Food and Water Security has been selected as the theme for the year 2011-12 to create awareness among students. The inauguration marks the beginning of a series of awareness programmes and activities. At the inaugural function of the Food and Nutrition Day, Prof. Sultan Ismail, Director Eco Science Research Foundation and Head, Department of Biotechnology New College, addressed the academic community on Nutrition and Environmental Concerns. He demonstrated the different grades of plastic, and explained which grade to use and which grade to avoid, instructed the students to look for the number at the bottom of the bottle to check the quality, and to avoid use of colorful cheap plastics and polythene bags. He demonstrated the acidity of popular cola drinks. For nutritional value he recommended we follow the national flag colours – saffron for fruits and colored vegetables, white for calcium, green for green vegetables and the blue chakra for water.

Actor Dr. Vikram, the Guest of Honour, launched ‘Say No to Plastic’ campaign and disposed of non degradable plastic into a dustbin.Vikram and Dr.Nirmal ,Founder ExNoRa visited the vermicompost waste disposal plant which converts the hostel food waste into compost, and the grey water recycling plant on campus.Actor Vikram presented awards to individuals who have in the past been silently working for the cause of food security and nutrition and environmental safety.

The Students’ Union President led the college in taking an oath on right food habits, not wasting food and the need to empower the less privileged.

Workshops were organized for school children from different city schools on:

  • composting of bio degradable waste
  • eating disorders
  • dance steps for fitness

Documentary films on food security were screened for school and college students.

There were 17 stalls set up by the various departments of the college to showcase the theme through charts, experiments, demos, puppet shows and healthy food. Some departments organized BMI checking, drinking water analysis, checking of calories and blood testing for anemia.

The department of Botany has a mushroom cultivation shed on campus and fresh mushrooms, mushroom soup and recipe booklets were distributed. Students of Social Work had a street theatre programme on the theme throughout the day, and a signature campaign against chronic hunger and lack of nutrition. The English department promoted the traditional cooking methods with charts. The puppet show, art installation and painting exhibition of the department of Fine Arts was widely appreciated.

Dr. Nirmal, founder Exnora International, Dr. Dharini, Consultant Dietician visited all the stalls and gave their comments and assessment based on awareness, dissemination of information and creativity. Dr.M B Nirmal urged the Students to practice vegetarian and protect our natural resources in small ways.He also urged students to participate in the lights out campaign and continue the crusade against global warming.
The college has been sensitive to green earth and environmental initiatives and has set up a herbal garden with 60 medicinal plants. The campus also has 750 trees and saplings of 60 endangered species. Stella Maris College has been active in ensuring that the present generation of students will form a healthy and environmental friendly society in future.
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