Keystone Foundation Archives

Items

• Optimum Location of Dust Bins Using Geo-Spatial Technology: A Case Study of Kumbakonam Town, Tamil Nadu, India
  Urbanization and changing consumption patterns are leading to an increase in solid waste generation and environmental problems in urban areas. Many cities struggle to manage this due to institutional, regulatory, financial, technical, and public participation shortcomings. The average Indian generates about 490 grams of waste per day. Individual or group awareness and attitudes towards waste generation and management are critical in responding to the waste management challenge. The study focused on household solid waste disposal and optimum location of dust bins using geo-spatial technology. Field data collected with the help of a Global Positioning System survey was transformed into SPSS. The empirical survey included existing location of dust bins and household population with distance from home. Finding alternate locations of dust bins and mapping were also conducted. Municipal solid waste management is a major problem globally, especially in developing-country cities where increased urbanization, poor planning, and lack of adequate resources contribute to poor waste management. In Africa, rapid urban growth since the 1960s has put pressure on land resources, leading to increased waste generation and aggravated by open dumping in slum areas.
• LAND USE ANALYSIS OF KOTAGIRI WATER-SHED AND KOOKALTHORAI USING GOOGLE EARTH IMAGERY (2012-2018)_Field Work report
  This study focuses on the land use analysis of Katagiri Watershed and Kookalthorai using Google Earth Imaging (2012-2018) from the Indian Institute of Forest Management in Bhopal. The study aims to understand the changes in land use, including settlements, protected areas, agriculture, and other related categories. Land use mapping helps monitor the changes observed in settlements, agricultural land cover, plantations, and forest cover. The study is based on the findings of the fieldwork report conducted at the Keystone Foundation from 5/10/2018 to 16/10/2018. The study acknowledges the support of Dr. ParulRishi, Dr. Sandeep Tambe, and Dr. C.P. Kala of the Indian Institute of Forest Management, Bhopal, and the Water Monitoring Team. The study also acknowledges the support of the staff members of the Keystone Foundation and their friends for their support throughout the study. The study concludes that land use mapping is a useful tool for understanding land use and its management.
• Population Details_Kokode
  Kokkode is a village in the Nilgiris district of Tamil Nadu, India, with a population of 147, including 40 families and a child-rearing rate of 1,800. The village has a lower literacy rate of 60.2% compared to the 77.5% of the Nilgiris district. The population is divided into male and female, with a total of 14 children aged 0-6 years. The village is administrated by the Sarpanch, an elected representative of the village. The Census 2011 data shows that 98.1% of the workers are engaged in main work, while 1.9% are involved in marginal activities providing livelihood for less than six months.
• Population Details_Kengarai
  Kengarai is a village in the Nilgiris district of Tamil Nadu, India, with a population of 6,820, with 1,971 families and an average sex ratio of 1,037. The village has a high literacy rate of 80.9%, with male literacy at 92.04% and female literacy at 70.35%. The population is divided into Scheduled Caste (SC) and Scheduled Tribe (ST), with 21.1% of the population belonging to SC and 11.7% to ST. Out of the total population, 4,093 are engaged in work activities, with 92.1% describing their work as Main Work and 7.9% as Marginal. The village is primarily inhabited by cultivators and agricultural laborers.
• Population Details_Denad
  Denad is a village in the Nilgiris district of Tamil Nadu, India, with a population of 8,284 people, with 2,309 families and an average sex ratio of 1,040. The village has a high literacy rate of 83.4%, with male literacy at 91.69% and female literacy at 75.38%. The population is divided into Scheduled Caste (SC) and Scheduled Tribe (ST), with SC constituting 46.1% and ST at 5.5% respectively. Out of the total population, 4,999 are engaged in work activities, with 87.2% describing their work as Main Work and 12.8% as Marginal. The village is primarily inhabited by cultivators and agricultural laborers.
