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Thanks to rapid urbanization, a pollution-free atmosphere is a mere dream in most cities
of India. Chennai is no exception. Mound of garbage, dotting the city's roads, is a common
sight and despite the best-laid plans, disposal of garbage remains a universal problem.
Reasons for this could be many. Lack of civic sense among citizens,
heavy cost of transportation to city garbage dumps and an inadequate system of recycling
waste. Time and again the city fathers have mulled over the facts... is there an easy,
cost-effective and productive way of clearing garbage? And soon someone hit upon an
answer.
The magic word seemed to be VERMICOMPOST. What then is this
magical process that can address almost all garbage related problems?
 Vermicomposting is the conversion of biodegradable garbage into a
high quality chemical free bio-fertilizer with the aid of Earthworms. Earthworms have from
time immemorial played a key role in soil biology by serving as versatile natural
bioreactors to harness and destroy soil pathogens, thus converting organic wastes into
valuable bio-fertilizers, vitamins, enzymes, growth hormones and proteinaceous worm
biomass.
Just how does the humble earthworm do this? By feeding
voraciously on all biodegradable refuse such as leaves, paper (non-aromatic), kitchen
waste, vegetable refuse and the like. It then burrows deep into the soil, positioning its
castings towards the surface of the soil thereby enriching the soil with a pre-digested,
easy to assimilate bio-fertilizer that is now rich with NPK or nitrogen, Phosphorous and
potassium. This soil also has the enhanced ability to absorb atmospheric moisture, helping
in water economy and aeration.
Chemical fertilizers restrict the growth of soil
microorganisms that are necessary for recycling nutrients. But VERMICOMPOST preserves the
natural eco-system and helps in nature farming as a form of agriculture, which uses no
chemicals for the growth of plants. Thus if large amounts of garbage are harvested and
turned into vermicompost on a regular basis, we can have areas free of litter and we also
have a bio-fertilizer that can be marketed and used in landscaping and farming, thus
yielding a regular income to many.
It was this knowledge that prompted a city NGO, The Guild
of Service, to undertake vermi-composting as part of its Rural Project in suburban
Chennai. The project identified Pudukalpakkam, a fishing hamlet on the East Coast Road as
their project area. The reason given is that the women of the village were mainly employed
in fishing which being a seasonal occupation did not yield them a regular income to
support their families. In lean times loans were the norm.
"We thus decided to train these women in the art of
vermicomposting on a trial basis," says Mrs. Saraswati Gopalkrishnan, Honorary
Secretary of the Rural Project. " So we set up 10 pits in consultation with Dr Sultan
Ismail of New College Chennai. The programme became so successful that soon more women
joined bringing the total to 35. The Tamilnadu Corporation for the Development of Women
and the Tamilnadu State Social Welfare Board decided to help us with the fund to set up
concrete pits, " she continues. Says Devika Rani, Project Officer, " So
successful was the project that soon the women began clamouring for garbage and even began
going to neighbouring villages to obtain it. Each vermibed contained earthworms, cow-dung
and bio-degradable waste which was all introduced in a phased manner and harvested in a
period of 45 days. At the end of this period we had about 144 kg of rich, black, odourless
vermicompost, ready to be seived and cleaned before being packed and sent to our city
office to be marketed and sold by us," she continues enthusiastically.
 This method yields an average income of Rs. 300 to each woman
besides solving all garbage-related problems. Of course glass and plastics cannot be used,
as they are not biodegradable. But the region being abundant in fish the women use fish
waste extensively making the compost rich in vitamins, calcium and proteins.
The vermicompost thus being marketed by the Guild Of
Service is perhaps pioneering venture of its kind where a village community has been
involved in commercial production of vermicompost, thus helping nature farming, pollution
control and generating an income for economically weaker sections of society.
"In spite of all this more awareness is what is needed
on order for us to be able to continue the good work being done by these women," says
Mrs. Gopalakrishnan. " So when looking for a fertilizer for your farm or garden it
would do well if people would consider the revolutionary vermicompost as an option,"
she feels." At Rs. 15 a kilo it is available in large quantities at our office at 29,
Casa Major Road, and a regular supply is assured even for large orders," she
concludes.
This tiny hamlet and the efforts of a few have certainly
shown us a way out and that even waste matters.
For details about vermicomposting & vermiculture,
contact:
The Rural Project
The Guild Of Service
29, Casa Major Road
Chennai-8
Phone: 8240260 8273662.
Rinku Gupta
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