Nammalvar update Founded a learning center VANAGAM (model farm) Asha funds used for lease on this In Karur district Inaugurated on Pongal (Jan 14th) Started living there from Apr 1st Have constructed (from locally available bamboo and coconut leaves) A training center Cattle shed Kitchen Store room

More activties In June, bought two heifers to get water from 1 km away More lands were bought for training purposes (non-Asha funds) Used dry summer for preparing the land for future demonstrations Sep/Oct rains were helpful for sprouting seeds

And some more Working with organizations in AP, Karnataka, Kerala, Pondicherry, Maharashtra, and Madhya Pradesh (apart from TN) Various campaigns – Save Rice Anti-GMO Save water source Rain water harvesting Organic farming certification Taking forward ecological farming principles and philosophy to all these areas

Talks etc Talked at schools, colleges, environmental councils, consumer movements and farmer forums on Impact of industrial agriculture on environment and human health Joined hands with Isha Yoga Center to promote tree planting

More talks and activities Writing in Tamil journals on issues and organic farming practices Talks on AIR and Visual media interviews Member of executive committee of Millet network of India Conducted two five-day workshop for farmers at VANAGAM VANAGAM recognized as an organization towards organizing farmers to get PGS certification

Other campaigns/issues GEAC approval for B.T Brinjal Draft of Right to Food Act prepared by Government of India and 2009 Tamilnadu State Council Act of agricultural forum Bio - Technology draft introduced by Government of India Farmer’s forum campaign for tapping of toddy from Coconut and palm trees etc.

Nammalvar’s Schedule There are a lot of activities done, almost on a daily basis – which are not listed earlier A look at the monthly schedule gives a better idea of the kind of work Sl.no. Date Place Activity 1 2nd June Kadavur Inauguration of Vanagam 2 5th June Vanagam 100 Seedling planting

1 1st July Vanagam Model farm Taken on lease with fund from Asha 2 3rd July AI Radio Trichy Environmental Awareness 3 4th July Organic farming farmers training 4 8h July Trichy Organic farming seminar 5 9th July Aruppukkottai St. xavior college 6 10th July Thenkasi Farm design consultation 7 11th July Trainers Training 8 12th July s Trainers Training 9 13th July 10 14th July Tanjavur, Tamil University Farming Verses environment 11 15th July Palayur, Nagai Dt. Organic farming farmers Training 12 16th, 17th July Farm designing 13 18th July Musiri, High school. Seminar on environmental issues 14 19th July Salem Environmental issues for farmers 15 20th July Chennai, T.Nagar Green shop visit 16 21th July Thirunintravur, Thiruvallur Dt. Training students and farmers 17 22th July Athimancherry, Thiruvallur Dt. Organic farming seminar for farmers 18 23th July Chennai Eco farming consultation 19 25th July Bhopal (M.P) O.F.A.I National council meet 20 26TH July Morning After Noon Visit to Water shed Management model Visiting Pesticide leak Victims 21 28th July Oorapakkam, Chennai Farm serve 22 30th July Madurai, Women’s forum Seminar on Food and Yoga 23 31st July Training for workers

1 2nd august Sathiayamangalam Selection of land to study mountain eco system 2 3rd august Sathiyamangalam 3 4th august Kodaikanal, Solai school Farmers Training - Organic 4 6th august After Noon Womens collective, Chennai Pothigai T.V Global Warming seminar for women teachers Interview 5 7th august Chennai South Against Genetic Engineering meeting 6 8th august Salem Brinjal Exhibition cum Panchayat leaders meet 7 9th august Brinjal Exhibition cum farmers meet 8 10th august Trichy Planning meeting for campaign against Tamilnadu act. 9 11th august Vanagam Workers training 10 12th august Quarter Acre farming 11 13th august Discussion with Malaysian farmers leader 12 14th august Thiruppur Visit to Green shop. Family discussion on food and health 13 15th august Prg.1 Prg.2 Prg.3 After noon Thiruppur High school Punchai Uthukuli Tree planting and independent address Addressing school children – Greening India Farmers training – Organic 14 16th august Dharmapuri, Bommidi Brinjal exhibition 15 17th august Palayur, Nagai Dt. Training to 15 women’s on Organic farming 16 19th to 25th august Bhopal Sri Batha Dhapolkar 85th birthday celebration 17 30TH august Coimbatore 18 31st august Pollachi Seminar on green environment for students in colleges.

