S.No.	Family	Species	Habit	Nativity
1	Combretaceae	Terminalia cuneata Roxb	Tree	Native
2	Fabaceae	Pongamia pinnata (L.) Pierre	Tree	Native
3	Myrtaceae	Syzygium cumini (L.) Skeels	Tree	Native
4	Ebenaceae	Diospyros malabarica (Desr.) Kostel.	Tree	Native
5	Euphorbiaceae	Homonoia riparia Lour.	Shrub	Native
6	Sapotaceae	Madhuca neriifolia (Moon) H.J. Lam.	Tree	Native
7	Euphorbiaceae	Trewia nudiflora L.	Tree	Native
8	Anacardiaceae	Mangifera indica L.	Tree	Native
9	Melastomataceae	Memecylon umbellatum Burm.	Tree	Native
10	Poaceae	Bambusa bambos Voss	Tree	Native
11	Rubiaceae	Ixora pavetta Andr.	Tree	Native
12	Lythraceae	Lagerstroemia microcarpa Wight	Tree	Native
13	Meliaceae	Azadirachta indica A. Juss.	Tree	Burma
14	Caesalpiniaceae	Bauhinia racemosa Lam.	Tree	Native
15	Sapindaceae	Schleichera oleosa (Lour.) Oken	Tree	Native
16	Rubiaceae	Canthium coromandelicum (Burm. F.) Alston	Shrub	Native
17	Meliaceae	Aglaia elaeagnoidea (Juss.) Benth.	Tree	Native
18	Celastraceae	Pleurostylia opposita (Wall.) Alston	Tree	Native
19	Celastraceae	Cassine glauca (Rottb.) Kuntze	Tree	Native
20	Bignoniaceae	Stereospermum colais (Buch.-Ham. ex Dillw.) Mabb.	Tree	Native
21	Rhamnaceae	Ziziphus mauritiana Lam.	Tree	Native
22	Salicaceae	Salix tetrasperma Roxb.	Tree	Native
23	Loganiaceae	Strychnos nux-vomica L.	Tree	Native
24	Rubiaceae	Pavetta indica L. ex K. Schum.	Shrub	Native
25	Verbenaceae	Vitex leucoxylon L.f.	Tree	Native
26	Fabaceae	Dalbergia latifolia Roxb.	Tree	Native
27	Solanaceae	Datura sanguinea Ruiz & Pavon	Shrub	Tropical America
28	Rubiaceae	Mitragyna parvifolia (Roxb.) Korth.	Tree	Native
29	Euphorbiaceae	Phyllanthus polyphyllus Willd.	Tree	Native
30	Verbenaceae	Vitex altissima L.f.	Tree	Native
31	Euphorbiaceae	Drypetes roxburghii (Wall.) Hurusawa	Tree	Native
32	Caprifoliaceae	Viburnum punctatum Buch. - Ham. ex D. Don	Liane	Native
33	Tiliaceae	Grewia tiliifolia Vahl.	Tree	Native
34	Mimosaceae	Prosopis juliflora (Sw.) Dc.	Tree	Tropical America
35	Myrtaceae	Psidium guajava L.	Tree	Native
36	Rhamnaceae	Ziziphus oenoplia (L.) Mill.	Liane	Native
37	Combretaceae	Terminalia elliptica Willd.	Tree	Native
38	Boraginaceae	Cordia monoica Roxb.	Tree	Native
39	Rutaceae	Glycosmis mauritiana (Lam.) Tanaka	Shrub	Native
40	Caesalpiniaceae	Tamarindus indica L.	Tree	Tropical Africa
41	Ulmaceae	Celtis timorensis Spanoghe	Tree	Native
42	Melastomataceae	Memecylon grande Retz.	Tree	Native
43	Rutaceae	Atalantia monophylla (L.) Correa	Tree	Native
44	Euphorbiaceae	Jatropha curcas L.	Shrub	Tropical America
