Heartfulness Institute to develop rainforest near Hyderabad
Hyderabad, June 4: The Heartfulness Institute on Monday announced plans to develop a mini-rainforest over 25 acres of land at Kanha Shantivanam, its global headquarters, on the outskirts of Hyderabad.
Under the initiative announced to mark the World Environment Day, the institute will plant over 300 species of typical rainforest trees including several rare, endemic and threatened species.
These valuable seedlings and saplings have been procured from the Chennai-based MS Swaminathan Research Foundation, Kerala Forest Research Institute, Shivaji University in Kolhapur, Foundation for Revitalisation of Rural Health Traditions in Bengaluru, Forest Department of Karnataka and Grameena Krishi Vijnana Kendra in Bengaluru.
Kamlesh D. Patel, Global Guide of Heartfulness, observed that testing the resilience of the rainforest species is an imperative in the current scenario of global climatic change. He is confident that the efforts and methods employed will create a new paradigm.
"To begin with, we will be developing eight to 10 acres of land. The entire area needs to be prepared to receive the rainforest tree species. Special rain-guns that continuously spray water from 50/100 feet will be installed in this area to keep it moist and all other measures will be taken to create a microclimate for conducive for the growth of some of the delicate species," said Ramakantha, Heartfulness Trainer.
The rainforest is one of the three major initiatives announced by the Institute, buoyed by the success of Green Kanha, a successful initiative of shaping the microclimate of hundreds of acres of Kanha Shantivanam and its surroundings.
As part of Heartfulness Green initiative, it has committed to planting, adoption and nurturing 10 million trees over one year across all its centres in India.
Under the third initiative, it will associate with Google employees to plant 300 trees in Kanha Shantivanam on Tuesday and Wednesday.
Kamlesh pointed out that Green Kanha was a result of extraordinary efforts to recharge the dry and barren ecosystem into a flourishing green environment.
"It is now home to over 1.5 lakh trees, including indigenous and several of the IUCN red listed species amongst those being nurtured here. This has helped create a positive microclimate in and around Heartfulness region," he said.
Kanha Shantivanam is being developed as a resplendent Green Space, hosting a wide variety of herbs, shrubs, and trees as part of the Green Kanha Initiative. More than 150,000 trees have already been planted and some 1,000 trees translocated from various regions.
Heartfulness is a system of Raja Yoga meditation founded at the turn of the 20th century.
A century later, Heartfulness has been embraced globally by people of all walks of life, including civil society, government departments, schools, colleges, and the corporate world.
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Chikkamagaluru: A man allegedly impersonating an IAS officer managed to gain the confidence of officials and staff at the district hospital in Chikkamagaluru, attending meetings and public events before his identity came under suspicion.
According to a report by Deccan Herald, the accused, identified as Mithun, introduced himself as the Commissioner of the National Health Mission (NHM) and district in-charge for Chikkamagaluru. He also claimed to be a native of Chikkaballekere village in Kadur taluk.
Believing his claims, District Surgeon Dr Chandrashekar reportedly introduced Mithun to other officials. Photographs of Mithun attending meetings at the district hospital and being felicitated by religious leaders at a Basava Tatva Peetha programme have since circulated widely on social media.
Dr Chandrashekar said he had trusted Mithun based on his conduct and presentation. He said he initially believed that Mithun was an IAS officer from a rural background who had cleared the examination through hard work, and only later realised that he was allegedly an impostor.
The incident has also triggered allegations from the Lisa Foundation, which has sought action against Dr Chandrashekar. The organisation claimed that Mithun was introduced to medical shop owners through him and alleged that Mithun had promised a ₹1.80 crore contract for supplying medicines to Primary Health Centres in the district. The foundation has demanded suspension of the District Surgeon and a detailed inquiry.
Chikkamagaluru Medical College Dean Dr Ravi said Mithun was not known to him and had not conducted any official meetings. He said he had seen Mithun once in the District Surgeon’s room and was told that he was a probationary IAS officer, but had doubts about his identity.
Following the incident, BJP workers staged a protest in the city, accusing the administration of negligence and demanding action against the District Surgeon for introducing the alleged fake officer.
Meanwhile, a case has been registered at the Amruthahalli Police Station in Bengaluru based on a complaint filed by medical shop owner S G Satish. The complaint states that Mithun was introduced through Dr Chandrashekar and that ₹36 lakh was allegedly paid as a bribe in his presence, along with an additional ₹5 lakh transferred to Mithun’s bank account.
Dr Chandrashekar said he has appeared before the police to give his statement as his name figures in the complaint. He also claimed that Mithun had cheated him and said he would file a separate complaint with the Chikkamagaluru police.
