India trip 2004
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FEBRUARY 04, 2004 � RAMESWARAM, TAMIZH NADU
The train travels very slowly across the bridge to reach Rameswaram, an island steeped in the lore of Ramayana and more recently in that of India's populist president Kalam (I personally think he should hush up on river linking and on producing a car for less than a lakh -100,000)
Thanks to Vijaya Kumar - District Collector of Ramanathapuram - I stayed at the Guest House of Tamil Nadu Gov. This new structure sits 50 yards or less from the beach. After some days of hectic travel I relaxed and rested and had the most comfortable sleep in many nights.
With all windows and doors open, I fell asleep in a moonlit room soothed by a pleasant sea breeze.
I awoke early and witnessed the emergence of the sun from the Bay of Bengal. One knows the scientific explanation... but still... to witness the rise of that fiery red ball from the ocean is something to behold. It was magical.
TAMIZH NADU
I took the 10:00 am bus to Ramanathapuram which was the main reason to travel to this part.
Sakkarakottai is a small - town Panchayat near Ramnad. This panchayat has implemented a waste management program. Run with the help of Center for Environmental Services, (CENS an NGO) and NACSS (Neat And Clean Service Squad - a sort of Property management service company) this model collects garbage from households for a fee and sorts and sells ALL inorganic wastes.
Where this differs from the Vellore model is that this uses microbes to decompose the organic matter into compost and not worms. Mr.Pathy, a dedicated man who talks passionately about waste and the potential of waste conversion is a very knowledgeable man and speaks with and from experience. Mr. Pathy is also involved in treatment of medical wastes from hospitals and clinics, etc. which is today lumped with regular trash.
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In both cases - Vellore and Sakkarakottai - it was very interesting to meet and talk to the workers who were very proud and happy looking men and women who did their "dirty" work with pride, distinction and certainly monetary reward. The sorters sell all the inorganic wastes that has a market and keep the proceeds.
There is some debate as to which compost is superior in quality- microbe compost or vermicompost. If any of you know more on this please shed some light. NEXT TOP
Trash goes from this (left)............
