Mathrubhumi ‘SEED’ wins International award

Mathrubhumi ‘SEED’ wins International award

Vienna : The Mathrubhumi seed project wins international recoginition at the conference of World Association of Newspapers and News Publications (WAN–IFRA) being held in Vienna.The award was received by Mathrubhumi managing director M.P.Veerendrakumar and managing editor P.V.Chandran at a function.The award was presented by WAN IFRA president and Malayala Manorama executive editor Jacob Mathew and WAN-IFRA young leadership executive director Arlin McCain.

            The seed project, a student empowerment programme for the development of the environment was implemented in various schools in Kerala. The project has very much helped to create environmental awareness among the students. The jury appreciated Mathrubhumi’s effort and commented that this can be a model for other newspapers as well. The 11-member jury comprising experts from various countries led by WAN - IFRA young leadership executive director Arlin McCain decided on the prizes.

            Receiving the award, Veerendrakumar  said that they have taken up a great step to mould the future generation so as to be aware of environmental issues and how to protect them. He also said that Mathrubhumi is a newspaper working on the principles of great Mahatma Gandhi and Mahathmaji was greatly aware of the importance of environmental protection. He dedicated the award to all who worked behind the project.

            Earlier Univoice has published a report on the working of the project and its benefits.

Another green revolution starts

Another green revolution starts

Anju V Padma

Trivandrum: The Students Empowerment for Environmental Development (SEED) of Mathrubhumi in association  with the Coconut Development Board (CDB) has started a new venture named ‘Ente Thengu’. This programme aims to pave way for a green culture with the participation of students in the schools in Kerala.

           

            Being a Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) project, the programme is planned to be launched in 38 educational districts which came first in the survey of SEED. It will help the student community to create an attachment  towards Kerala’s once most cultivated coconut trees.

           

            The formal inauguration of ente thengu started with a training programme on 30th September with the participation of all the co-ordinators from 38 educational districts. As a part of this programme, each school is provided with 15 coconut plants which should be planted in the school campus itself.

            Trained teacher co-ordinaters will guide the students to look after the planted trees. All the technical support and guidance will be given by the Coconut Development Board. Continuous monitoring and updating of details of the planted trees should be done by the Principal or Headmaster of the school to the CDB and SEED. The first review meeting for the project is scheduled to be conducted soon. There will be inspections and enquiry done by SEED jury members and the officers from the Environment Protection Committee, Alwaye.

           

            The period of activity of SEED project will be from June to December. As a pilot project ‘Ente Thengu’ is expected to plant 1, 50,000 coconut trees in 10,000 schools in Kerala by the last week of October 2011. “If we are successful in our mission, within a few years, Kerala will be filled with coconut trees”, says Rakesh, co-ordinator of SEED programme.