45	Caesalpiniaceae	Cassia fistula L.	Tree	Native
46	Rubiaceae	Psydrax dicoccos Gaertn.	Tree	Native
47	Oleaceae	Olea dioica Roxb.	Tree	Native
48	Rutaceae	Pleiospermium alatum Swingle	Tree	Native
49	Euphorbiaceae	Bischofia javanica Blume	Tree	Native
50	Moraceae	Ficus microcarpa L.f.	Tree	Native
51	Sapotaceae	Mimusops elengi L.	Tree	Native
52	Meliaceae	Cipadessa baccifera (Roth) Miq.	Tree	Native
53	Mimosaceae	Entada pursaetha DC.	Liane	Native
54	Verbenaceae	Lantana camara L.	Shrub	Tropical America
55	Tiliaceae	Grewia serrulata DC.	Tree	Native
56	Burseraceae	Garuga pinnata Roxb.	Tree	Native
57	Verbenaceae	Premna latifolia Rozb. var. latifolia	Tree	Native
58	Bignoniaceae	Radermachera xylocarpa (Roxb.) K.Schum.	Tree	Native
59	Euphorbiaceae	Phyllanthus emblica L.	Tree	Native
60	Dipterocarpaceae	Shorea roxburghii G. Don.	Tree	Native
61	Moraceae	Ficus hispida L.f.	Tree	Native
62	Caesalpiniaceae	Cassia spectabilis DC.	Tree	Tropical America
63	Salvadoraceae	Salvadora persica L.	Tree	Native
64	Euphorbiaceae	Aporosa acuminata Thw.	Tree	Native
65	Rubiaceae	Catunaregam spinosa (Thunb.) Tirvengadum	Tree	Native
66	Loganiaceae	Strychnos potatorum L.	Tree	Native
67	Combretaceae	Combretum albidum G. Don	Liane	Native
68	Fabaceae	Dalbergia paniculata Roxb.	Tree	Native
69	Ebenaceae	Diospyros montana Roxb.	Tree	Native
70	Rhamnaceae	Ziziphus xylopyrus (Retz.) Willd.	Tree	Native
71	Sapindaceae	Sapindus emarginatus Vahl	Tree	Native
72	Caesalpiniaceae	Senna occidentalis (L.) Link	Shrub	Tropical America
73	Euphorbiaceae	Breynia vitis-idaea (Burm.f.) Fischer	Shrub	Native
74	Meliaceae	Walsura trifolia (A. Juss.) Harms	Tree	Native
75	Erythroxylaceae	Erythroxylum monogynum Roxb.	Tree	Native
76	Sapindaceae	Filicium decipiens (Wight & Arn.) Thw.	Tree	Native
77	Verbenaceae	Tectona grandis L.f.	Tree	Native
78	Combretaceae	Anogeissus latifolia (Roxb. Ex DC.) Wall	Tree	Native
79	Caesalpiniaceae	Senna didymobotrya (Fresn.) Irwin & Barneby	Shrub	Non Native
80	Smilacaceae	Smilax zeylanica L.	Shrub	Native
81	Rutaceae	Chloroxylon swietenia DC.	Tree	Native
82	Boraginaceae	Cordia obliqua Willd.	Tree	Native
83	Sterculiaceae	Helicteres isora L.ShrubNative
84	Hernandiaceae	Gyrocarpus asiaticus Willd.	Tree	Native
85	Combretaceae	Terminalia bellirica (Gaertn.) Roxb.	Tree	Native
86	Apocynaceae	Carissa carandas L.	Shrub	Native
87	Celastraceae	Maytenus heyneana (Roth) Raju & Babu	Shrub	Native
88	Simaroubaceae	Ailanthus excelsa Roxb.	Tree	Native
