To establish right relationship towards creation and to emphasis responsible stewardship.
2. Objectives
Education
To create an awareness of the dangers of the ecological imbalance through education on a systematic basis.
Conservation
To encourage sustainable use natural resources (i.e. conservation).
Identification
To identify specific areas of ecological concerns and priortising the same for execution.
To form " Eco-stewards cell " at every level of our Diocese to co-ordinate with other movements with similar interests.
3. Action Plan
Eco-Zones to facilitate the identification of issues. The Diocesan areas could be divided into Eco-Zones, based on the ecological crisis pertaining to that particular parish or institution.
Densely populated areas lacking basic amenities (Vysarpadi, Alandur, Broadway).
Congregations adjoining coastal areas (eg. Mahabalipuram, Athipet, Pondy, Cuddalore).
Parishes around Nuclear and Military installations (Kalpakkam, Arkonam).
Newly urbanised Townships - Satellite towns.
Parishes around Agrarian and Industrial belts (Redhills, Karunguzhi, Tirutani).
Parishes around pilgrim centres (dangers of epidemics).
Parishes around quarries (Sholingur).
Pastorates that are perennially dry region devoid of all resources.
Hospitals could be considered as a separate zone.
School and hostels fall into a single zone.
4. Common Minimum Programme
Mandatory principles to be adopted by all Churches and institutions supporting eco-conservation methods. The same to be displayed permanently in the respective premises to promote Reduction, Recycling and Reuse of resources.
5. Monitoring Cell
This cell consisting of Pastors, Heads of Institutions and Technical Personnel to be given authority to monitor and recommend measures from time to time in implementing Eco-standards.
6. Training Programmes
For farmers on soil conservation, water harvesting and natural fertilisers and pesticides.
For village health guides on alternative medicines.
To evolve eco-interest groups at the schools having direct access to the monitoring cell for wider audience and involvement.
To form a cultural core-groups to organise awareness - programmes at village level including elementary schools. They should be used during Area level and Diocese level get-together, seminars and retreats.
To conduct Eco-friendly techniques workshops for specific issues and areas periodically.
Encouraging planting of trees that will green the surrounding and to enhance livelihood of people by planting of cash/fruit trees.
7. Experimental Measures
To develop an organic farm, which can give periodical training to interested farmers - to identify one farmer per pastorate to experiment this approach.
Construction of buildings with naturally available low- cost materials.
Opening a department of Naturopathy in our hospitals.
An information and training centre for Eco-concern forming part of the larger Resource and training centre for the Diocese.
8. Finance
By way of annual contribution form all Pastorates and Institutions during the Eco-vision Festival.
Encouraging local congregation to fund some of the training programmes at the level of pastorates.
Rev. B. Devaprasad Director Velcom & Eco-Vision Department
