Stubble burning turned profitable

The stubble left after harvesting a farm is usually burned or removed from the place by investing more effort and money. But not many farmers are aware that it can also be a source of additional income. Pune-based BiofuelCircle — founded by Suhas Baxi and Ashwin Save in June 2020 — is an online marketplace […]

A 63-years old gives new life to a lake

At 60, many citizens would be content to slip into a peaceful retired life, pottering around the house, surrounded by grandchildren. Not so 63-year-old Revathi Kamath, a resident of Bannerghatta Road in Bengaluru South, who has been busy giving a new lease of life to the 28-acre Somanahalli Lake along Kanakapura Road. Revathi, a homemaker, […]

Winning hearts with algae-based biodegradable leather

The bio-leather, created in 2020 from a mix of algae and organic waste, is an attempt to reduce “white pollution” — the plastic trash left behind in the water — as well as the impacts of the leather tanning industry. It mimics animal leather only in appearance, but the creator claims it is cruelty-free, waterproof, […]

Green warrior wins Environment protection award

 It was the sight of colourful flowers swaying in the lilting breeze that drew him close to Mother Nature as a child. He started sowing seeds and saplings along roadsides and paddy fields. That became a habit. Today, C C Kannan, a 54-year-old daily wager, is recognised as a “green warrior”, who recently received the 25th […]

A journey from polio to being an environmentalist

For Sathish Kumar, the cradle of life was not gilded. For someone who lost both his legs before he turned one, to polio, there wasn’t much to look forward to, while growing up. But little did he know that he would be blessed with a green thumb, that had enough sheen to blanket the parched […]

Barren land turned a source of livelihood for farmers

Sudhanshu Sharma and his wife Susmita Roy were working in the national capital. He was in the strategy and marketing sector, while she was in public health. What astonished them was a high-rising “mountain” that they would often pass on their way to work. But on this fateful day, they realised it wasn’t a mountain, but […]

Man plants 600+ Banyan trees, Targets to plan 5000 more!

Riding his two-wheeler with bags of banyan saplings, Shyamal Jana travels across southern districts of West Bengal with the slogan ‘Thakbo Na Ko Bodhho Ghore, Gach Lagabo Bisso Jure’ (will not confine myself to a room, will plant trees across the world).’ Jana, a primary school teacher in East Midnapore district, has set a target of […]

Ecovibe’s journey from cycle to eco-cycle

 Pedalling is a popular fitness activity across age groups these days. For some cycling enthusiasts, it’s about recreation, relaxation of a different kind. For Kozhikode’s Ecovibe Pedallers, however, cycling is more of a mission. The 21-member cycling community based in Nadapuram is on a mission to eliminate the plastic menace. Cruising through different parts of Kozhikode […]

Art of plastic for a better future

Sarfaraz Ali and Sakshi Jha met while organising an event for the Institute of Management Studies, Ghaziabad, where the latter studied. Over time, the duo collaborated on several events, which they say was their introduction to how much plastic waste is generated at large scale events.  After graduating college in 2011, the two worked in […]

ASHA: Hope to find water scarcity

For over two decades, Asha S of Karnataka-based NGO Arohana has worked tirelessly to conserve water in her region.  In Kolar district, where water scarcity is rampant, she has helped 1,350 households divert waste water to agricultural fields, rejuvenated two lakes, and enabled rainwater harvesting in three government schools.   “It is everyone’s duty to protect […]