• Population Details_Aracode
  Aracode is a village in the Nilgiris district of Tamil Nadu, with a population of 781, including 189 families and a child-rearing rate of 1,200. The village has a literacy rate of 72.1%, lower than the 77.5% of the Nilgiris district. The population is divided into Scheduled Caste (SC) and Scheduled Tribe (ST), with a total of 2,209 people. Out of the total population, 432 are engaged in work activities, with 84.3% describing their work as Main Work and 15.7% as Marginal. The village is administrated by a Sarpanch, elected representative of the village.
• Contour Trenches_Design Manual
  Contour trenches are ditches dug along a hillside to follow a contour and run perpendicular to water flow. The soil excavated from the ditch is used to form a berm on the downhill edge of the ditch, which is planted with permanent vegetation to stabilize the soil and trap sediment. The purpose of contour trench construction is to reduce surface water flow velocity, promote infiltration, and prevent pollutants from draining into water bodies. To construct a properly functioning contour trench, it is important to accurately follow the hill's contour. A low-cost method to determine the contour is to build an A-frame level, which is marked with stakes for excavation. Contour lines are imaginary lines across a slope that are the same height at all places along the slope. To measure contour lines, an A-frame level can be made at no cost and used by one farmer. In areas with heavy storms, it may be dangerous to prevent water completely from flowing down a slope.
• Hydrogeological assessment in select regions of Nilgiris
  The Advanced Center for Water Resources Development and Management (ACWADAM) conducted a detailed hydrogeological mapping in parts of the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve (NBR) in March 2018. The foundation, based in Kotagiri, is working with indigenous communities to improve their lives and livelihoods through eco-development, focusing on water and sanitation. Over 150 water sources have been inventoried by the team, and they have trained local village members to measure rainfall, monitor spring discharge, and measure water levels in open wells. In select villages, the foundation is developing water security plans for better water management and conservation. Data from 59 groundwater sources, including springs, open wells, and bore wells, reveals that 21 springs are still in their pristine condition, but reduced flows have been reported in recent years. The location and ownership of springs pose challenges in conservation and management of spring water.
• Hydrogeological mapping in selective regions of Nilgiris
  The Advanced Center for Water Resources Development And Management (ACWADAM) conducted a hydrogeological survey in the Aracode, Coonoor, Ooty, and Sigur regions of the Nilgiri district, Tamil Nadu. The district, part of the Western Ghat mountain range, comprises six blocks with rolling topography and elevations greater than 2000 meters above msl. Keystone Foundation in Kotagiri has been working with tribal communities in the Nilgiri district on water resource management. The survey aimed to develop a broad geological understanding of these locations and understand the complexity of groundwater dynamics. The report compiles field observations pertaining to geology and hydrogeology and integrates static and long-term dynamic groundwater data collected from various springs and wells. Based on these observations and field interactions, recharge areas for selective springs were identified, along with recommendations and a possible way forward. The Nilgiri hills fall under the Southern Granulite Terrain of India, characterized by hard, crystalline metamorphic rocks dominated by charnockites and gneisses.
• State of the Wetlands
  On February 12th, the Wetlands and Water Information Centre and a Wetlands park were inaugurated in partnership with Indco Tea Factory in Kattabettu. The Nabard Chairman inaugurated the space, while another wetland in Kotagiri town was about to be converted for a Primary Health Centre. The Rifle Range Wetland, also known as Ubbaranni Haada, was once used for grazing buffaloes. However, land use changes and other communities moving in have reduced the grazing areas, resulting in a reduction in buffalo population. Mr. Raju, a member of the Longwood Shola watchdog committee, has been spearheading campaigns for environmental protection and has been engaging local communities to conserve the wetland. The Keystone Foundation has been engaging local communities to conserve the wetland, which provides drinking water to neighboring areas and is the origin of a stream that flows towards Kottacombai and the Catherine Falls River. Despite repeated calls for conserving wetlands and water bodies, decision-makers have turned a deaf ear to the people's pleas.
• A community based cross sectional study on menstrual hygiene
  The study found that education on menstrual hygiene management is crucial for improving women's health and practices, with a significant association between knowledge, socio-economic status, and literacy.
