Muththati Trip 1st Dec 2007 – One to remember for a long long time

Number of volunteers participated: 17 Volunteers

Plastics collected: 34 sacks

Trip Briefing : Departed from Indiranagar Park, Opposite to KFC at around 6:45 AM in a 20 - seater swaraj Mazda making pit stops in between to pick up a totally new gang of volunteers expect some of them and headed towards our mission.

We started off the fun by playing anthakshari but later people were about to sleep hearing some people sing so we shifted to dumb charades. That was fun, not very tough as most of them guessed the movie even before it was enacted fully. Meanwhile we reached Kanakapura for the much awaited breakfast at our famous hotel – Rathna Upahar.

After a nice breakfast, we left for Muththati, stopping in between to purchase “Cement Bins”, arranged separate transportation for the bins. We reached Muththati around 10:45AM. We 17 volunteer gang breaking into groups swung into action immediately after a brief by Roopa on what to collect etc.

Before we could see, there were plenty of sacks collected and still going on with full energy while talking short breaks. In between the cleaning, volunteers got involved in placing the “Cement Bins” at the appropriate places and inaugurating them too.

Also volunteers spoke to couple of visitors (the number of visitors was less as it was a Saturday I feel) on what we do and how they can help protect the environment. They understood the problem and said they would not litter and would use the cement bins for the waste.

Finally, after 2 ½ hours of working, we decided to end the cleaning as the weather was at its extreme peak and also all of us were tired and hungry. Volunteers completed by stuffing in the plastics into sacks and stitching them making a total of 34 sacks by 17 volunteers.

We then headed towards Jungle Lodges and Resorts for the much awaited lunch. Some of them relaxed by enjoying the nature on the banks of River Cauvery and some went on a walk which had no end point and had to come back as there were people waiting for them to get back to Bangalore.

Overall, it was a great, fun-filled trip in terms of cleaning, setting up Bins as well meeting different kind of like-minded people who like to contribute for such a noble cause.

Kinds of Plastic Collected: Bottles of Water, and other beverages Ghutka Wrappers and other variants of it, plastic cups, plates, food content wrappers, soft drink bottles, soft drink cups.

Amount of Plastic collected in volume : 34 sacks – the plastic this time was not weighed.

Logistics: Clean and Green took care of the Logistics arrangements viz, Transportation, equipment for cleaning.

Noteably : All the volunteers together made arrangements for the procurement of the cement bins and the transportation of the same from Kanakapura to Mutthathi.

Supported by: Jungle Lodges and Resorts for transportation of the plastic collected for re-cycling and for permitting the volunteers to use their wash room facilities. Jungle Lodges and Resorts also provided lunch for all the volunteers, along with permission for the volunteers to enjoy nature from their premises. Forest Dept represented by the RFO’s staff during the clean up in deciding the placement of the Cement Bins.

Expenses :

Trip Cost :

Transport: Rs. 3200

Breakfast: Rs. 337

Total: Rs. 3537

Per person: Rs. 210

Cement Bins:

4 Bins: Rs. 1000 ( Each Rs. 250)

Transportation: Rs. 500

Per person: Rs. 90

Meetings and Cancelled Trip

Since the trip we did to clean up Mutthathi, the group has been having regular fortnightly meetings, some well attended, some thinly, but the meetings all the same.

Some of the highlights of these meetings :

1. Wiki page - contents decided, Page to be constructed for events, updates, notes exchange etc

2. Deepa is collating the database of active members

3. To place order for the signboards

4. Procure bins and place them in Mutthathi

A trip to Mutthathi was planned in Oct and was cancelled due to poor response to the call for volunteers.

Oracle Volunteers ! Clean and Green Mutthathi

Folks, most of you on the google group, know about our trip to Mutthathi and this time with Oracle's volunteers, during their Global Volunteer Week. Honoured to have so many hands helping us clean up.

