A time for Revival !

The monsoons are here, bringing in the rains and a time to indulge in some revelry. We shall go out on bikes with friends, get soaked in the rain, enjoy a hot cup of tea and snacks like’ kaanda bhajji’. A time for merry-making indeed! During this time, we love going to places like Khadakwasla to enjoy the rains. A few years back, we used to go to Pashan Lake as well. Today, that is hardly a case.

Pashan lake is a manmade lake, built by bunding a small rivulet. The rivulet originates from Bavdhan and flows via Pashan, Sutarwadi, Baner to Someshwarwadi before flowing into the main Mula river. The lake served as a source of water to old Pashan village, for growing crops all the year round and to nearby Governor's house. The lake and its surrounding area used to attract many migratory birds and had been a popular spot for bird-watchers over the years.

In recent years, deforestation on nearby hills has caused heavy silt formation resulting in decrease in the depth of the lake. Ipomoea weed is also cited as a major cause of lake's deterioration as it prohibits the growth of other plants. The washing of trucks in the area contributed further to the pollution, by adding oil and petrol to the sewage. The water quality deteriorated fast as the quantity of sewage water and other effluents mixing in the water kept rising. PMC worked towards improving the filtration plant but water quality remained poor. In 1998, Pune Municipal Corporation discontinued providing drinking water from the lake.

Owing to ever so increasing level of pollution, the number of migratory birds dropped from 32 to merely 3 over a period of just ten years. The lake also suffered owing to the ignorance and apathy of the citizens, who would see and lament the condition but would not do anything concrete for its resurrection. We, in fact, contributed our share towards polluting this lake, by dumping in our garbage. Sad indeed!

However, it isn’t too late yet. A couple of years back, the Pune Municipal Corporation has undertaken a project to revive the lake, in order to be able to supply drinking water from it again. Various organizations and volunteer groups have been carrying out awareness and eco-drives to encourage more and more people to come to its rescue. Dumping of garbage and cleaning of trucks has been banned. Some of us belong to the corporate world, some have the necessary influence and reach within the concerned authorities, some have the moolah whilst other have the zeal. Together, we need to combine all these resources, combine and synergize it into a single, functional force and revive this lake. Increase the awareness, be the one to take the initiative and do not just pass on the baton. Together, we can and we will make a difference.

Save Pashan Lake, Save Environment, Save Earth!

Nupur Singh

SCIT-SSR

The Earth Warriors!

What are we composed of? What is it that gives us life? What is it that we are so close to, yet fail to realize, and rather degenerate?

Yes, I’m talking about those essential five elements that blow prana into us. The AIR-WATER-EARTH-FIRE-SPACE combination. And it is time that we prod ourselves, step out of our comfort zones and take a resolution- a resolution where we promise to make a difference to not only ourselves, but to the whole world. Every single effort will lead us towards an evolved, more tranquil, and a better world.

It is time to care for Mother Earth!

This is the whole concept behind the formation of the Student Social Responsibility aka SSR group at SCIT. And seniors (i.e. the class of 2011) helped us realize the cause, and motivated us to join the initiative in the Introduction to SSR session held on 12-06-2010.
And we made them proud!

It was great to see the enthusiasm, the spark, and the desire to do something different in the batch-fellows. Numerous ideas in the form of Branding & Marketing of SSR, managing relationships with NGOs, contributing to a social cause, a fantastic skit, and some brilliant posters, displayed that each one of us was well aware of our responsibilities.

It was very kind of Director Sir to address the students as the drivers of change, and all of us are very thankful to him for the kind of motivation and support he provided that day, and for the future endeavours too.

Come, hold hands!
Thou art needed.
In the times of crisis,
To save our habitat.
Let this life-giving planet,
Not disappear into oblivion.

We need everyone’s contribution in the noble cause. Be an Earth Warrior! Bring a change!

Aditi Nawani

SCIT - SSR

Welcome! Be a part of the CHANGE!

How many times have you thought of doing something for the society?? Something to protect trees or save wildlife?? Or something to clean polluted rivers and lakes?? Some would say, they think about it most of the times and plan out a few things but somehow it doesn’t materialize.Some would say they would love to do something but time constraint does not allow them to do so.

Hmm...I would say you guys have a point. Today, everyone is striving towards excellence in whatever they are doing, whether it’s an employee working for an IT company or an MBA student going through the crest and troughs of management. Who the hell has got time to think about society and social causes?? Agreed...We do not have EXTRA time for such things but we need to take out time for this as now it is no longer an EXTRA work. We haven’t been environment friendly in the past which has resulted in a much damaged present and if we do not take any steps to amend actions, the future seems quite dark.

With this thought in mind and some great learnings from the MRA Centre at Panchgani, we the students of SCIT, started a movement called SCIT SSR. I am calling it a movement because it is initiated to bring a change; a change which we all would like to see in this world, in our country, in our city and in our neighbourhood. Yes...We started this from our neighbourhood, the first one being the GO GREEN campaign, which was run to promote plantation and fight against global warming. Next being the EARTH HOUR campaign which had an extended reach and covered most parts of the Pune city. And I take pride in saying that both these events received huge response.

So finally what happened?? A bunch of enthusiastic students with the support of a very encouraging Director, managed to initiate a movement and pull huge responses from the crowd. Was it as difficult as we discussed in the initial part of this blog?? Trust me guys, being a part of it, I can assure you it’s not that difficult. It’s just like an easy, normal, but important activity as it leaves quite an extraordinary impact.

I hope this would strengthen your thoughts and you take steps to implement them as well. If you need any support, you can ask the SCIT SSR team members, who would be glad to share the success stories with you. Also it would be great if you can be a part of SCIT SSR as that will definitely add more power to your and our efforts. As it is rightly said that little drops of water make a mighty ocean, we would love to welcome each one of you to the SCIT SSR group so that every effort gets counted. Welcome!!

Chhavi Raina

SCIT-SSR