In this last one year, the lesson we have learned due to the COVID-19 pandemic is about our relationship with nature. When we were locked in our homes in the early months of 2020, we realized how connected we are to our environment and at the same time it fuelled the urge to conserve this ecosystem.
Taking a cue from here is the Bio-Diversity Club of V. M. Salgaocar Institute of International Hospitality Education (VMSIIHE), a leading hospitality institute & culinary art institute situated at Raia, in South Goa. This Club which was formed in July 2020 is an attempt by the Institute to look at our biodiversity and conduct various activities that will bring the community and nature together.
Sujatha Madhavan, Associate Professor Food Production, and one of the members of the Club says, “The COVID -19 pandemic has taught us to value certain things which we had taken for granted like protecting the environment, safeguarding our cultural farming practices, supporting local farmers, the importance of home-cooked healthy foods, family, mental and physical wellbeing. It gave us time to re think, reboot, and recover. This is one of the reasons the concept of starting a Bio-diversity club in our institute came up.”
The Gardening Club which was part of this institute right from the year 2014 is now part of this Bio-Diversity Club. It is aimed at conducting various activities by the students and staff like supporting local farmers, documentation of flora and fauna in the campus, conducting sessions to create awareness among people to grow their own food and take measures to act responsibly and safeguard nature’s bounty.
The Club is working on helping the local farming community by buying local produce from the farmers, supply of manure, distributing saplings, conducting sessions on organic farming, beekeeping and more. While classes are presently being held virtually, the Club will commence these activities as soon as the regular sessions commence. They will be guided throughout by the staff members.
The Bio-Diversity Club was formally inaugurated in July 2020 by the Chief Guest Shri Ajit Gude, Advisor Hotel Division VMSalgaocar Corporation Pvt. Ltd. and Prof Irfan Mirza, Director/Principal of V. M. Salgaocar Institute of International Hospitality Education.
Prof Mirza during his inaugural address emphasized the core philosophy of the Club, which is aimed at conserving the environment. He appreciated the gardeners and the Club members for taking the initiative during the lockdown to develop the kitchen garden on campus.
As a part of the Van Mahotsav celebration, Shri Ajit Gude was presented with a lemon plant as a token of appreciation for gracing the occasion. Different types of saplings were also distributed to the staff members. Along with Sujatha Madhavan, the other members of the Club are—Chief Engineer-Sandeep Bandodkar; Purchase Officer-Chaitra Phal Desai; Sr. Officer Software Support Ashwin Sawant and Sr. Officer Accounts-Ezequiel Diniz. Now the immediate target of this Club is to develop a medicinal herb garden in the campus.