Some many more bent backs, tiring, sweating, with all the filth, grime, plastic and to top it the stares and glares before we befriend and educate...

Some videos, the Deccan Herald write up about the trip ..

http://www.deccanherald.com/Content/Nov202007/spectrum2007111936623.asp

Wonder Why !

Hi, Have you ever wondered what we would achieve with all the cleaning we have been doing ! Why are we doing, what difference does it make !

Well some pictures from Deepa Mohan who is a friend of Sandeep Chakravarti says it all. Follow this link to her blog. See the pictures but a statutory warning : It will make you feel poignant.

http://deponti.livejournal.com/245829.html

Trip 17 Jun 2007 ! Single Handedly !

This is the trip report of the trip done on 17 Jun Sunday ! Mohan was the only experienced Clean and Green member on the trip. He was the trip coordinator all in all - one man show ! Bravo !

The Team - You cant see Mohan as he is the photographer

Date: June 17th, 2007
Place: Muttati
Number of Volunteers who participated: 10

Trip Briefing: we departed in a 12 seater tempo traveler from Indiranagar at 6.15 am and from Banashankari Temple pickup point at 6.50 am, a ten person brigade left the town (seven adults and 3 teens) for a mission. Nine of them were new to the act. We had the breakfast at Kanakapura and the team played housie (Tam bola) on the way, The prizes went to the teens. Guess the prizes (table portraits of greenery pictures, wish list for greenery being a reality for many of us).

Reached Muttati at 9.07 am and immediately started the business of picking up the plastic litter after the quick induction. The team was very energetic and put a fantastic effort to collect 54 kilos gulping in 18 bags. As usual the bags were firmly stitched and placed for the forest officials to collect and send it to recycle firm.

The team went on enrollment conversations with the visitor’s onsite on the banks of river Cauvery. Many of them understood the litter issues and have pledged to reduce the use of plastics and make use of the bins effectively.

The team left the site onwards to JLR for much needed lunch. On the way, there were further enrollment conversations with the Muttati shopkeepers in and around the main streets and the temple. The shop keepers do understand the impact and will support the cause as much as possible. There is more work to be done in this area dealing with the shopkeepers. (Things can be further explored – like putting posters i.e. Do not litter in Kannada / English, placing bins in front of the shops, use paper cups instead).

In summary a very effective trip and the volunteers have showed interest to enroll their communities (i.e. schools, colleges and at workplace). Good job!!!!!!!!!

Kinds of Plastic Collected: Bottles of Water and soft drinks, plastic cups, plastic covers and trays, Ghutka Wrappers and other variants of it.

Amount of Plastic collected in volume and weight: 18 sacks weighing 54 kg.

Logistics: C & G took care of the planning and executing the trip.

External communication: Radio City announced about the Sunday trip details on Saturday 16/7/2007. Very effective, People were curious about the Clean and Green initiatives and some of them participated in the trip.

19 May 2007 : First in the Fortnightly Series of Meeting

A small capsule of the discussion today

Attendees : Sandeep, Mohan, Rakesh, Yenne, Roopa.

The meeting started with moving from the venue to Megh Sagar on CMH Road for the hungry souls to have a stomach load of food. After which we came back to the Indira Nagar Park.

Some notes before I list down the actions and decisions that were taken in the meeting :

During the meeting we had a call with the DFO Mr Kumar Pushkar and the ACF Mr Shiv Kumar to discuss the following :

¨ To get the wording for the sign boards – one volunteer needs to call Mr ShivKumar on Monday 5/21 to get the material from him

¨ Seek permission to place the sign boards to which Mr Kumar Pushkar suggested that we approach the PCCF (WL) in Aranya Bhavan

After the initial discussions here are the list of Action Items that were identified :

