Conserving the elixir of life
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A Malayalam CD-ROM on rainwater harvesting is exhaustive and user-friendly.
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`MAZHAVELLAKOYTHU,' A CD-ROM produced by the Centre for Development of Imaging Technology (C-DIT) for the Kerala State Planning Board, is the first such attempt in Kerala on rainwater harvesting.
Like the prelude to a typical `Thulavarsham' (North-East Monsoon), the CD opens to the sound of thunder and wind. The pitter-patter of rain and shots of a rainy day make for a perfect opening scene.
Elaborate explanation
The CD, which is very user-friendly, has 12 sections, each of which provides at least eight more sub-sections. Giving exhaustive details as in a do-it-yourselves kit, the CD explains each and every step in the setting up of a rainwater-harvesting facility in various geographical locations in Kerala.
The successful implementation of rainwater storage project by Mulloorkara Udaya Samiti, in Palakkad, which is featured in the CD, can be taken as a model by local bodies and `ayalkoottams' or neighbourhood groups.
While `Mazhayum Keralavum' (Rain and Kerala) provides information about the amount of rainfall in Kerala over the years, `Thullikal' (drops) speaks about Kerala's climate, especially the monsoon. It contains information on water harvesting and water conservation. The CD features various Government schemes, legislations and ordinances relating to groundwater exploitation and about banks loans to build a rainwater harvesting facility.
An interview with a farmer in Kasaragod who depends entirely on `Surangam,' an ancient method of rainwater harvesting, is an interesting inclusion.
The FAQ section answers almost all questions related to rainwater harvesting and lists out the government and non-governmental organisations involved in this field.
According to S. Sreedevi, director and project coordinator of this CD, "It was conceived and developed as a training material for local people and at every step of the production we had this in mind. We would soon be bringing out the second edition, which will be based on watershed management."
Team work
Various divisions of C-DIT such as the visual communication division, the educational informatics division, the new media division and the computational linguistics division contributed to the various components of the CD-ROM. "The CD is conceived in such a way that it is apt for teaching the activists involved in the project at the local level," says Vinod Kumar P, executive director of `Maitri,' an NGO based in Thrissur that has developed around 3,000 rainwater-harvesting projects.
"As the commentary is in Malalyalam it will be very useful for propagating the idea of harvesting rainwater." `Mazhavellakoythu' reminds the viewer that Kerala, which once had an abundance of rain, may soon become a desert unless the people take urgent steps to stop deforestation and destruction of water bodies.
S. Binu Raj
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