• Assessment of menstrual hygiene practices among adolescent girls
  The study found that 72.67% of adolescent girls in rural India are aware of menstruation, 57.33% view it as a physiological process, 85.33% use sanitary pads, and 63.33% practice proper genital cleaning.
• REPORT ON SLUM VULNERABILITY ASSESSMENT
  Assessed vulnerability of 11 slums in Coimbatore, focusing on sanitation, health services, and socioeconomic status issues, using questionnaires and high alcoholism rates.
• Pillur_Baseline report
  The "Pillur Baseline Report" presents findings from a survey conducted in various habitations regarding sanitation, water supply, and waste management. It highlights the prevalence of open defecation, with 98% of households practicing it, and notes that community toilets are largely unused. The report indicates that only a small percentage of households have access to toilets, with most relying on open defecation. Additionally, it details water supply issues, revealing that many households face challenges in accessing clean water, with some sources contaminated. Waste management practices are also inadequate, as many households do not have proper waste disposal systems. Overall, the report underscores significant public health concerns related to sanitation and water quality in the surveyed areas.
• Kotagiri - Baseline Survey Data Analysis
  The "Kotagiri Baseline Report" presents findings from a survey conducted by the Keystone Foundation, focusing on sanitation and water supply in various habitations. It reveals that out of 323 households surveyed, 46% have household toilets, with a significant portion lacking water supply, leading to open defecation practices in 54% of households. The report highlights the presence and usage of community toilets in only a few areas, while waste management practices are largely inadequate, with no habitations reporting doorstep waste collection. Water supply is primarily sourced from springs and streams, with issues of water quality noted in some areas. Overall, the report underscores critical challenges in sanitation, waste management, and water supply that affect the health and well-being of the communities surveyed.
• Activites with instructions
  The document outlines a series of interactive group activities designed to promote teamwork, communication, and self-awareness among participants. Each activity includes specific instructions, durations, and discussion questions aimed at encouraging participants to explore their similarities and differences, enhance their observational skills, and engage in collaborative problem-solving. Activities range from physical tasks like the "Web of Wool," where teams must guide a blindfolded member to untangle a web, to reflective exercises such as the "Bubble Activity," where individuals identify personal characteristics. The document emphasizes the importance of understanding diversity and fostering positive interactions within groups through structured engagement.
• Appreciating Diversity_Activity
  The document outlines an interactive activity designed to help participants explore their similarities and differences through a physical exercise where they move closer or further apart based on their discoveries. It emphasizes the importance of recognizing both differences, such as physical traits, and similarities, which often relate to personal characteristics and preferences. The activity includes discussion questions aimed at fostering reflection on how these dynamics affect teamwork and collaboration, as well as a scoring system that rewards participants for various aspects of diversity, such as different birth states or languages spoken. This approach encourages participants to appreciate diversity while understanding its impact on group interactions and objectives.
• Operational Manual for Domestic Organic Certification
  The PGS-India Operational Manual outlines the procedures and standards for establishing and maintaining Participatory Guarantee Systems (PGS) for organic farming in India. It emphasizes the importance of forming local groups of farmers who commit to organic practices, participate in peer reviews, and attend regular meetings to ensure compliance with organic standards. The manual details the steps for group registration, the roles of regional councils, and the certification process, which includes peer appraisals and the sharing of knowledge among members. It also highlights the necessity for farmers to convert their entire land and livestock to organic within a specified timeframe and provides guidelines for addressing non-compliance. Overall, the manual serves as a comprehensive guide for farmers to achieve and maintain organic certification through community involvement and mutual support.
• LAND USE ANALYSIS OF KOTAGIRI CATHERINE WATERFALLS WATER SHED AND KOOKALTHORAI STREAM WATERSHED USING GOOGLE EARTH IMAGERY (2012 2018)
  The document presents a study focused on analyzing land use changes in the Kotagiri and Kookalthorai areas of Tamil Nadu, utilizing Google Earth imagery and GIS tools from 2012 to 2018. The research aims to understand community perceptions regarding these changes, document traditional practices related to water sources, and assess the impact of tourism and agricultural practices on land use. Findings indicate a significant increase in built-up areas due to tourism, a reduction in tea cultivation, and a decrease in tree cover, alongside concerns about water availability and agricultural productivity. The study highlights the importance of community engagement and the use of modern mapping tools in environmental research.