1. List of phone numbers of all the known volunteers to be prepared by Vijay and the same forwarded to Roopa
2. Roopa to send the list of phone numbers to Madhu (volunteer who is willing to spend some time each week during working days). Roopa to speak with Madhu and explain what is required for discussions with each volunteer
3. Roopa to speak with ACF (with the help of another Kannada speaking volunteer and get wordings of the sign boards from the Forest Dept
4. Roopa to also get the costing and a sample sign board and details of fabrication required before the 2 Jun meeting
5. Rakesh to identify good, durable, eco-friendly bins and buy a sample before the 2 Jun meeting
6. A suggestion that we work with a corporate to employ additional security or on weekends when security needs are lesser – deploy four security folks at Mutthathi to screen people from carrying plastic and provide alternative cloth bags at the road heads. Roopa to speak with Mr Anil Rai – another volunteer who is willing to implement small projects end-to-end.
7. During this week – Sandeep and Mohan are planning to make visits to Aranya Bhavan to meet the PCCF (WL) in case the PCCF (WL) is not away on travel.
8. Roopa to prepare a brief proposal by Clean and Green to state our intention towards a Private Public Partnership for placing signboards and bins and also provide security service to monitor plastic traffic in Mutthathi
9. Vijay to send all the trip reports to Mohan who will create a dossier for the meetings with the PCCF (WL) this week
10. Sandeep volunteered to coordinate a trip for Mohan’s contacts – many of whom are wanting to do a trip – the trip is planned for 17 Jun. Separate mails on this follows.
11. Vijay is to follow up with Mrs SenGupta – HOD Dept of Sociology in Christ College (w/o Principal Secretary Environment, Conservation and Ecology) for building awareness and also explore possibilities of doing a trip with the students.
12. Sandeep will get in touch with some of the other members of the team to setup a visioning exercise.

A Dose of Process

Most of us from the software industry who get a daily dose of exposure to processes of mature organizations : will also bring the work experience in all their other activities. So yes we did a great trip on 14 Apr ! Well did we do well, did we not, is there a learning to carry forward, are we a learning, and continuously maturing group or are we always thinking on our feet.

The answer to some these questions did get addressed in an After Action Review of the 14 Apr Trip (on 21 Apr 2007 at 9AM at IndiraNagar Park) and here are some of the highlights of the discussion. Before we present the Strengths and Opportunities - am listing the Action Items and owners (which we need to complete as part of the closure of the 14 Apr Trip).

Participants: Roopa, Sandeep, Rakesh, Mohan, Anita and Vijay

Action Items

1. Collect all the equipment rakes, sticks, gloves - Rakesh, Anitha and Sandeep volunteered to help
2. Blog Updates - Roopa
   
3. Hard Copies of the latest Trip Report to be sent to - Sandeep, Vijay

a. RFO Mr Kempe Gowda

b. Prinicipal Secretary [Forest, Ecology and Environment Dept]
c. PCCF [WL]
d. WASI
e. KK Plastics

4. Send Mail to

a. Jungle Lodges and Resorts
b. Karthik (?)

5. A Thank you letter on Clean and Green Letter Head to Sun - Sandeep, Vijay
6. Request for a testimonial letter from Sun about their expressions of the day with Clean and Green - Roopa to speak to Vidya
7. Since Sun has expressed to work with Clean and Green - request them to send a letter from the corporate to the Forest Dept. Roopa to speak to Vidya.

Strengths

1. Well - well done - the whole trip
2. First time coordination with a sponsor and the group was well represented in the face to face meeting with Sun
3. The sponsor is willing to work with and through Clean and Green to work out the optimal long term sustained solution at these picnic spots
   

Opportunities

1. The face to face and subsequent discussions could have started earlier than a week before the trip - best time 2 weeks to 3 weeks
2. We should have planned a site visit before the trip with the representatives from the sponsor company
3. The face to face should have been done thru a presentation and not a casual discussion. The powerpoint to cover the following points
1. Video of previous trips
2. Maps
3. Before and after photos
4. Do's and Donts
5. Safety and Security Instructions
6. List of activity that the sponsor should cater to
7. Clean and Green Vision and Mission and testimonials with blog link etc
   

April 14 2007 - Mega Acitivity @ Muttathi

First Trip of this magnitude and this splendour : From all walks of life and diverse organisations involvement - Sun volunteers, parents of Sun employees, family, friends, students from three colleges [BMS, RNSIT and RV], KK Plastics with their team of four and their own vehicle, Jungle Lodges and Resorts.

