PROJECT CALLS 2.0 – PHASE ONE – MOTIVATION AND PREPARING OF ORGANIC MANURE & PESTICIDES

PROJECT CALLS 2.0
(COVID19 ALTERNATIVE LIVELIHOOD AND LIVING SERVICES)
The Retreat – Don Bosco, Yercaud – 636 601.

PHASE ONE – MOTIVATION AND PREPARING OF ORGANIC MANURE & PESTICIDES

Shevaroyhills Tribal Development Institute (STDi) a wing of SPS INDIA FOUNDATION, The Retreat – Don Bosco, Yercaud and Jugend Eine Welt (JEW)’s empowering the people of Shevaroyhills tribals through Project CALLS 2.0 has its first phase of training on 05th & 6th February 2021. The beneficiaries were motivated on the first day of phase one. The day began with Ice breakers, to introduce, to know and to be aware of the co-beneficiary. Then Fr. Abraham Savarimuthu, The administrator of the Retreat, resource of the day gave the motivational talk about the relationship between human life and nature.

Nature is something indispensible and we have to be connected to it. This project is the means to get connected to the mother earth.  He motivated the beneficiaries to learn the techniques of Nursery and Farming. After the tea break, The Project coordinator Fr. Selvakumar, SDB, gave an orientation about the Project CALLS 2.0 and explained about the project. He also had the open discussion with the people about the calendar and proceedings of the Project. Fr. Raj, SDB, Rector of the Retreat – Don Bosco gave a special talk and encouraged the beneficiaries to learn more from this project to save nature. Beneficiaries were divided into four groups for the upcoming training and work. Group members elected their leaders.

The second day of phase one began with an introduction about organic forming and making of organic manure to grow plants organically. Then Mrs. Rajalakshmi, a retired engineer and an organic farmer took a session on preparing organic fertilizers Panchagavya & Amirtha Karaisal to give organic boost to the plants, to improve the soil and to get more yields from the plants. She also taught to make organic pesticides – Muttai ezhumichai karaisal & Vembu Pungan Karaisal to protect & preserve the plants and to keep the insects away from plants without harming the plant and nature. Immediately after the session, we conducted the feedback from the trainees. One each from each group revised the session and Mrs. Alphonsa said that the session is so informative and we have never been told of these ways of growing plants in our lives. She also said that she feels enriched & thanked STDi & JEW for giving this opportunity.

Then, all the beneficiaries were given grow bags to make a small nursery in their home as part of training. With this training, we have climbed the first step to move ahead in preservation of nature and enhancing the lives of people. Now the trainers will have on-field training in their groups for a month and will be paid 300/- per day as stipend. After this first phase of on-field training, the second phase of training and on-field training will be conducted.

Progress is impossible without change, and those who cannot change their minds cannot change anything. We are ahead to save our mother nature.