Ecologue- History

Backdrop

A traffic accident at Palai in Kerala on 4th May 1997 separated our friend Jaiji Peter from us. He was a young and uncompromising journalist, an indubitable friend, a loving son and brother, a caring husband and father - all rolled into one. His friends at Alappuzha where he had scaled new heights in profession had proposed the idea of setting up an organization to perpetuate his memory.

Jaiji Peter Foundation (JPF), the tearful prayer being offered to the fond memories of Jaiji Peter by his dear and near ones, has unfurled into a small but meaningful conglomeration during the past. Not being just confined to the mundane role of commemorating the memory of the departed soul every year, the Foundation has carved out a space for itself in the Kerala polity by sharing its concern on Earth and its existence, an issue which Jaiji Peter always tried to espouse in his life time.

Curtain Raiser

The residence of Mr.P.O.Philip was a favorite haunt for leading journalists of Alappuzha in 1990s including Jaiji. After the demise of Jaiji, the main discussions at their meetings revolved around how Jaiji’s memory could be commemorated. After several rounds of discussions, it was decided to institute an award in his name for all round performance in journalism.

It was agreed that Rs 1,000 each be collected from the close friends of Jaiji and the amount be handed over to the Kerala Press Academy or any other similar organisation for giving away the award every year using the interest received from the amount deposited in a bank. Accordingly, the letters were sent to over 100 friends of Jaiji. The response was over-whelming. Though the target was Rs one lakh, the organisers could raise Rs.2,56,000. Of the total amount, Rs.One lakh was donated by Jaiji’s father and his siblings. We received donations in the range of Rs.100 to 10,000. In all, 126 persons donated to a noble cause. The JPF still keeps their address and the amount they donated.

The over-whelming response to the fund collection drive bestowed more responsibilities upon the organisers. Several well wishers expressed their fear on handing over the fund to an institution which has no direct link with Jaiji. They raised the question that if the fund was handed over to any institution as decided earlier, what was the guarantee that it would be able to give away the award every year without any break. Many donors were of the view that the fund should be maintained by the organisers themselves. Finally, it was decided to form an entity for the management of the fund and for giving away the award.

Thus, at a meeting held at Narasimhapuram Auditorium in Alappuzha on 12th January 1998 under the chairmanship of Mr.P.O Philip, Jaiji Peter Journalism Foundation was formed. Mr.P.O.Philip and Jaiji’s father Fr.A.J Peter were made the patrons of the Foundation. Mr.P.Venugopal and Mr.Ravi Varma Thampuran were elected president and secretary respectively. The objective of organisers was to develop the Foundation as an institution dedicated for exclusive research in journalism on the line of the Thomson Foundation.

By the time of registration (under Charitable Societies Act), the name of the organisation was changed to Jaiji Peter Foundation. The foundation was inaugurated by the great Malayalam Short Story Writer and Novelist Mr.Thakazhi Sivasankara Pillai.

ecologue – The social commitment of JPF

It was the time when the Forest Department launched its ``Participatory Forest Management’’ programme when in 1998 Mr.James Zacharia, then the Thekkady Range Officer, who is also a close friend of the founders of Jaiji Peter foundation as well as Jaiji Peter himself, presented a proposal on a programme to promote public awareness on the growing needs of preserving forest and other eco- systems. Foundation readily accepted it, thus born the programme “Ecologue” now “ecologue™” (Registered Trade Mark of Jaiji Peter Foundation) Dialogue between journalists and conservation activists on ecology with the slogan ’Converge Ideas, Conserve Nature’.

The Foundation feels that the most effective way to intervene in the conservation of the nature is to create awareness among the journalists. The Foundation has achieved a commendable success in developing the “ecologue™” into an ideal forum for it. The “ecologue™” provides an opportunity for journalists and activists to discuss the crucial environmental issues with the Forest Department officials and experts every year while spending couple of days amidst a serene forest.

The proposals emerging from these discussions are codified and submitted to the State Government. Our experience so far is that the government has accepted the proposals and made them a basic guideline while taking policy decisions. The Foundation can proudly say that the “ecologue™” has added a new chapter in environmental conservation in the State of Kerala.