The convoy : two bus loads of volunteers, 1 car with breakfast following, 1 tempo for garbage. 1 more car for lunch later.

The word Splendour is used to describe the trip because :

• The whole community at large - the concerned community from Bangalore all rolled off so early in the morning to work towards a cleaner environment to help conserve Forests
  
• Coordination during a hectic work week for all concerned : Sun volunteers working to arrange the transporation, the food arrangements, all the other logistics.
• KK plastics continues to participate in the Clean and Green activities
  
• The Forest Departments involvment and commitment to the Clean and Green volunteer represented by the RFO Mr Kempe Gowda and his staff participating in the cleaning activity
• Jungle Lodges and Resorts exntending their support and hospitality during the trip.
• The coordination of the entire trip was well executed.
• There is no hestiation to mention a few names from each of these organization and express our small note of gratitude
  
• Sun Microsystems who have worked tirelessly to make this event a success :
  
• Vidya Srinivasan
• Ramesh Naidu
• Atishay Kumar
• Vidya Sakar
• Ganesh.Hiregoudar

• Special thank you to KNR and Ravindra for their whole hearted participation in the activity with their families.
  

• Hospitality extended by Mr Pampapathy from Jungle Lodges and Resorts (washrooms and water), and providing a Trekking Guide for the trekking enthusiasts in the team.
• Mr Rasool Khan and Mr Sameer from KK Plastics and their team for their untiring, committed work
  

• A special thank you the Temple pujari and his family for his continued hospitality to Clean and Green member.
  

Plastic Collected : 301 Kgs !

15 Apr 2007 : Upcoming Event

Sun India - volunteer week being cashed in on to further Clean and Green work ! Should be big trip. Lets hope for the best.

27 Jan 2007 Meeting Notes

There was a meeting on 27 Jan 2007 (the weekend after the BIG trip to Mutthathi). Attendees :
Rakesh, Pritesh, Yenne, Suprio, Ananya, Sandeep Chakravarty and Roopa

Discussion centred around what needs to be discussed with the Panchayat and the RFO - with which are the focus areas for which that we need to drive forward with them.

RFO : Can assist by identifying one family for doing the regular clean up. While the Gram Panchayat can authorise the same family with a letter so as to enable them to collect the plastic.

Clean and Green volunteers along with the Forest Department officials can identify areas within the Forest Office premises where the collected garbage can be stored, the locations where the garbage bins are to be placed along with the sign boards.

Assistance from the Forest Dept can be sought for financing or actually employing the family who will do the regular garbage collection and monitor the work.

Some of the existing functionaries within Forest Dept like the watermen and others can be encouraged by the Panchayat to do the tour the place on weekends and police the place and ask people to desist from littering. Collections from vehicle parking etc or collectively from the village contribution could possibly be routed for funding the garbage bins.

The 21 Jan Trip !!!

The Big Big Clean Up at Mutthathi on 21 Jan - was a runaway success so to speak ! In all 37 volunteers ! From all walks of life.

Amount of Plastic collected : 33 sacks weighing 164 kg !!

Here are the pictures
http://picasaweb.google.com/contactcleanandgreen/CG21jan

Excerpts from the Trip Report of 21 Jan 2007

This was a big event so we hired a 50 seater bus and picked up the volunteers before leaving Banashankri at 7.15 Am. Sandeep and Sreepathi left at 6.40 am in Sandeep’s Scorpio to meet the Panchayat President, Fr. Abraham and the RFO.After breakfast at Kanakpura, the bus arrived at Mutthatti shortly before 10.00 am and after a short briefing from Sandeep on plastic collection and segregation the volunteers got to work.