89	Euphorbiaceae	Phyllanthus reticulatus Poir.	Shrub	Native
90	Rubiaceae	Psilanthus wightianus (Wight & Arn.) J. Leroy	Shrub	Native
91	Myrtaceae	Syzygium tamilnadensis Rathakr. & Chithra	Tree	Native
92	Mimosaceae	Albizia lebbeck (L.) Willd.	Tree	Native
93	Bixaceae	Bixa orellana L.	Tree	Tropical America
94	Euphorbiaceae	Glochidion zeylanicum (Gaertn.) Juss.	Tree	Native
95	Ulmaceae	Trema orientalis (L.) Blume	Tree	Native
96	Moraceae	Ficus benjamina L.	Tree	Malaysian
97	Myrsinaceae	Ardisia solanacea Roxb.	Tree	Native
98	Bignoniaceae	Dolichandrone atrovirens Sprague	Tree	Native
99	Moraceae	Ficus benghalensis L.	Tree	Native
100	Euphorbiaceae	Ricinus communis L.	Shrub	Tropical America
101	Moraceae	Ficus tsjahela Burm.f.	Tree	Native
102	Fabaceae	Derris scandens (Roxb.) Benth	Liane	Native
103	Meliaceae	Swietenia mahagoni (L.) Jacq.	Tree	Native
104	Mimosaceae	Albizia amara (Roxb.) Boivin	Tree	Native
105	Burseraceae	Commiphora caudata (Wight & Arn.) Engler	Tree	Native
106	Caesalpiniaceae	Delonix regia (Boj. ex Hook) Rafin.	Tree	South East Asia
107	Ebenaceae	Diospyros ferrea (Willd.) Bakh.	Shrub	Native
108	Moraceae	Ficus mollis Vahl	Tree	Native
109	Euphorbiaceae	Givotia rottleriformis Griff.	Tree	Native
110	Tiliaceae	Grewia hirsuta Vahl.	Shrub	Native
111	Olacaceae	Olax scandens Roxb.	Liane	Native
112	Euphorbiaceae	Bridelia crenulata Roxb.	Tree	Native
113	Poaceae	Dendrocalamus strictus (Roxb.) Nees	Shrub	Native
114	Fabaceae	Erythrina variegata L.	Tree	Native
115	Moringaceae	Moringa concanensis Nimmo ex Gibs.	Tree	Native
116	Rubiaceae	Wendlandia thyrsoidea (Schultes) Steud.	Shrub	Native
117	Rhamnaceae	Ziziphus glabrata Heyne ex Roth	Tree	Native
118	Mimosaceae	Acacia leucophloea (Roxb.) Willd.	Tree	Native
119	Alangiaceae	Alangium salvifolium (L.f.) Wang.	Tree	Native
120	Mimosaceae	Albizia saman (Jacq.) F.v. Muell.	Tree	Tropical America
121	Bignoniaceae	Dolichandrone arcuata (Wight) Clarke	Tree	Native
122	Bignoniaceae	Dolichandrone falcata (Wall.ex DC.) Seem.	Tree	Native
123	Moraceae	Ficus racemosa L.	Tree	Native
124	Flacourtiaceae	Flacourtia ramontchi L' Hér	Tree	Native
125	Lythraceae	Lawsonia inermis L.	Shrub	Native
126	Rubiaceae	Morinda pubescens J.E. Smith	Tree	Native
127	Pandanaceae	Pandanus odoratissimus L.f.	Shrub	Native
128	Euphorbiaceae	Phyllanthus indofischeri Bennet	Tree	Native
129	Anacardiaceae	Spondias pinnata (L.f.) Kurz	Tree	Native
130	Apocynaceae	Wrightia arborea (Dennst.) Mabberley	Tree	Native
131	Apocynaceae	Wrightia tinctoria (Roxb.)	Tree	Native

