Features: Magazine | Literary Review | Life | Metro Plus | Open Page | Education Plus | Book Review | Business | SciTech | Entertainment | Young World | Property Plus | Quest | Folio |

Oasis in the desert

with city's well known lady eye doctor who has now taken to farming with equal vigor, writes SOMA BASU

Photo S. James

GREENERY Turning wastelands into agricultural field

"You can tell people that Dr.G.Natchiar is less of an ophthalmologist and more of an agriculturist now. I came to Madurai from a farming background and time has turned a full circle." She stuns you with her opening remark.

Only when you get down to talking about her pet project, you realize where from and why such passion flows. Eyes and minds that perhaps gave vision to hundreds of people in the last three decades are now all focused on a "green dream".

"Yes, it is a dream only. Chief (meaning Dr.G.Venkataswamy, founder of Aravind Eye Hospital (AEH), allowed me freedom on some parts of this 80-acre plot to do what I love doing," says the Director (Human Resource) of AEH, Dr.G.Natchiar, standing on "Aurofarm".

Barely six kms from her office and bang opposite to Lakshmi School in Veerapanchan, the Aravind administration bought the land about two years ago to set up their lens manufacturing unit, Aurolab. And Dr.Natchiar saw an opportunity here. She sought her staff's "help and cooperation" and got it in abundance. "Interaction with nature always adds to an employee's value. I know initially they came out of fear because I called. But now, they come out of sheer love for the place," she says candidly.

Green volunteers

What is amazing is that only last April, Dr.Natchiar and her team of "green volunteers" started working on this wasteland and in less than 18 months they have changed the land's colour.

To begin with each Aravind employee was urged to plant a sapling in Aurofarm. Each of them was given a "green card" which bears their name, the plant's name and the date of planting. Employees are encouraged to periodically follow-up their seed of interest.

Also with every visitor to Aravind lending a hand, there are more than 2,000 trees on six acres now enhancing the green charm.

Dr.Natchiar has also carefully nurtured an orchard on another eight acres and indulged in some organic farming. More than 10 varieties of vegetables including okra, egg plant, cluster beans, tomatoes, banana, coconut, gourd, spinach are grown here pesticides and chemicals-free. The biodegradable waste from the hospital is composted and used as manure.

"People tell me organic farming is not economical given its low yield. If I use chemicals the production will be much higher. But I am happy giving our patients healthy food each day," she says with pride, sharing that 40 per cent of the produce from here went to Aravind Hospital daily for preparation of more than 2,000 meals for patients each day.

Yet another satisfaction, which Dr.Natchiar derives is that in her own way she has "empowered women".

All her farm labourers are women from nearby villages in Karuppayoorani, who sow, cut and reap the benefit as rest of the produce is sold by them in the market. Every Sunday, atleast 50 members of Aravind staff voluntarily turn up at Aurofarm to clean the area of weeds, water and till the soil wherever necessary.

"We have not taken any outside help or spent any money in developing this area. The achievement here is the result of a dedicated team work," she notes with gratitude.

Dr.Natchiar solidly stands behind with her ideas and patience for every acre's beautification. "With a quarry inside the plot, the compound wall for the entire 80 acres was built with its stones instead of wasting money on a brick wall," she shares. More wonderfully, the quarry was filled with rain water and today it stands like a beautiful 15 feet deep lake, which Dr.Natchiar calls a "lagoon".

The embankment has been landscaped with beds of lake-friendly grasses and different types of colourful flowers, an elevated green patch of land that is well manicured, an amphitheatre with a natural rock podium and stone seats and even a dining space with rock benches and tables encircling a palm tree with a garuda statue under its shade.

The amphitheatre has even served as a venue for meeting, cultural programmes and hurricane light dinner for the Aravind staff! Over 7,000 fishes have been released into this lagoon and a local fisherman hired to do fishing. He nets more than 20 kg of fish each day and gives 50 per cent of his earnings to the hospital.Dr.Natchiar's green area is also interspersed with resting places under shade of neem trees.

A dozen banyan trees too have been planted to serve the purpose in future.

There is a lily pond surrounded with cacti pots and a herbal plants section. Besides, a scientifically conceived children's park is coming up - which "will be more than just playing equipment and stimulate a child's creativity."

"Aurofarm attracts a variety of birds and butterflies. Each tree here has a beauty of its own and we call it a psychological perfection. Once the entire area is fully developed, I will invite school children to be in communion with nature here," promises Dr.Natchiar. Indeed, while the name "Auro" to the word "farm" lends an air of serenity and calmness, a place so quiet like this in Madurai feels like heaven. Dr.Natchiar's ultimate dream is to make it an eco-friendly public place where people can merge with nature. The pace and dedication with which she is going, it is definitely a dream within reach, and soon.

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail