was happy to sponsor the ONASADYA and gifted each of the inmates ONAKKODI. The member were touched to hear their stories and gave them hope to a brighter future. Rev. Brother enlightened us about the functioning of the organisation. Post lunch students entertained the inmates by musical performances. To part with them was difficult but to see a smile on their face by our presence made our day. Clean up campaign at VAGAMON: September 21, 2010 Plan@Earth, the NGO working for the environment, together with student volunteers of SWAN conducted a clean-up campaign at the picturesque spot VAGAMON in IDUKKI district on 21 Sept 2010. VAGAMON, famous for its green hills, meadows, tea estates and Pine forests has emerged as a favourite tourist destination in recent years. Now a days visitors see more of a
plastic infested nucleus in VAGAMON, than its pristine beauty. Plastic bottles, food boxes, disposable plates and cups dot the roadsides, hill slopes and the Pine forest. SWAN decided to make a difference. As a first step to make this heavenly spot litter free 50 student volunteers from FISAT were brought to the spot under the initiative of Plan@ Earth and a clean-up drive was done. More than 1000 plastic bottles were collected from the Pine forest alone and it was brought back to be recycled under the Wealth Out of Waste (WOW) initiative of ITC. The officials of Plan@Earth who visited the site were astounded at the volume of waste collected and put forward suggestions that could be implemented to restore VAGAMON to its former glory. Some of the suggestions were: 1) Providing monetary incentives to the members of the local population to see to it that the
plastic waste is collected and deposited in assigned spots so that periodically Plan@Earth could ensure that it is sent for recycling. 2) Educating and enlightening the local population and empowering them to see to it that tourist do not continue their shameful habits of defacing the hill sides and roadways. 3) Installing trashcans and signboards as a constant reminder. All this will be possible only if corporates, local authorities, funding agencies and the local population work together. This effort of SWAN set an example to students of other colleges and was highly appreciated by the local print media.
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