---

Download PDF - Tiger Conservation Brochure Tamil

Date: May 6-8, 2011
Venue: Parambikulam Tiger Reserve
Organisers: Arulagam, PSG College of Arts and Science, Wildlife Conservation Society and Centre for Wildlife Studies (CWS).
Target Group: Media Students from 16 Colleges and Universities of Tamil Nadu and Pondicherry.
Purpose: Sensitizing the Media professionals on conserving Tigers and its habitat in Tamil Nadu.
Medium: Presentation, Field trips, Group Discussions, Screening Films, interaction with Wildlife scientists and Conservation practitioners.
Funding / Collaboration: CWS

C.R.Jayaprakash, Assistant Professor, Dept., of Communication, PSG College of Arts and Science, Coimbatore was the project coordinator of the workshop.

Date: Feb 25-27, 2011
Venue: PSG Auditorium and Topslip, Anamalai Tiger Reserve
Organisers: Arulagam, PSG College of Arts and Science, Wildlife Conservation Society and Centre for Wildlife Studies (CWS).
Target Group: Media Students from 16 Colleges and Universities of Tamil Nadu and Pondicherry.
Purpose: Sensitizing about the role of media in Tiger Conservation.
Medium: Presentation, Field trips, Group Discussions, Screening Films, interaction with wildlife scientist, photographers and film makers.
Funding / Collaboration: CWS

Inaugural session:

Wildlife Conservation Society – India Program sponsored workshop on “Sensitizing the media on conserving tigers and their habitat in Tamil Nadu” was inaugurated at PSG COLLEGE OF ARTS AND SCIENCE, Coimbatore on the 25th of February, 2011.

Dr.K.M. Chinnadorai, Principal in charge, PSG College of Arts and Science, Coimbatore welcomed the audience.

Dr.Raja Jayapal, Conservation Scientist, WCS - India program made a brief report on Wildlife Conservation Society-India Program project in Tamil Nadu.

Poster release on TIGER CONSERVATION followed through and was released by Mr.G.Rangaswamy, Managing Trustee, PSG Institutions and Dr.Ravi Chellam, Country Director, Wildlife Conservation Society-India program.

Mr.G.Rangaswamy addressed the audience on the need for conservation and the civil and political support conservation initiatives required.

Dr.Ravi Chellam delivered the keynote address and centered his talk on Human-wildlife relationship and conflict. The reason for conflict and mitigating measures were also discussed. He also emphasized on the lack of information based conflict management measures.

The inauguration came to a close with the vote of thanks by C.R.Jayaprakash, Assistant Professor, Dept., of Communication, PSG College of Arts and Science, Coimbatore. He was also the project coordinator of the workshop.

Workshop:

The first session of the workshop commenced with a presentation of "Wildlife photography versus Conservation Photography" by Dr. R.Tolstoy, Associate Professor, PSG Institute of Medical Sciences and Research, Coimbatore - 641 004. Dr.Tolstoy spoke of how photography could effectively help conservation and have minimal impact on the environment it works on. He also spoke of Tribal welfare and the impact of a happy tribal population on the environment. Environmentally sensitive behavior and scientifically informed conservation photography was emphasized.

The session came to a close with a talk by Mr. Mohammad Ali, Member of The Nature Trust, Mettupalayam, on ‘Myths, Media and Wildlife reporting’. Responsible journalism and well researched reporting on wildlife issues were discussed in detail. The need to understand ones own environment, its structure and function was encouraged. Ali’s talk set a preamble to the workshop were in participants were encouraged to discern the information gathered during the workshop and come up with a unbiased perception of wildlife and conservation.

Workshop continued at Anamalai Tiger Reserve (ATR)

The workshop at Anamalai Tiger Reserve began with the screening of “The Truth about Tigers” by Shekar Dattatri, Wildlife Filmmaker and Conservationist, to an audience of 30, all were participants selected from 16 Colleges and Universities of Tamil Nadu and Pondicherry. The movie covered some significant aspects of Tiger conservation, the need to conserve Tigers and the issue of conservation at large.

The documentary followed with a discussion. Dr Ravi Chellam and Shekar Dattatri spear headed the discussion by bringing forth a number of conservation issues and media’s perception and projection of such issues. Responsible and informed journalism was announced to be the need of the hour.

A number of ways by which media could bring forth a well researched piece of information on marauding conservation issues were discussed. The participants raised a number of questions on issues ranging from the types of forests found in India, tiger-favored ecosystem, radio-collaring of tigers, tiger census, human-tiger conflict and human perception of conservation and tigers.

Dr.V. Manoharan, Forest Veterinary Officer, Coimbatore and Thangaraj Panneerselvam, Forest Range Officer, Ullandy, Analmalai Tiger Reserve met with the participants. Mr.Thangaraj Panneerselvam made a short presentation on Anamalai Tiger Reserve while Dr Manoharan spoke of wild-animal disease control and treatment.

