Self Sustainability at Haritachala

Written by: Tanvi Pothireddy

Self-sustaining: maintaining or able to maintain oneself or itself by independent effort. (Merriam-Webster)

Welcome to Haritachala, where self-sustainability thrives! In this ecotopia, one would notice our sustainability in electricity, irrigation, employment, and even the beautiful garlands used at our Mandir. Let’s dig deeper and find out the enigma of sustainability Haritachala holds. Sri Sai Baba Mandir at Haritachala is powered by the superstar of renewable energy - solar power. Solar panels take center stage, harnessing the sun’s energy like it's their personal spotlight. Even if there isn’t electricity in all of Tiruvannamalai, our Baba Mandir will always be lit. Isn’t this an electrifying result?

In the majority of workplaces, igniting employees' motivation is a daily challenge. At Haritachala, the staff are always filled with motivation and love for their job. All of our employees are local rural women, and most of them are the sole breadwinners of their families. Theirs and their childrens’ futures are solely reliant on them. In addition to this, Haritachala is a safe-haven for our employees, giving them dignity of labor and abundant love, further increasing their motivation.

Now we have the irrigation system joining the pool party! At Haritachala, water flow is dependent on electricity powered by solar, so every being in Haritachala gets hydrated. Tiruvannamalai is a drought-prone area, so it is crucial that we have ample water at all times. We harvest rainwater to have an abundant supply of water.

The employees at Haritachala nurture plants, which is their passion, by propagating and caring for them as their own children. Income from plant sales cover their salaries. Even flowers may wilt by the end of the day, but our staff’s faces are always blooming with enthusiasm throughout the day! 

At Haritachala, workers have the space to be creative. Instead of being confined to the same activity every day, our employees paint, tinker, and always try out new things. The Haritachala staff are full of life and always open to new challenges! When it comes to our staff at Haritachala, there is an aspect that’s more important than interest and passion: life security. Haritachala is securing the employees’ family with life insurance. Our gurubandhus are also voluntarily teaching our employees’ children subjects such as Math and English, safeguarding them and their future generation.

Here’s how the nursery is nurtured in Haritachala: Manmohan uncle, our green maestro, sources a few unique mother plants from various parts of India. These plants increase the magic of biodiversity at Haritachala. The mother plants are propagated by the staff, developed, and then sold. This is how our nursery reaps greenery and profits, showcasing the essence of self-sustainability – nurturing and selling plants we’ve meticulously cultivated. 

Let us finally land on garlands. The garlands used at our Baba Mandir aren’t thrown away. Instead, the rose petals become rose powder. In addition to this, we are experimenting with this powder and making incense sticks, a new possibility in the future. It's like the circle of life, sustainability edition. In conclusion, we at Haritachala are practicing self-sustainability through electricity, irrigation, employment, garlands and wherever there is an opportunity to do so. This type of independence is important because it fosters environmental stewardship, economic independence, and resilience. Going for self-sustainability isn't just about being responsible and independent. It's a big step in taking care of our planet, making sure we have a good future, and leaving a better world for generations to come.  

Nature has zero emissions in its cycles. Let us all have the same mission!