Mangaluru: The Al-Care Association, under the guidance of the Centre for Social Concern, St. Aloysius College, Mangaluru, conducted a short visit for its members to the Uliya Island located in Pavoor near Adyar, Mangaluru on February 16. This trip gave the students an opportunity to understand the immense significance of islands in environmental sustainability.
The Uliya Island is at the banks of the river Netravati and is entirely isolated from the Pavoor Village. The island has nearly 200 inhabitants and is famous for its solitude, unique fauna and flora and eco-sensitivity. In all, 70 members of Al- Care association, under the leadership of Arvind Kispotta and Divya Rao, lecturers, UG department of English and Business Management respectively, were part of the group. Sharon C N coordinator of the Centre for Social Concern, took the initiative of organising this visit along with Alister and Akshay, the representatives of Trigon, a group of students who work for the protection of the environment.
The Trigon group has been working with the inhabitants of this island for the last few years, who have openly resisted many attempts which would have destroyed the ecosystem of the island. The islanders face scores of problems such as the lack of a proper channel to connect to the rest of the world, submerging of a major part of the land during the rainy season, lack of safe drinking water and problems related to unscientific sand collection from the river the Netravati and so on.
The students learnt the various aspects of these issues and have pledged their solidarity towards the Trigon group and the natives in the attempts being made to protect the pristine eco sensitive zone.
The Al-Care Association, which literally means “ALOYSIAN CARE”, is a group of ardent youth from St. Aloysius College, Mangaluru, who are genuinely concerned about the various issues in and around the city. This year, the Al-Care Association is taking care of “Environment.” The Centre for Social Concern is a department of St. Aloysius College which works with the people on various social issues at the grass root level.