Day 2: On 26th February, 2011 the participant’s begun the workshop with a trek to Karian Shola, in Anamalai Tiger Reserve. The participants spotted a few endemic birds and noted a number of bird sounds. One of the groups spotted the endemic Great Indian Hornbill and the Racket tailed drongo. Malabar giant squirrel, Indian Gaur, and Nilgiri langurs were the few mammals sighted.

A talk by Mr. Shekar Dattatri followed. Mr. Dattatri elaborated on the role of Forest department as essential guardians of forest and their inevitability in the conservation system. Human- animal conflict, conflict control, mitigation measures, and human perception of conservation were amongst the important topics discussed. The role of media in reporting such conflicts, unbiased reporting and conservation issue discussion by the media were discussed using contemporary illustrations and examples.

Dr. Chellam delivered the second lecture followed by a discussion. He argued upon the serious lack in conservation training for forest officials and for the lower grade forest watchers and anti-poaching guards. Resource provision in terms of monetary benefits and other concessions as beneficial encouragements for the lower grade forest watchers and anti-poaching guards was also emphasized. Dr Chellam spoke briefly about the WCS Initiative and its research interest.

The participants then took a tour around Parambikulam Tiger Reserve, Kerala, which lies adjacent to ATR. This was to give the participants a general idea of the topography of the reserve and of the mythical “jungle” itself. The participants witnessed the reality of managed forests and the human influence it had to cope with. The tour included a visit to the famous Kannimara teak: the Virgin tree with its own history and folk perceptions.

The day ended with the screening of Shekar Dattatri’s documentary ‘Save our Sholas’. The discussion that followed saw participants come up with some exciting and intriguing questions on shola forests and its importance in sustaining both the wild and the human world. Before the film, C.R.Jayaprakash, Project Coordinator of the workshop presented images of faulty management of forest resources and strain on forest resources which are illegally promoted in the name of Eco Tourism.

Day 3:

The day began with a field tour into the Parambikulam Tiger Reserve. A number of birds including the Orange and black flycatcher, Male Paradise flycatcher and Malabar Pied hornbills were sighted. Mammals such as the Giant Malabar Squirrel and Indian Gaur, Spotted Deer, Sambar Deer were also sighted.

K. Vijayananthan IFS, Wildlife Warden, Parambikulam Tiger Reserve, and H.Basavaraju, IFS, Field Director, Anamalai Tiger Reserve briefed the audience on the history of Parambikulam and Anamalai Tiger Reserve. Conservation issues such as poaching, poacher-forest watcher clashes, wildlife traffic, sale nexus and wildlife laws were also discussed. The participants interacted with the officials and raised a number conservation issues including the building of check dams and its implications on the environment and the ecosystem.

Dr. Raja Jayapal, Conservation Scientist, WCS delivered the concluding talk. Research as an aspect of conservation issue reporting and the consequences of negligence of research was discussed. Unbiased issue discussion and a follow up of the issue were encouraged as an effective tool that could aid in conservation. Tiger as an efficient flag ship species for conservation and thus the need to sensitize media on the conservation of Tigers was emphasized.

The workshop ended with a feedback session headed by Dr. Ravi Chellam. The participants candidly spoke of the few aspects of the workshop that needed rethinking and readjustments while lauding many others they appreciated, such as the availability and approachability of conservation connoisseurs like Dr Chellam and Mr. Dattatri.

C.R. Jayaprakash gave away the vote of thanks thus calling the workshop to a close. He announced special prizes to the participants who take the message gathered from the workshop to the Media. Any news items in mainline dailies, Short films/Documentaries or even Posters on Tiger Conservation made by the participants would be awarded with prizes worth Rs.5,000. The cut off date for submission was announced as May 31, 2011.

Follow up:

The first entry in this category, a poster by George Joseph Thengumootil, I MA Communication, PSG CAS was received in the first week of March, 2011. As an Early Bird entry offer, this participant stands selected to the second Workshop which is planned in the first week of May, 2011.

Working Journalists from the Print and Electronic Media of Tamil Nadu will be invited/Selected for the second residential workshop which will be an improvement on the first camp.

என்ன விலை அழகே?

