As part of the steps taken by the M.S. Swaminathan Research Foundation (MSSRF) to alleviate malnutrition among the tribal community living at Valappur atop Kolli Hills, the foundation has initiated rearing of carp fish in the private and community ponds in a people participatory mode, on Saturday.

“Nutrition deficiency diseases such as goitre, anaemia and calcium deficiency are visible among tribals on that hill and it could be brought down by adding fish as part of their diet,” Principal Investigator of the IDRC Alleviation of Poverty and Malnutrition Project of the MSSRF Mr. Siddick Abubacker told The Hindu .

“Food security and environment sustainability are the major challenges faced across the globe and collaborative efforts between countries alone will solve these problems,” says John J. Kennelly, Dean Faculty of Agriculture, Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Alberta (UA), Canada.

He was speaking to The Hindu after visiting tribal villages in Valappur Panchayat atop Kolli Hills in Namakkal district on Wednesday, where the university and the M.S. Swaminathan Research Foundation, India, is jointly implementing the ‘Alleviating Poverty and Malnutrition in Agro Biodiversity Hot Spots.'

Municipality plans to improve garbage collection

Residents attribute poor garbage mechanism of the local bodies as the primary causative of increase in the stray dog menace in Namakkal.
Last year 17,848 persons have been administered with anti rabies vaccine in this district due to increase in the stray dog menace.

Volunteers dispense naturally-prepared medicines

Namakkal: Volunteers trained under the AYUSH-Isha Organic Health System, a pilot project launched by Isha Outreach in collaboration with the department of AYUSH under the aegis of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India, have been treating villagers in Kolli Hills for common diseases, using naturally-prepared medicines.