Working in small groups and in pairs we collected the plastic which was largely poly bags, plastic cups and glasses and some amount of PET bottles.We also collected paper plates which were laminated or coated with silver foil. Volunteers took breaks in between but continued to collect plastic till about 12.30 pm, after which teams of 2 to 4 people started compacting the plastic in the large gunny and HDPE sacks which we had carried. As the sacks filled up we stitched the mouth with rafia to prevent the plastic from spilling out. With all the sacks stitched we came to the exciting part of weighing the sacks.

Sandeep had carried a spring balance and a nylon hammock in which 2 sacks were weighed at a time. In all 33 sacks with a record 164 kilos of plastic was carried into our bus and we headed for Bheemeshwari Fishing Camp for a well deserved clean up and lunch. Post lunch we shared ideas of how to improve our efforts in future and involve the local community. After a cup of tea the volunteers left for Bangalore at 4.45 pm.

The plastic was brought back to Bangalore and handed over to K K Plastic, who would recycle it. The highlight of this clean up trip was the presence of emminent members of the Forest Dept and the local community

1. The Panchayat President Sakri Bai, along with 3 other panchayat members
2. RFO, Mr.Kempa Gowda who interacted with our volunteers and spoke to the picnickers requesting them not to litter.
3. Fr. Abraham also volunteered to speak to the important community members to keep the place plastic free.

Mr. Nahar, Resident Manager, of JLR was kind enough to bring these people to the clean up site in his vehicle. He also spent time with the volunteers.

Kinds of Plastic Collected: Water Bottles, Ghutka Wrappers and other variants of it, plastic cups, plates, food content wrappers, soft drink bottles, soft drink cups.

Note from a Visitor

This is a note sent by an angler and a frequent visitor to India and of course the banks of Cauvery.

From: Steve Lockett

To: pccfwl@vsnl.com

Sent: Monday, January 15, 2007 3:12 AM

Subject: Clean and Green

Sir,

I am a regular visitor to India generally, and Karnataka in particular. On my last visit, I attended a conference in Mysore, where the Guest of Honour was Mr D.T.Jayakumar, the Karnataka State Minister for Tourism.

Mr Jayakumar asked me what I felt could be done to improve the image of India in th eyes of Westerners, and I told him the most simple step would be to tackle the problem of littering.

I will be visiting again from February to April of this year and will be pleased to report to both Mr Jayakumar and Mr Singh at the Incredible India office in Bangalore what an impact the Clean and Green scheme is having on the fishing stretches of the middle Kaveri.

As the main protector and guardian of the forests in Karnataka, I hope you understand the importance of the work that Clean and Green are doing. Not only for those who want to fish on the middle stretches of the Kaveri, but for all those whose lives revolve around the river and everyone who wants to enjoy this unique environment.

Under the Constitution of India, article 48a states that there is a duty to improve the environment, particularly with regard to wildlife. Hopefully Clean and Green can assist you in this valuable work.

Many thanks for your participation,

Steve Lockett

Coarsefish-Torbay for:
News and views from the West Country

Prep Work Bonus

Though this was not the inital agenda for the Prep Work - Sreepathy, Sandeep and Nahar met with Fr Abraham. Meeting with Rev. Father Abraham - Local Social activist and Christian Missionary. Participants:

• M/s Nahar - JLR
• Sandeep - C&G and Outrigor
• Sreepathi - C&G

Mr Nahar suggested that we meet Father Abraham, who has been working with the local population since 1990. A person who has been in Muttatti area for a long period and knows the people and the problems. Excerpts below.

• He understands the garbage problem and the need to address it
• Has agreed to play an active role in Awareness Program and subsequent sustenance.

