The college has just initiated a project named Go Green – Go with Nature. The project aims at orienting and equipping our students and staff on integral ecology and sustainable development highlighting the dangers of climate change and global warming. We will start a campus ministry to prepare and disseminate education materials on clean environment, restoration and management of natural resources – land, water, bio mass etc. We will be establishing model farms, herbal garden, spices garden, fruits garden, flower garden and vegetable garden in the campus. We will promote in the campus and in the houses of our students and in the local community organic agriculture, horticulture, fish farming, livestock practices, etc. on the lines of ‘whole farm development’ and ‘Go green’. Comprehensive waste management practices aiming at clean environment and plastic free campus will be introduced here.
We will be preparing an Herbal Garden in the college campus and sensitize the students the importance Ayurveda and ayurvedic treatments which is inherent in the Indian mindset. We will promote the concept of courtyard hospital by creating Home Herbal Garden in the houses of the students. According to this concept they should grow 12 selected herbal/ medicinal plants which would be sufficient for the treatment of all ordinary ailments. Tulsi, Gheekumari, Gende ka phool, Ajmod, Rshi, Calendula, Methi, Ashwangandha, Khus, and Stevia, Boswellia, Brahmi, are some of the most important Indian herbs for the courtyard hospital. The staff of Santhigiri directly manages the supervision of our herbal garden.
Kerala is the spices garden of India and Idukki district where Santhgiri College is located is famous for spices cultivation. One of the reasons for naming Kerala as God’s own country is the rich spices cultivation in Kerala. The most famous spices are Pepper, Clove, Cardamom, Cinnamon, Nutmeg, Star anise, Ginger, Turmeric, Cambodge, Tamarind. A spices garden is existing in our campus and we shall expand the existing garden with more plants. We shall encourage our students to grow spices in their courtyards also.
A flower garden is the beauty spot of our campus. A number of flowers are grown in our floral garden which blooms and spreads fragrance at different times of the year. We plan to design our flower garden beautifully and add more flower plants with the active participation of the students. Rose, Marigolds, Aster, balsam, celosia cosmos, dahlia, French marigold, gerbera, petunia, sunflower etc. are most loved flowers of Kerala.
Growing fruit plants is more than a hobby today. It has turned out to be a lucrative business. We are going to prepare an enchanted demonstrative fruit garden for the students in our campus. This will also provide us with tasty and nutritious fruits on our dining table. We made an exhaustive study on the best fruit plants grown well in the soil of Kerala. Some of them are Vietnam Early Jack, Kalluketty Mango, Mangosteen, Red lady Papaya, Gooseberry, Cashew, Bread fruit, Guava, Durian, Abiu, Miracle fruit etc. Our demonstration farm will sensitize and encourage our students to plant fruit plants in their courtyard.
Growing vegetables at home has become a necessity today, since the vegetable that we buy from the market is often not fresh and sometimes even poisonous to cause serious health issues. Commercial vegetable cultivation using heavy dose of pesticides is common today and its consumption is sure to cause chronic diseases eventually. We are cultivating vegetables with the participation of the students as a model organic farm, which the students may copy at their homes. Vegetable like okra, finger, tomato, cucumber, pumpkin, cabbage, beans and tuber crops like elephant foot yam (chena), esculenta (chembu), discorea alata (kachil), sweet potato (madhurakizhangu), tapioca are the dearest items of the people of Kerala.
This is yet another activity that can be undertaken by the college with student’s participation. Students will be given onsite training regarding fish raising/ pisciculture at their houses. Low cost Paduthakulam model fish farming is quite prevalent in the State. At a time when fish bought from the fish market is damaged and preserved in poisonous acids, raising fish at home for food is highly recommended and this awareness will be given to our students. GIFT Tilapia is the mostly chosen fish for fish ponds.
This is an animal husbandry program of Santhigiri College to support the kitchen of Santhigiri Hostel. We have a number of chickens, kadas and ducks and they give a number of eggs daily. The inmates of Santhigiri hostel receive them as boiled eggs or as an egg curry. We give our students opportunity to watch this unit and start such units if possible, which may also be converted as an income generation project in their families.
The Santhigiri Campus is a mini world comprising the entire nature with most of the living beings like birds, fish, dogs, cats etc. This makes us closer to the nature. It gives us a family atmosphere which we earnestly maintain in the hostel with the children with disabilities. We are bird lovers and we have wide variety of exotic bird species. Our Birds sanctuary has yemus, decorative chickens, turkeys, geese, ginis, parrots, sparrows, lovebirds, doves, pigeon, ducks, flying deck, pathas, finches etc. We have constructed this Bird Sanctuary adjacent to the hostel for the boys with disabilities. This is a recreational therapy for them, as part of their rehabilitation strategy. The presence and nearness of the birds gives them mental relaxation and happiness. Afterall, their disabilities make them mentally sad, even if we have prepared them to be disability emancipated and units like Bird sanctuary makes them joyful.
We have an Apiculture unit rearing honeybee scientifically. This unit teaches the students to start at least a small unit at their premises even as an income generating unit. This unit gives us honey and wax used commercially. Honey bees make pollinations and its venom has a mixture of proteins capable of destroying aids virus. Moreover, honey bees teach us lessons regarding hard work, unity and family bond.
31 % of the world is forest. Forests with many trees and animals are inevitable to maintain the eco system and plays a great role for environmental protection. It is proved that visits to forests is good for mental health. It will reduce mental stress and help to regain psychological well-being. Hugging a tree gives holistic healing. We have created a small forest in our campus for the students to obtain forest experience during their hectic studies.
We have to construct walls of the front road and erect street lamps creating more space in the front of the buildings. Decorative and shade trees and plants should be planted on the road sides and front parts of the buildings. The front side of the old building can be given a beauty look if it is covered with glass and ACP. Handrails also may be fixed above the side walls. Certain meaningful statues may be erected in the front area along with some decorative designing. Our beautiful campus with grassy quads, plants and trees will create an eco-friendly environment for the students which will enkindle their intellects.
Alternate and renewable energy is found in natural sources like solar which do not run out. Solar energy is the best proved renewable energy for educational institutions. We are badly in need of renewable anergy mainly for two reasons. Firstly, the important fossil fuels like coal and petroleum are non- renewable and the existing reserves will be over in around 50 years and secondly the burning of fossil fuels pollutes the environment causing global warming. We have already installed 25 KWp Grid Interactive Solar Power Panel in Santhigiri College in 2016 and 01 KWp in our hostel. By this we are happy to be a part of the global movement for environment protection and it has greatly reduced our electricity bills.
Waste management is an essential aspect of maintaining a sustainable and environmentally friendly campus. Our college recognizes the importance of effective waste management and has implemented various initiatives to reduce, reuse, and recycle waste.
Effective waste management is crucial for maintaining a sustainable campus. By addressing the challenges and implementing the recommendations, our college can reduce its environmental footprint and promote a culture of sustainability.