Project report Neera

Submitted to: 

National Research and Development Corporation (NRDC)

Submitted by:

ARULAGAM

Introduction

ARULAGAM proposed to initiate “Value addition to Palm Juice" ( Neera) to sustain the livelihood of Palm workers and their families,  with the aim of preserving, bottling and marketing the Palm juice using cost effective appropriate methods and technologies. This project was supported by National Research and Development Corporation (NRDC) with ` 1,00,000/ to undertake and implement the proposed plan with the active involvement of palm workers. The uncertain income from palm juice extracted from the trees, which should be processed and sold out within 4 hours because of that the palm juice will get fermented.   In order to overcome the problems, preserving the palm juice using appropriate processing methods to keep the juice (Neera) for longer time  in ensuring sustainable livelihood options of the families involved palm juice extraction work. ARULAGAM has adapted the following strategic approaches to make success of the project to be replicated and sustained for long term:

1. Selection of area for implementation

In and around Koviloor village in Dindigul district, where palm extraction works have been traditionally practiced by the palm workers, with whom ARULAGAM had established rapport and relationships with 40 palm extraction workers and made  transparency on the project implementation for the future sustainability. The palm workers and women had rendered their cooperation and involvement in the proposed activities. During the season ( Usually January to June), every day 100 litres of Neera were collected from the palm juice extraction workers for processing and marketing, as the preliminary initiative. 

Initiatives launched by ARULAGAM to make the process into successful one with the following activities:

•         Identification of beneficiaries

•         Rapport building and project orientation meeting with different stakeholders

•         Purchase of materials and instruments

•         Installation of instrument and worksite preparation

•         Pilot phase activity with few beneficiary

•         Selection of beneficiaries

•         Organize training for product preparation

•         Organize training for managing the activity

•         Assess market options

•         Market linkages & Cost-benefit analysis

•         Rapport with various outlets

•         Actual selling of  NEERA and  Follow up action

1.    Preserving the Palm Juice

a)   The white palm sap, at initial stages (when collected) does not ferment (non-alcoholic) and tastes very sweet.

b)   As the time passes the sap get fermented, intoxicates and tastes sour.

c)    The fermented liquid is known as 'Palm Wine' or Kallu (Tamil).

d)   As the palm sap gets fermented very quickly, they apply lime on the surface of the pot as a preservative.

e)   The lime prevents quick fermentation.

After extraction of palm juice from the trees, usually early in the morning, are collected from the individual palm workers and preservation measures had been adapted with the technical support and guidance rendered by  Prof Dr. David Ravindran (Gandhigram rural University) and Mrs. Anbu Vakini( Nutrient Specialist ), to enhance the production and without changing the tastes and quality of the juice while marketing.

ARULAGAM has established one processing unit at the field where the proposed initiatives have to b launched in order to make easy accessibility to procure the extracted palm juice immediately after extraction and to process the juice in the field itself.

Steps involved in processing and preserving the extracted palm juice:
All the men and women of the Palm families involved in preserving of palm juice preservation using simple methods which are cost effective, with these methods, rate of decomposition of palm juice is minimized or arrested and enable the juice to keep for more than 2 to 40 days. The variances in  retaining taste of preserved juice are affected by many factors such as tastes varies with pH of juice , trees, time of collection, location of trees, climatic conditions, applying lime etc. these are the factors we faced as problems. So we encountered the problems of storing the packed juice  in days which varies from 2 -40 days. So ARURLAGAM team decides to market the products to understand their preference over the tastes and quality.

f)    Packing and marketing of palm juice

In this way, the preserved Palm juice is marketed in the form of sealed bottles. On considering the costs of making tetra pack, ARULAGAM considers the bottles for re-use of the same in the coming months with frequency.