The Foundation has made it a point that half of the participants at an “ecologue™” should be new faces. The motivation, the interest and the commitment inculcated by the participants from the “ecologue™” can be noticed in their post-“ecologue™” activities.

The phenomenal increase in the number of journalists applying for taking part in “ecologue™” is a clear indication of the success of the programme. More than 500 journalists both from print and visual media had participated in all the eleven “ecologue™”. For the first time, Journalism students from various institutes in the State were given an opportunity to attend the “ecologue™” held at the Silent Valley in 2011.

In all, fourteen “ecologue™” were held so far. They were at Thekkady (September 1998), Vallakkadavu (February 2000), Munnar (November 2000), Thattekkad (November 2001), Thekkady (November 2002), Munnar (December 2003), Thekkady (September 2004), Thenmala (January 2010), Mukkali,Silent Valley (January 2011), Thekkady (2012), Thattekkad (May 3 & 4, 2013), Thattekkad (May3 & 4, 2014), Thattekkad (June 5 th , 6 th & 7 th June 2015), Peppara (Feb 21, 22 & 23, 2020)

As the Foundation is not financially sound to conduct an “ecologue™” independently, Forest Department of Govt.of Kerala was financially supporting “ecologue™”. Since the entry was free and the worthiness and popularity, it was a hard and troublesome job for Foundation to restrict the entry according to the budget of Forest Department.

However in 2013 Foundation decided to conduct “ecologue™”on a ”participant partially contributing scheme” in which Foundation contributing the balance without the help of any third party. Foundation tried the new scheme in it’s 11 th “ecologue™”at Thattekkad on May 3 rd & 4 th 2013 and found it very successful and it’s being continued.

Recognitions to Motivate

Cash awards, Fellowships and Gold Medals were given to Journalists and activists in recognition to their selfless contributions to conserve our mother earth. JPF recognitions are highly appreciated and sought after due to the impartial and transparent selection mode.

Finance

The Rupees Two Hundred Thousand balance amount after the expenses of the first award function in 1998 was kept in bank fixed deposit. The award/fellowship were given with the interest amount obtained from this fixed deposit. The expenses of the Foundation are met with contributions made time to time by the individuals who are still actively involved in the activities of the Foundation.

In 2022 when Jaiji’s only daughter Aashitha Elizabeth Jaiji got married, Foundation decided to give her Rs.200,000/- (Rupees 2 Lakhs) as a token of love and affection. So the corpus fund of Rs.200,000/- in FD was closed and given to Jaiji’s daughter.

17 active members of the Foundation decided to raise a corpus fund by affordable contributions. Within one month we could raise Rs.87000/-

The income and expenditure accounts of the Foundation are properly maintained and audited by a chartered accountant every year. The general body meeting of the Foundation is held and the office-bearers are elected in every second year as per the relevant sections under the byelaw.

Office Bearers

Founder Office Bearers (1998- 2001)

Patrons: Fr A.J. Peter, Mr.P O Philip
President: Mr.P Venugopal
Vice-President: Mr.Tomy Pulickattil
Secretary: Mr.Ravi Varma Thampuran
Joint Secretary: Mr.P Jayanath
Treasurer: Mr.K Jayaprakash
Executive Committee Members: Adv P.K. Mathew, Mr.Rajendra V Babu,
Mr.M.Shamsudeen, Mr.Alias K John,
Adv Haneefa Rawther, Mr.V.Jayadev,
Mr.A.N.Mohan, Mr.Santhosh Kumar Punnapra,
Mr.S.Gopalakrishnan Nair, Mr.K.V.Sudhakaran,
Mr.Laj P Jacob

Current Office Bearers (2023 – 2025)

Patron : Mr.Jose Peter
Chair Person : Mr.K.V. Sudhakaran
President : Mr. Joseph J Karoor
Vice-President: Adv.P.K.Mathew,
Secretary : Mr.K.R.Jyothish
Joint Secretary : Mr.E.P.Shajudeen
Treasurer : Mr.Babu Peter
Auditor : Mr.P.J.Sajan
Exe.Committee : Mr.Sergy Antony,
Adv.Haneefa Rawther, Mr.V.Jayadev,
Mr.S.Harikrishnan, Mr.Ravivarma Thampuran,
Mr.Geordy George