Pandemic created panic, MH Vatavaran society was deprived of its basic functioning motivation and has been revamping its set-up and build ever since, to adapt to the new normal. MH Vatavaran has always believed in resilience and upgradation. The lockdown didn’t deter the society from the same, and it kept the pro-earth spirit alive by doing a variety of online activities.
MH Vatavaran is glad to announce its online presence on this blog through which it plans to engage its volunteers and other college students in developing an environmentally sustainable culture amongst themselves. The Blog has been started as a part of our associations with Change in Range and would also be our channel to deliver to you well researched articles and write-ups on pressing environmental issues. The Blog would also serve as a major repertoire of our progress under our recently initiated full fledged branch, Project Zero Waste MH.
MH Vatavaran, in collaboration with Change in Range, had started working on a Zero Waste Project just before the lockdown as a part of which wet and dry wastes were segregated by setting up of different bins. There was also a survey based and DIY supplemented reorganization of dustbins wherein cartons were used to supplement the dustbins of the college to ensure that dry waste is segregated. When the lockdown was imposed due to COVID-19, the project was shifted at home with immediate effect. Volunteers enthusiastically segregated waste at home and made compost through a process prescribed by Change in Range as a part of its Waste Segregation from Home campaign.
Another collaborative activity involved Green Brigade, the College of Vocational Studies. A Virtual Earth Conference was held with a number of eminent speakers such as Dr. Umesh Srinivasan and Dr. TV Ramchandra from the Centre for Ecological Sciences, Indian Institute of Science; Arun Krishnamurthy, founder of the Environmentalist Foundation of India; Dr. Naveen Pandya, Deputy Director of the Corbett Foundation and Kartick Satyanarayan, Co-Founder of Wildlife SOS. They discussed the threats to Indian biodiversity and the way ahead. It was indeed an enriching experience for our student volunteers.
The Society also collaborated with Hopping Sparrows Film Club and Celluloid, the Film Club of Miranda House for a Film Festival. Screenings of the films Green Gold on Fire and Eco Dharma, took place in the Film Festival. The screenings, which took place on Google Meet, were thoroughly enjoyed by the volunteers.
Last but not the least, a Videothon was conducted wherein volunteers and union members were featured. They spoke on the environment and exhibited a plethora of pro-environmental activities- be it watering one’s garden, caring for pets and stray animals or upcycling.
The unprecedented lockdown taught us a new way forward- how to carry out environmental activities at a personal level, besides engaging with our society for the same. Though incomplete without its paper recycling plant, walkathons and cleanliness drives, MH Vatavaran is looking forward to a new session bustling with activity- even if it means doing things from home.
By Sanjwala Mukund (President, MH Vatavaran)
Editorial inputs from Ujala (Project Head, Zero Waste MH)
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