ARULAGAM marketed the bottled Palm juices in Dindigul and Karur with the support and encouragement of Khadi showrooms in Karur District and fruit juice shops in Dindigul District. During this period, we faced many hindrances in marketing the juice, as we are not that much expertise in marketing strategies. So, ARUALGAM arranged Palm Juice Introductory Functions both in Karur and Dindigul in which M.P. Gurusamy  Economist, Mr. Krishnan, Secretary of Palm Worker’s Society, Environmentalist Mr. Pamayan , Politician Mr. Gopalakrishnan, noted Doctors and entrepreneurs participated and insisted on the need of using palm juice as a health drink with many nutrient values, instead of artificially flavoured beverages. This meeting helps to spread the message to reach the people. The program ends with the documentary film “ Open of Insight” which depicts the life of the blind palm worker involved in this work for years.

g)    Lobbying with Government in Expanding marketing sources at the state level

Based on our experiences and encouragements in marketing the bottled palm juice in Dindigul and Karur regions, ARULAGAM decides to spread the methods throughout the state, and meet the Tamilnadu Khadi department officials at Kuralgam, Chennai where they appreciated the initiatives and render encouraging ideas. We also made an attempt to make powder from the palm juice and get succeeded to some extent with the help of Mr.  Siddiq who is the Food processing in charge of the Gandhigram Trust , Dindigul.

At the time, we met Mr.Kumari Anandan, The Chairman of Tamilnadu Palmyrah Development Board, and other officials of Tamil Nadu Palm Products Development Board. He appreciated our initiatives and promised to promote the methods for the welfare and livelihood of palmyrah workers. He assured to recommend the method to the Tamilnadu Chief Minister Mr.M. karunanithi and discussed it. With keen interest, our Chief Minister has recently    initiated a project for packaging Neera (padhaneer )in tetra-pack. The product will be marketed by Aavin, the milk cooperative. It is the success to our lobbying work to make changes in the lives of families involved in Palm juice extraction traditionally.

ARULAGAM is glad to note that on account of sustained effort of Arulagam and its effective lobbying with Palmyrah Development Board, the Government of Tamil Nadu has recently initiated a project for packaging Palm Juice in Tetra-pack and palm related products.

This is a great success story for Arulagam. We have fulfilled the mission of providing self-employment for the palm workers of Tamil Nadu.

h)    Media coverage

All the programs on value-added palm juice have been spread through various dailies and magazines in Tamilnadu as news and articles ( enclosed as annexure) on the use of Bottled Palm juice to reach the people.

Future initiatives planned to be implemented by ARULAGAM

ARULAGAM plans to add value to Palm Juice ( Neera) with the production of the following products by involving the women of the Palmyra workers to empower  and sustain their livelihoods throughout the year.

1.      Formation of Palm worker family groups  in terms of shareholding groups, that is every palm extraction family holds a share by supplying the extracted palm juice to the processing unit

2. The families will receive the amount for the juice supplied to the processing unit

3.      The family members- women- involved in processing, preservation, packing and marketing the palm juice by exploring marketing outlets and  sources with ARULAGAM.

4.      Profit sharing to the shareholding family members ( usually during non-season period)

5.      Promoting market outlet for the value-added products like Gur, Crystal sugar making, Palm candy production, other than palm juice marketing.

6.      These strategies will enhance the livelihood options and ensure employment opportunities to the women throughout the year, especially during non- palm juice season ( July- December )

i)             GUR

             When Neera is converted into a solid or semi-solid crystalline mass it is called gur. It has got wide use as a sweetening agent in Indian village food products. Palm gur has a characteristic smell of its own.

ii)            CRYSTAL SUGAR MAKING     

        The initial process of sugar making is practically the same as that of gur. In this case also, juice is de-limed, filtered and boiled. The juice when it reaches 110°C temperature is poured into the crystallizer.

iii)           PALM CANDY    

                     Like palm gur, palm candy has also its importance among the products of Neera. It is being produced and used since procuring sweet Neera from palmyra has been known. It has got its various uses in Ayurvedic medicinal preparation as well as direct use for thrist, Urine trouble and body heat, smallpox, and cough and cold

iv)           Plant growth promoter

The unused Palm juice can be used as a plant growth promoter instead of chemical fertilizer.

Planting of Palm tree saplings

ARULAGAM is planned to plant 1 million palm seeds along the coastlines not only to promote palm cultivation in considering the sustainable livelihood options  for the families involved in palm works but also to create a green belt along the coastlines to prevent the harmful effects of heavy flood waves and  Tsunami.

