What we do:
Promoting millets in dryland areas:
With food production likely to reduce over the next few decades it is important to look at food security/sovereignty from a fresh perspective. Millets are hardy crops and can be grown organically without chemical pesticides and fertilisers. They also offer more nutrition than rice or wheat. As part of its advocacy programme, Pipal Tree is working w
ith other agricultural networks to promote millet farming in the dryland regions of the country. We are also working directly with farmers in H.D.Kote taluk of Mysore district, Karnataka. Climate change mitigation and adaptation programmes:
The climate crisis, and what we can do to mitigate and adapt, is a central thrust of Pipal Tree’s activities. Conferences, training programmes, publications and the Climate South Asia website are all geared to this end. The February Dialogues is an annual international event that raises key issues related to climate change and sustainable futures. Meeting Rivers-Global Peace Forum for Inter-religious and Secular Initiatives:
The objective of this programme is to harness the pluralistic energies that religions offer (along with those of 'inclusive' secularism) to meet the social and ecological challenges of today. Through our publications, conferences, and networking activities we endeavour to promote the social and ecological renewal of religions and spiritualities. Adivasi women empowerment programme:
Our programme for the empowerment of adivasi women in Mysore district, known as KAMO (Kabini Adivasi Mahika Okkootta), is actively involved with training and campaigns which encourage adivasi women to get involved with local issues of a social and ecological nature. Issues related to the Forest Rights Act, NREGA (National Rural Employment Guarantee Act), reform of the residential schools for adivasi children, promotion of kitchen gardens are part of the campaigns. Promoting a socially responsible media:
The media needs to be harnessed to support social and ecological transformation. We have frequent workshops and conferences to create this awareness. In recent years we have brought up various aspects of climate change and climate justice in Indian languages media. The Children’s College:
Adivasis living in and around the Rajiv Gandhi National Park (in H.D. Kote taluk of Mysore district) frequently migrate to the coffee and tea plantations of Coorg and Wayanad districts in search of work. Since children usually accompany their parents they end up dropping out of the one room primary schools in the forest. To help these adivasi children finish school Pipal Tree has set up a children’s home called “The Children’s College”, close to a high school at Magge, just outside the forest. Adivasi children here have an opportunity to learn in a peaceful and creative setting, guided by experienced teachers, while simultaneously attending the government school. In addition there are creative extra-curricular activities that are close to their own culture. In addition to the Children’s College we have been trying to reform the adivasi schools set up by the government. These reforms will benefit a large number of adivasi children. Adivasi child rights and climate justice awareness programme
While we have directed a part of our efforts to developing the self-confidence of the adivasi children, we are also working to improve the community’s understanding of child rights and climate justice, and strengthen their involvement in protecting the rights of the children and ensure equity in development programmes, particularly on the use and sharing of land, water and energy. Promoting socially responsible tourism:
Tourism has today become a culturally invasive, socially exploitative and environmentally insensitive activity. However, this need not necessarily be so. Pipal Tree has developed a programme of socially and ecologically responsible tourism that combines exposure to community empowerment processes and sustainable agriculture initiatives with visits to places of cultural and historical interest. The programme of alternative tourism is conducted in association with Blue Waters, an alternative tourism and wellness centre based in H.D. Kote taluk in Mysore district. Creating awareness among university students and faculty members:
Pipal Tree holds regular programmes with students from several universities on topics related to sustainable development. Our goal is to relate university education to the problems of the poor and create an awareness of our rapidly degrading environment. Fireflies Intercultural Centre:
Fireflies Intercultural Centre is an international training and cultural centre that comes under the Pipal Tree trust. The campus nestles among trees, on land that slopes towards a lake. It has comfortable accommodation for over 100 visitors as well as conference and dining halls, a well-stocked library, an inter-religious meditation hall, an amphitheatre and wooded walkways. The Centre also runs The Mary McBride homeopathic clinic and community health programme in association with Dr.M.L.Dawale Memorial Institute which attempts to create alternative health awareness. The sculptures and paintings at Fireflies have a strong social and ecological orientation. Publications:
Pipal Tree has brought out a number of socially and ecologically relevant books related to agriculture, fair trade, environment, socially engaged religions, etc.