• Landuse / Land cover dynamics study in Nilgiris district part of Western Ghats, Tamilnadu
  The document presents a study on the dynamics of land use and land cover in the Nilgiris district of Tamil Nadu, focusing on changes from 1973 to 2009. It highlights significant transformations in land use patterns, particularly the increase in urban areas and the decline of agricultural and forest lands, attributed to factors such as population growth, commercialization, and climate change. The research employs remote sensing and GIS techniques to analyze these changes, revealing a notable rise in dense forest areas while open forests and agricultural lands have decreased. The findings emphasize the urgent need for effective land management strategies to address environmental degradation and ensure sustainable development in this ecologically sensitive region.
• Springs_User Handbook_ACWADAM's
  This user handbook focuses on the management of springwater in mountainous regions, emphasizing the importance of hydrogeological science in understanding and protecting groundwater resources. It advocates for a community-based approach to springshed management, highlighting the need for local involvement in monitoring and maintaining recharge areas, which are determined by geological factors rather than administrative boundaries. The handbook outlines a systematic methodology for assessing spring discharge, classifying spring types, and developing management protocols that include protecting vegetation and ensuring clean recharge areas. It stresses the significance of educating local communities about the role of hydrogeology in sustaining springwater and the necessity of ongoing data collection to evaluate the impact of management practices on both water quality and community livelihoods.
• Perception of people towards water usage
  The document presents findings from a survey regarding water usage and environmental concerns in a specific area. It highlights issues such as waste disposal methods, the impact of agricultural practices on water quality, and the presence of wildlife near water sources. Respondents reported changes in water availability and quality over the past decade, with many indicating an increase in both household and farm water usage. The survey also addresses the perception of bore wells, the occurrence of waterborne diseases, and the influence of local development on natural resources. Overall, it reflects community attitudes towards water management and environmental sustainability.
• Kookalthorai Drinking water sources
  The Keystone Foundation provides an overview of the drinking water resources in Kookal and Kagguchi Town Panchayat, highlighting the critical need for restoration and management of these sources due to their depletion and contamination. It details the reliance of local communities on a limited number of wells and bore wells, which often run dry, especially during summer months, and discusses the adverse effects of invasive species and poor waste management on water quality. The report emphasizes the importance of conservation efforts, such as restoring spring-shed areas and improving infrastructure, to ensure a sustainable water supply for the residents. It also addresses the broader implications of groundwater depletion on the local ecosystem, including the impact on wildlife and the hydrological cycle, urging immediate action to mitigate these challenges.
• World Toilet day_Coimbatore _Press release
  The press release announces the celebration of World Toilet Day in Coimbatore on November 21, organized by the Tamil Nadu Urban Sanitation Support Programme and Keystone Foundation, highlighting the importance of sanitation and access to clean toilets. This year's theme, "When Nature Calls," aims to raise awareness about the ecological issues caused by untreated human waste and emphasizes the need for proper fecal sludge management. A mobile campaign will engage the public by gathering their opinions on sanitation and promoting understanding of the sanitation value chain, which includes safe containment, collection, and treatment of waste. The initiative seeks to normalize discussions around sanitation, encouraging community involvement and awareness of its significance in daily life.
• School Program Inaguration_NN_Press note
  The press note announces the inauguration of the School WASH Program by the Tamil Nadu Urban Sanitation Support Program (TNUSSP), which is supported by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. This initiative aims to improve urban sanitation in Tamil Nadu, focusing on non-sewered sanitation and the safe management of fecal waste. A key component of the program is an awareness initiative in schools to educate children about water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) practices, promoting healthy behaviors. The program addresses the lack of access to safe water and adequate sanitation in many schools, with the goal of reaching the community through children. The inauguration event is scheduled for February 28, 2019, at the Periyanaickenpalayam Town Panchayat Office in Coimbatore, and the organizers invite media coverage and support for this important cause.