Acknowledgment

On behalf of Arulagam sincerely thank to National Research and Development Corporation (NRDC)  for their support services to undertake and implement the project into success and the following eminent personalities in promoting and sustaining lives of Palmyrah workers:

1.   Honorable Tamilnadu Chief minister Mr. M. Karunanithi

2.   Mr. Kumari Anandan, Former Member of Parliament and chairman, Tamilnadu Palmyra Development Board

3.   Honorable Minister  for  Khadi

4.   Mr. K. Ramachandran and officials of Khadi Industries.

5.   Dr. David Ravindran of Gandhigram Rural University

6.   Mrs. Anbuvahini, Nutrient specialist.

7.   Mr. Siddique, Food processing unit, Gandhigram

 

 

 

 

 

 

Paper clipping

On

Bottled and Tetra pack

Palm juice

 

 

 

 

 

Tamilnadu Chief Minister announces

Tetra pack sale of Palm juice

 

 

Article in Magazine

On

Palm plating along high ways

 

 

 

 

Sowing Palm seeds

 

 

 

 

 

Kadhi’s statement on

Palm Juice in Tetra pack for 40 days

 

 

 

 

Planting Saplings of Palm along Coast line

 

 

Planting saplings of Palm in the villages

 

 

 

 

 

Pamphlet

on

Palm nut planting Function

 

 

 

Consultative meeting with Tribal people in Mudumalai Tiger Reserve - Report - Click here

In our country, a fairly good number of unorganized sectors of people are working as painters. Knowingly or unknowingly they become victims because of the continuous exposure of the lead paints (spending about 8-10 hours of day). They suffer from the health impacts. In most cases, they are unable to trace their health implications caused by 'lead' contents in paints.

Let us hear it from R. Suresh, painter working in Madurai, Tamil Nadu, India:

I am R. Suresh (38) and I have been doing a painting job for the last 18 years. I chose this career at the age of 21 due to lack of education. It was unwilling but the last choice for me to make to keep my survival. The first 4 years of my life as a painter started with hard and complicated work like scraping old paints, looming, mixing lime, and assisting the technical workers. I learned the skills and made that as my profession.

Over the years, I have suffered some known and unknown problems. And I get physical exhaustion, mental depression, loss of appetite, and respiratory problems due to my profession. Noticeably, for the last 4 years, I have lost the ability of smell. After diagnosis, the doctor (Ms.Anandhi Kanagaraj, Homeopathy physician, Mela ponnagaram Street, Madurai -dt, Tamil Nadu) declared that my ability of smell is completely lost and she told that it is evident and a common problem for the painters. She further said that, while scraping old paint (containing lead), lead from paint dust can penetrate the nostrils and cause sensory damage. It was shocking for me to hear that lead content in paint is the cause of my pain. Further, people involved in this task are mostly not very educated and thus do not have much awareness about lead toxicity. It is a pity that they are suffering unknowingly like me.

The paint manufacturers should make sure the paint you produce does not contain lead above permissible limit of lead in the paints. I want to reiterate that we have children and families just like you. And the law enforcement authority needs to take concerted efforts to reach out to these manufacturers. Further, a strict monitoring regime needs to be put in place by the concerned authorities to limit lead from household paints, this is the demand of lakhs and lakhs of painting workers like me. And we also demand the government to pay special attention to this issue and regulate it through intensive monitoring and implement some strict laws. Moreover, intensive awareness campaigns should be organized throughout the country as workers like me need to be cautious and knowledgeable about the lead toxicity in paints.

Save Our Child, Ban Lead Paints. said R. Suresh painter.

நாம் ஒரு புதுவகையான அழகான அச்சுறுத்தலை எதிர்கொண்டு வருகிறோம். அந்த அழகான ஆபத்து துடிப்பான நடைபழகக்கூடிய பச்சிளம் குழந்தைகள் மற்றும் கர்ப்பிணிப் பெண்டிரையும் பெரியோர்களையும் பெரிதும் பாதிப்பதோடு இல்லாமல், வாழ்நாள் முழுதும் தொல்லையையும் ஏற்படுத்துகிறது . அந்த அழகான ஆபத்து காரீயம் (LEAD (Pb) எனப்படும் உலோகம் தான் .