The Indic Society for Education and Development (INSEED)


Environment

Under this activity, various projects are undertaken for protecting the environment and natural resources;
  • waste management and recycling - biological waste and composting,
  • water and groundwater management,
  • low-cost agricultural practices and organic farming,
  • planting of fruit and hard-wood trees,
  • promotion of alternate sources of energy for daily use,
  • writing articles to bring awareness about climate change, alternate sources of energy, recycling and other relevant topics.

Current projects:

  • Project 1: Investigation of environmental conditions and pollution of soil, surficial deposits, groundwater and surface water in three areas in India
  • Project 2: Sanitation awareness programme and building of dry toilets in India
  • Project 3: Recycling in India: Ideals and options against practises and attitudes
  • Project 4: Noise pollution: A health hazard?

Project 1: Investigation of environmental conditions and pollution of soil, surficial deposits, groundwater and surface water in three areas in India [Photographs]

This is a geo-environment project focusing on water and soil quality of the Behedi basin, Kalwan Taluka, Nashik district and two other tribal areas in India. Anthropogenic activities, use of pesticides, lack of sewerage facilities, cattle breeding practices, and lack of education on clean environment are quite similar in India and Nicaragua. These were the main focus areas of the research conducted in Nicaragua by Dr. Ulpu Väisänen and other researchers of the Geological survey of Finland (GTK). Hence, we plan to replicate the study in India concentrating mainly on the areas which are farming areas with cattle breeding and possibly some mining areas, exploiting the experience of the Finnish experts in Nicaragua.

Aims: The main aim of the study is to assess the contamination of surface and groundwater by pesticides and toxic elements. The study also aims to educate the local community about hygiene and sanitation, and to build eco-friendly toilets.

Plan: The following steps are planned to accomplish the above aims.

  1. Pilot study: To follow-up the area of the study conducted during 1992-1995 in the Behedi basin and to extend the 1992-1995 study to analyse the residue of pesticides in groundwater as well as in soil samples.
  2. Expansion of the study to include analysis of pesticides and other biochemical analysis of the samples from the study sites and two other study areas.

Financial support: The pilot study in part is supported by contribution from INSEED, Dr. Jaydeep Nikam, YCMOU, Nashik and Dr. Ulpu Väisänen, Geological Survey of Finland, Finland. An external funding is being sought for field work and laboratory analysis.

Project 2: Sanitation awareness programme and building of dry toilets in India

This is a multi-disciplinary project focusing on education, public health and environment at the same time. The sanitation problem in India is huge due to its large population and unavailability of information on the types of sanitation facilities available and lack of general hygiene.

Aims: The main aim is to provide toilets in schools and in slum areas and to educate people about How to use toilets and keep them clean. Also, the project aims to teach people to reuse waste water and compost their waste so as to overcome the problem of discarding human waste. In addition, rain water harvesting is aimed at areas with scarcity of water in spite of high rainfall.

Plan: The following steps are planned to accomplish the above aims.

  1. Education and public health - To prepare a documentary showing different types of toilets (Indian, western, public, open, eco-friendly etc.) and how they should be used by men and women. It also includes education on hygiene. This documentary will be shown in government and private schools. Also, special shows will be organised in cities and rural areas.
  2. Environment - To build toilets in some schools especially where there are large number of girls and in some slum areas in Nashik.
  3. Study the availability and usage patterns of toilets in the schools and slum areas. Establish contacts with the local municipality for wider installation of dry toilets.

Financial support: The plan for the documentary is made by the researchers of INSEED. Mass media institutions in India are contacted for undertaking the planned documentary project as an academic project by their students. This step of the project is fully funded by INSEED only. Sponsors will be sought for steps 2 and 3 of the project.

Project 3: Recycling in India: Ideas and options against practises and attitudes

India is rapidly moving towards globalisation and adopting many ways of industrialised countries toward improving infrastructure. Now-a-days, advertisements of housing societies/apartment buildings/residential areas with modern amenities are often seen in the newspapers and on television. These amenities include schools, health clubs, parks, clinics among other commonly thought facilities. Nevertheless, what about tonnes of garbage and human waste generated daily? Where will that go and where will it really end up? Should not this question be an issue of concern for laymen? This project tries to find out the avialable recycling options as well as practices and attitudes of people in India.

Aims: The main aim is to provide proper information about objects which are recyclable and how they should be segregated in a household. People ought to be told that with increasing population, recycling is the only way out to stay out of garbage! The project aims to provide guidance to people first about the segregation of the garbage generated on a day-to-day basis at home and then asking them to adopt the segregation practice. It also aims to provide a complete guide on how to make compost out of the biodegradable waste generated at home and reducing the use of items which are not recyclable.

Plan: The following steps are planned to accomplish the above aims.

  1. Education and public health - To prepare a brochure and a documentary showing different types of garbage items generated as waste and which of them are recyclable. It also includes education on keeping the environment clean by telling about basic civic sense of not throwing waste on the street. The brochures will be distributed in selected households before conducting the information on the amount of various types of garbage generated in the households. The documentary will be shown in government and private schools possibly with the participation of parents.
  2. Environment - To set-up compost bins in households and also garbage bins at public places to keep the environment clean. To encourage people to use paper bags instead of plastic bags.
  3. The undergraduate students will collect the data on the types of garbage generated on a daily basis in households of different kinds after the distribution of the brochures. These data will then be carefully analysed to study how to reduce the waste.
  4. A detailed guide on how to take care of your own waste will be prepared and provided freely on the INSEED website.

Financial support: There is no financial support for this project and the society plans to fund it on its own.

Project 4: Noise pollution: A health hazard?

A project evaluating the implications of noise as a health hazard has been planned for undergraduate students of statistics. The aim of the project is to collect the information on the type of noise which people experience in their day-to-day life and its effect on their well-being. The reason for planning such a project is the increasing level of background noise due to traffic, machinery, and the use of loud speakers. In Indian society, the noise has become a part of life and its effect go unnoticed. The undergraduate students will select a sample of people from various age groups and different localities, and collect data according to the questionnaire planned by the society. The questionnaire is available here.
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