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"..uphold
the Earth; may she, the ruling mistress of what has been and
what will come to be, for us spread wide a limitless
domain" - Rig Veda
Suraksha
–Protect and preserve our earth
Project
‘KEEP’(KERALA ENVIRONMENT EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMME) is
a comprehensive scheme that is a promise to care for the ecology
of Kerala and the world at large.
KEEP
goes beyond paying mere lip service and namesake endeavours in
the name of commitment to the environment. It begins with
studying and understanding Kerala’s ecological nature and
problems at the grass roots level. This will be taken up by a
specially trained group with the inclination and commitment to
the project. The knowledge that they have acquired will be
translated into practice into schemes involving all sections of
society. The schemes include eco-based activities for school
children ranging from nature-awareness to outdoor adventure
activities, programmes for the general public such as caring for
our water resources with boat trips along the rivers across the
length of Kerala, cleaning and caring for water bodies such as
ponds and wells in cities, partnerships with voluntary agencies
in the greening of and maintaining aesthetic traffic islands and
social afforestation.
Project
‘KEEP’ is the application of spirituality in the context of
current situations by upholding the values of “Giving back to
Nature, more than what we take” which is mentioned in our
sacred texts.
Haritham
- Farms Greener and Richer
This
is an agriculture-based project that seeks to bring
self-empowerment to the indebted and impoverished farmers of our
land and save them from the verge of penury and suicide. The
initiative and the key role will be played by a team of
dedicated and enterprising youth who will strive to restore the
natural balance of rural life. This will be done by organizing
the farming community along the lines of self-sufficient
communes. For the successful implementation of this project, the
involvement of agricultural experts, marketing organizations,
bankers, voluntary associations and local self-help groups will
be assured. By thus sowing the seeds of hope and confidence, the
farmers are encouraged to discover within themselves, the
potential for transforming their lives.
Swarnam
- Value from waste
Most
of our agricultural products are not used to their full
potential. A lot of precious material in the form of leaves,
seeds, bark etc and other things written off as waste is thus
squandered away. Turning this waste into worth is a way of
honouring our commitment to Nature and to ourselves. This is
realized in the form of eco-friendly projects supporting
indigenous technology and implanting modern techniques where
necessary as in the case when new products are introduced.
Brindavanam
- Herbal garden
A
herbarium for medicinal plants used in natural medicine is
another prominent earth-based project of the ashram. Brinda or
Tulasi with proven properties as a panacea and revered as a
goddess will find pride of place in this garden. The routine use
of Tulasi will be propagated.
Bhuvanam
- An orphanage with a difference
The
home and the world for a group of financially or socially
deprived or orphaned children. These youngsters will be brought
up, instilling in them the highest in moral and cultural
traditions. The education imparted to them will do away with the
rhetoric; yet equip them to fully face the demands and
challenges of practical life in the modern society. Bhuvanam
thus will be the fertile earth that provides the conditions to
sow the seeds of the flag-bearers of an accomplished new
generation. |
