Haritha Gramam rollout across Kerala

KOCHI: The Haritha Gramam project successfully implemented at Thuruthikkara, Mulanthuruthy panchayat,  in Ernakulam district will be expanded across the state. The model of self-reliant and environment-friendly village named 'Oorja Nirmala Haritha Gramam' initiated by the Kerala Sastra Sahitya Parishat (KSSP) with the support of other agencies has evoked the interest of various international and national agencies and their delegations have visited the place.  The village has also attained the plastic-free, e -waste-free and filament-free status.

The village could make remarkable achievements in waste management, energy efficiency, water quality and environment conservation.  The KSSP has organised regular classes and training programmes on various topics for all 349 families with 1,600 residents. KSSP wants to develop and expand the Oorja Nirmala Haritha Gramam as an example of sustainable development model through people's participation at local level. The model can be replicated with effective intervention of local residents in any area.  The KSSP state level executive committee has already discussed the possibilities of expanding the initiative.

If the state government takes the initiative through Haritha Kerala Mission, KSSP will provide necessary support, said P.A Thankachan of KSSP. Mr Muralee Thummarukudy, chief of the UN's Disaster Management,   recently visited the village and said that it was a role model for other villages across the country. A team of students from the Indian Institute of Management, Kozhikode, had earlier come to  Thuruthikkara and stressed the need to replicate the model across the country. It was in January this year that Thuruthikkara was declared as the first green village by Haritha Keralam Mission vice-chairperson and chief executive officer T. N.  Seema.

It was implemented with the support of various agencies such as Energy Management Centre, Kerala, ANERT, Haritha Kerala Mission, Clean Kerala Mission, Suchitwa Mission, CUSAT, Model Engineering College, Thrikkakara, and the Integrated Rural Technology Centre. With the success of Haritha Gramam initiative, several other local bodies in Ernakulam district have already started steps to replicate the model. The KSSP has been providing technical support for its implementation in various panchayats and municipalities.