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Say ‘NO’ to plastics

“From Small Actions to Big Results”

Plastic accumulation is the modern plague that is devouring the pristine nature. The college

prioritizes the preservation of nature by implementing various kinds of environmental

initiatives. In this fight against plastic pollution, the institution mobilizes the community as well

which subsequently leads to a widespread awareness regarding this modern curse. The

institution has zero tolerance to any kind of plastic usages inside the campus. All departments

take meticulous care to promote environmental friendly products. Cloth banners and origami

works substitute plastic banners and flex boards. The functions organised under the aegis of the

institution are devoid of plastics, and the college takes pride in promoting the culture of

honouring the guests with saplings.

The college is one of the pioneering institutions to initiate the eco-friendly culture of

honouring the guests with saplings and flowerpot, and conducting inaugural ceremonies

by nurturing the flora.

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The origami works beautify the college campus during festivities thereby reducing the

plastic pollution and enhancing the aesthetic inclination of the students as well.

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Substitute for Plastic

There is an unprecedented increase in the usage of plastics- we make and use so much of it,

and dispose so much of it, which piles up in landfills and water bodies ravaging the

ecosystem. Mass clean ups, recycling and eco-friendly alternatives are the ways to fix this

grave issue that pose a threat to the planet and its species. Since the institution has long term

commitment towards cleansing Mother Earth, steps had to be initiated to replace plastics with

environment friendly substitutes. As part of promoting environment friendly substitutes for

plastics, many workshops for the manufacture of eco-friendly substances were initiated under

the aegis of the institution.

Departments of Zoology, Chemistry and NSS conduct workshops for students on

making paper pens, paper bags & files and cloth bags to promote the use of eco-

friendly materials in daily life, instead of plastic.

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Paper bags, paper pens, cloth bags and cloth banners, glass bottles, steel/bone china plates and

cups are used for the programmes conducted in the college. Origami works beautify the college

premises during festivities. The guests are honoured with flower pots and saplings.

The students manufactured Paper bags, files and Paper pens to distribute for the seminars

and conferences conducted by the college and outside.

Ms Tara and Ms Simi Stephen of the Rotary Club Cochin North inspired the students on Environmental

Sustainability with their awareness talk on 16 October 2018 regarding the environmental hazards caused

by the erroneous disposal of plastic bottles, which had its evil part played in the recent Kerala floods.

They sensitized a gathering of around hundred students towards the immediacy of actions to be taken to

recycle plastic bottles sensibly. The Department of English has responded positively to this cause by joining hands with #I Challenge Plastic Bottles, initiated by Rev.Fr Davis Chirammel, Kidney

Foundation of India.

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Plastic Bottle Challenge

The Department of English, Bharata Mata College, Thrikkakara initiated a year-long

project to preserve mother earth with an aim of beating the menace of plastic pollution and

sensitizing the youth towards the immediacy of actions to be taken in this regard. The

project instigated actions to reduce plastic waste, conducted an orientation talk on

Environment sustainability, organized awareness campaign in the locality and in the

neighbouring institutions. They conducted a plastic bottle challenge in collaboration with

Fr. Chirammel Foundation and collected 544kgs of plastic bottles, which was recycled

sensibly with the support of IIT Madras. The plastic bottles collected was handed over to Mr.

Abu Saleem of Kerala Scrap Merchant Association, which in turn has been recycled to make

buttons, inner lining of coats etc. The proceeds of this were used to make a living for a family

hit by the recent Kerala floods. This commendable activity of recycling is an excellent

example of transforming a bane to boon.

The institution under the aegis of the department of English conscientising the local community

and the neighbouring institutions on the plastic bottle challenge, inspiring them to collect

maximum number of bottles that could, to be recycled to eradicate the plastic menace and

thus save Mother Nature.

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Handing over a sewing machine to a family hit by the recent Kerala Floods. The

sewing machine was bought from the money generated out of the plastic campaign

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Ms. LissyKachapilly, Head of the Department English, Bharata Mata College receives the

Best Teacher Award from Tanya Abraham, Founder of Art Outreach Society at E-Unnathi

'Women 2020' -International Conference held at Bolgatty Palace Event Centre. She was

honouredfor efficiently guiding the Department of English in its inspirational initiatives

for collecting 544 kgs of pet bottles as part of the #I CHALLENGE PLASTIC BOTTLE

CAMPAIGN and recycling them effectively during the course of one year.

