ACTIVITIES in 2010

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Braj-Vrindavan Heritage Alliance (BVHA): In January 2010 an alliance was formed to act as one voice for future development plans in the Braj Mandal. The BVHA meets weekly in a different temple location and all are invited to help achieve mutual goals to do with preservation of heritage, pollution, currrent developments and other urgent matters concerning the Holy Dham.

Please visit BVHA Alliance for latest news

Tree plantation and distribution

Initial attempts of tree plantation and environment education began in 1991 with the support of WWF-India through a Vrindavan Conservation project over five years. Since then FOV-India initially with the support of FOV-UK has carried on tree plantation activities and maintains a nursery to propogate, conserve and distribute typical tree varieties of Braj. In 2001 the Chief Forestry Conservator of Uttar Pradesh awarded FOV for their massive tree plantation efforts.

Solid waste management

Under the current Vrindavan Garbage Management Initiative (see Projects) there are plans to extend these activities throughout the town.

Bio Medical Waste management

Hospital Waste Management is one of the prominent programmes of FOV which includes not only the bio medical waste management but also recruiting professional staff to manage the waste in the hospitals.

HIV/AIDS MAINSTREAMING AWARENESS

Recently FoV has been given the responsibility to train members of selected developmental organizations active in different fields of social services in Agra and Mathura District, for Mainstreaming Awareness of HIV/ AIDS. The Tata Institute of Social Sciences has provided technical assistance and funding from UNDP for the training of trainers workshops which FoV are conducting.
Mainstreaming HIV/AIDS in development work is an attempt towards improving development practices so as to enhance its contribution to the response to HIV/AIDS. This requires developmental organizations to attend to both the immediate and the underlying determinants of people’s susceptibility to HIV infection and taking into account the impact of HIV/AIDS and adjusts their work based on it. Given this scenario, involvement of NGOs from varied capacities and backgrounds becomes crucial for effective response to HIV in India, especially in dealing with HIV, where complexities are interlinked, efforts should be from all facets of society.

Plastic recycling

Attractive baskets, waste bins, bowls are woven by local women out of grass and recycled plastic bags. This is a project sponsored by FOV in an effort to clean up the environment and financially empower some of the local women.

Paper made from recycled waste
Our handmade paper products are being generated from recycled cotton and paper waste. With the inauguration of the hand finishing department the items will be available for overprinting and in large quantities.

Paryavaran Khalsa at the 2010 Maha Kumbha Mela

We gratefully acknowledge a generous donation from Smt. Shakun Narain, Mumbai to help set up a camp at the 12 yearly Maha Kumbha Mela.The camp served as an information centre and meeting place to inform & share development concerns in the Braj Mandal.

An enviro - spiritual discourse programme was organized at the camp attended by children from different schools. Ms. Sashi Mahajan from the Women's movement for Peace and Prosperity, Mumbai, Ms. Radhika, famous tarot reader, Mr. Madhumangal Shukla, environment activist, Mr. K. B. Mahajan and Mr. Swapan Goswami addressed the school children on how the spirituality is linked with the environment. Daadi Nani ki Kahani - book written by Ms. Shakun Narain was distributed among the school children.

The mid-day meal being distributed though our camp by the Akshay Patra Foundation is helping the school children who participate in the environment awareness campaign as well as our volunteers.

Conservation of water bodies

Mansarovar, a rare wetland grove and bird sanctuary, roughly five acres in size, a few miles across the Yamuna river from Vrindavan became choked with water hyacinth so that the surface of the lake was completely hidden from view. In autumn of 1998 a FOV team worked hard for six weeks to clear this invasive weed and restore the lake to its pristine beauty. It was exhausting and unpleasant work but now its original beauty is restored and the birds and wildlife are returning to their previous haunts.

There are many kunds and water bodies in Vraj and FOV is advocating for their restoration and revitalization so that they may again service the local area with clean water.