The 31st Dr. M.S. Swaminathan Award for Environmental Protection, established by the Rotary Club of Madras East (RCME) in honor of its esteemed member, the late agricultural scientist M.S. Swaminathan, recently celebrated two outstanding initiatives. These awards recognize significant contributions to safeguarding our planet and fostering environmental awareness.
One of the prestigious awards went to Sahaja Samrudha, a remarkable people’s movement based in Mysuru. This organization is dedicated to preserving India’s ancient farming traditions and protecting the rich genetic diversity of indigenous crop varieties. During his acceptance speech, N. Devakumar from Sahaja Samrudha highlighted the organization’s crucial role in conserving traditional paddy and millet strains.
The second honoree was Veerappan, a 60-year-old Irular fisherman from Kalaignar Nagar village. He was recognized for his impactful efforts in environmental conservation, particularly his innovative work in propagating mud crabs. Mr. Veerappan proudly shared that he now mentors college students, teaching them sustainable practices in both crab and fish propagation.
The Dr. M.S. Swaminathan Award acknowledges individuals, companies, or NGOs whose direct or indirect contributions significantly advance environmental protection and public awareness. CavinKare Pvt. Ltd. proudly supports this vital initiative.
The ceremony was graced by prominent figures, including Balaji Sreenivasan, President of the Rotary Club of Madras East (RCME); District Governor Vinod Saraogi; and C.K. Ranganathan, Chairman and Managing Director of CavinKare.
Dr. Soumya Swaminathan, Chairperson of the M.S. Swaminathan Research Foundation, highlighted the critical role of mangrove protection efforts. She recalled how work initiated in the early 1990s in Cuddalore district villages, such as MGR Nagar and Kalaignar Nagar, proved invaluable in protecting residents during the devastating tsunami. Dr. Swaminathan underscored the ongoing vulnerability of coastal regions to climate change impacts.
She also shared details of a recent project where her team, supported by dedicated local volunteers, tackled plastic pollution. “We successfully cleaned 100 beaches,” she stated, “collecting over 30,000 kg of plastic waste. A significant portion of this, 10,000 kg, was ‘ghost gear’ – discarded fishing nets that pose a grave threat by trapping turtles, dolphins, and other vital marine life.”