Training to Self Help Groups

Students and teachers of Zoology department giving training to a self-help group at

Rajiv Nagar Colony on ‘Paper Bag and Paper Pen making’

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Love Plastic Programme

On the 150thGandhi Jayanti, NCC and Club B4 of the college organized GREEN DAY in

association with the Love Plastic Programmeof Mathrubhumi SEED and ITC pvt.ltd.

Students collected plastic, metal and paper wastes from the college. Segregated plastic

and paper materials were sold through wow project of ITC.

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HarithaKeralamProject , Government of Kerala

The ethos of the college does not restrict the education to the teaching-learning process.

One of the primary objectives of the college is to make the students more critically aware

of how their progressive actions, individually and collectively, help the world meet future

challenges. With this motto in mind, the students were initiated into the remarkable mission of

Kerala Government, HarithaKeralam Project. The Mission was launched to address major

issues confronting the State like garbage, threat to water sources, environment, ecology etc.

The students of the college actively partook in the cleaning sessions as part of this project. Two

faculty members attended Suchitwa Mission Meeting held at Civil Station on 27th of September

2016.

Cleaning of Thrikkakara Municipality by the students of MSW department to make it

plastic free, as part of HarithaKeralam Project 2015

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Cleaning of Fort Kochi Beach

Cleaning of Fort kochi beach by the students of Bharata Mata College earned wide media

coverage and bagged letters of appreciation from Kochi Municipal Corporation and Clean

Fort Kochi Foundation. This mass Beach clean up witnessed the wholehearted participation

of students on Saturday 23 .06 2018 at Vasco Square, FortKochi, which was conducted in

collaboration with Clean Fort Kochi Foundation and Couch Surfing Volunteer Group.

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Cleaning of Chellanam Beach

Chellanam beach clean up by the NCC Unit and Club B4 of Bharata Mata College as part

of environmental initiatives in the year 2017 has undoubtedly raised public awareness to

the threat of debris more effectively than the usual awareness lectures. The students were

quite assertive that the clean ups make the public more mindful of how they manage the

disposables. The activity also has triggered an awakening towards the need to examine the

contemporaryconsumerist lifestyles. The students were immenselycontent to have served

the community directly.

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Clean India Campaign

The institution makes it mandatory to involve the students in the service of the

community and equip them to be the propagators of community development, progress

and well-being. No campaigns, protests or rallies will not be left unattended by the

inmates of the institution, and Clean India Campaign is no exception. Department

of MSW actively participated in the Clean India Campaign organized on 13thFebruary

2015. Sri. Benny Behanan MLA inaugurated the programme.

Public Pond Cleaning

Students of the Department of MSW, in collaboration with the Kerala Association

of Professional Social Workers (KAPS) and Rotary Smart Cochin organised the Public

Pond Cleaning activity in the NGO Quarters area, Thrikkakara that was polluted with

plastic waste. The activity was conducted on 23rdMarch 2018 and it helped to

sensitize the students to their role in nurturing and preserving the nature in its pristine

condition.

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Padhayathra

The MSW students participated in the Pathayatra, which is a cleanliness campaign which

was started in the name “ShuchitwaBodhaYajnam 2010-25”. This is an initiative

started in 2010 under the leadership of Fr. George Pittapilly. The campaign was

organised by suchitwa mission Ernakulam, Harithakeralam Mission, Mitradham

Renewable energy centre, Rajagiri College of Social Sciences and Bharata Mata College.

Padhayathra 2016

Padhayathra 2017

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Padhayathra 2018 was conducted on 15thJanuary 2018

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Stainless Steel Water Purifier

The institution has zero tolerance for plastics used in any manner inside the campus, as

part of which the institution bans plastic cans for the storage and use of water. Plastic

cans providing drinking water are in vogue today that re-uses and produces large plastic

cans for utility purposes. The institution ensures ultra purified water across the campus

by centralized water purifying system. The stainless steel water purifying system

functioning in the campus saves Mother Nature from the impairment caused by the

accumulation of plastic water cans. To encourage the use of ecofriendly products,

environment friendly prizes are presented to students and guests.

Centralized Stainless Steel Water Purifying System substitutes the packaged plastic

can drinking water that is in vogue today

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Environment friendly mementoes are presented to guests and student achievers to

evoke environment consciousness