Prep Work Updates

This update is from Sreepathy's report on each of the agenda points

1. Meeting with Village Panchayat Members: Visited Byadarahalli Gram panchayat members at Hosadoddi Village. Participants:

• Nahar - Manager JLR, Bheemeswari
• Sandeep - Member of Clean and Green and MD of Outrigor
• Sreepathi - Member of Clean and Green
  

Met the member Govinda Nayak and Shivanna. The panchayat President is Sakri Bai, wife of Govinda Nayak.

The Participants explained the purpose of the visit and solicited the Panchayat members help, excerpts below.

• Gram Panchayat wanted to carryout this activity on their own but could not due to iadequate funds. They are willing to support the cause and are willing to involve the panchayat machinary for the same.
• Are willing to attend a preparatory meeting before the awareness program and also participate in the event.
• Agreeable to get the local youth to participate in the awareness programme for "Shrama Daan"
• 
  

2. RFO - Mr Kempegowda - could not be met as he was away at Sangam.

3. Could not meet the people identified by him, for the colllection of garbage.

4. Meeting with Mr Khan, Principal, Govt Junior Collge and Shadakshara Swamy, President Eco Club, Kanakapura and NSS co-ordinator. Participants: Sreepathi - C&G

Met them and explained the awareness program and solicited their help in providing NSS Volunteers for the day. Mr Shadakshara Swamy, who is aware of the environmental issues was enthusiastic but wanted to make sure that his students study schedules are not disturbed. As the Awareness Program being planned on a Sunday, he was willing, however we may have Transport and Food issues. Follow up meeting for Friday to iron out these and confirm number of Volunteers.

Prep Work - Initial

As you all know we have a mega event planned on 21 Jan. As part of the preparatory work, Sreepathy had volunteered to visit Bheemeswari and attempt to get local stakeholders involved. He took a day off on 9 Jan from his busy schedule and made this trip.

He went with a five point agenda :

1. Meet the Gram panchayat President and explain the acivities and impress upon the need for local participation and self sustained activity. Get them involved.

2. Meet the RFO (Mr Kempe Gowda) and chalk out action plan for Forest Dept participation in ensuring a sustained mechanism to clean Mutthathi clean.

3. If possible meet the family/members identified for the clean up activity

4. Visit the Kanakapura Govt college and look out for NSS volunteers

5. Action plan for an Awareness Program/Drive

Notes on each of the agenda points and what needs to be carried forward in separate posts.

Jubilations and Celebrations !

Some of the commitments made and decisions taken on this Trip on 7th Jan I consider would set the tone for a sustainable solution.

1. Mr Vijay Vidyarathi (WAASI member) has volunteered to fund the retainer for the local family that can undertake routine cleaning of Mutthathi. A family that can take up the task has already been identified by Mr Nahar (Manager, Bheemeswari CFC) and Mr Bhojuraju (member Clean and Green).

2. Mr Sreepathy (member Clean and Green) has volunteered to make a trip to Kanakapura to visit colleges there to get the NSS teams to participate in the 21 Jan Clean Up activity.

3. Mr Praveen Dwarkanath (Director) MN Infocom Solutions Pvt Ltd, has volunteered to participate in the 21 Jan Clean Up and also get some more participants.

Jaathara - 7th Jan 2007

A Cleaning Trip of a kind !!!

A small set of volunteers of 7 adults and one child went to Mutthathi - all brave and ready to clean up the galeech at the bank of river.

lo and behold ! what a sight that greets the team. A throng of about 4000 worhshippers at the river bathing, washing clothes, cooking, eating, merry making. Should I utter the words I dread to - well litter all over. The task at hand even with a 17 member team on the last trip was too small to tackle the problem at Mutthathi.

So consider with the Jaathara going there was no way that we could have even attempted a clean up. The team went on to Bheemesawri to the CFC and had a meeting with the Manager there. Details of the meeting at CFC are in the trip report - to be posted here soon.

Yet some of the most remarkable decisions and greatest of commitments recieved on this trip need a highlight, so see the next post for the same !