1 1st sep Pollachi Seminar on environmental friendly farming 2 2nd sep Kaveripattinam Brinjal exhibition 3 3rd sep Vanagam Discussion with social worker Mr.John Peter 4 5th sep Rasi farm Muthupatty, Karaikudi Organic farmers meeting 5 7th sep Coimbatore 6 8th sep Thirumangalam PARD Local Radio inauguration 7 9th sep ICSA Chennai Campaign against Black act 8 10th sep Bangalore Organic farming conference (Asia meet) 9 11th sep Dharmapuri NGO campaign for organic farming 10 12th , 13th and 14th sep Arur Trainers training 11 15th sep Pudukkottai Exchange of Farmers seeds 12 16th sep Chennai CSIM college Seminar for consumers on food poisoning 13 17th, 18th, 19th sep Rishi vally, Andhra Visit cum Farmers meet 14 20th sep Chennai Nammalvar Ecological foundation trust meet 15 21st, 22nd sep Tiruvananthapuram Save rice campaign 16 23rd sep TMSSS Thuthukudi Organic farming seminar 17 24TH Sep Mega T.V Interview 18 25th, 26th Sep Ananthapur. Andhra Discussion over Climate Change report by central Govt. 19 28th sep Green shop opening 20 29th sep Pune Swiss Aid – India executive meet 21 30th sep Trichy Campaign against water lake encroachment

1 2nd, 3rd oct Somanur, Kovai Farmers training - in Organic 2 4th oct Nerur, Karur Dt. Vadalur Ramalinga adigal Birthday address 3 5th oct Pudukkottai NGO meet on Water resources protection 4 6th to 10th oct Vanagam Training – Eco farming 5 11th oct Sivarakkottai, Madurai Study team visiting land occupied by SIPCOT 6 12th , 13th oct Pollachi Farmers Training organic. seminar on environmental impact in teachers training college 7 14tt, 15th oct Hyderabad SURP conference on non chemical plant protection 8 16th, 17th oct Workers Training 9 19th oct Nagarkoil Inauguration of cultural yatra for water protection 10 21st oct Coimbatore Visiting Isha Green garden by Isha home school children’s 11 22nd oct Vella koil, Karur Dt. Tree planting by school children in Two schools 12 23rd oct 13 24th oct Palayur, Nagai Dt Training women farmers 14 25th to 29th oct Training – Ecological farming 15 30th oct Trichy, St. Joseph high school Environmental awareness 16 31st oct Assisting the workers

1 1st Nov Govindhapuri, Near Kumbakonam Visiting Kosala Maintained by Panduranga Ashram 2 2nd Nov Palaiur, Nagai Dt. Training of Women farmers 3 3rd , 4th Nov Goa Discussion with O.F.A.I director Miguel 4 5th, 6th, 7th, Nov Vanagam Assisting Farm workers 5 8th Morning After Noon Thiruppur Ramachandra Mission Consultation on organic agriculture Seminar on Save cow yatra 6 9th 10th 11th 12th and 13th Nov Rain water harvesting

One time Vanagam Budget Requested 1 Salary of one coordinator Rs.6000x12 Rs.72000 2. Salary of one documentation in charge Rs.6000x12 Rs.72000 Total Rs.144000 Capital Expenses One house for workers Rs.15000 One cattle shed Rs.30000 Sprinkler for irrigation Rs.30000 Two cycles Rs.4000x2 Rs. 8000 Total Rs.83000 Publications Hand books 5 No x Rs.10000 Rs.50000 Video Production Rs.20000 Total Rs.70000 Staff salary Rs.144000 Capital expenses Rs. 83000 Publications Rs. 70000 Grant Total Rs.297000