In 1984, The Health Education Action for Liberation (HEAL) Movement, founded by Y Siluvai Vasthian. It has been one of the important grassroots organisations working among the coastal communities of Kanyakumari district. While the organisation initially focused on community welfare and social empowerment, its environmental work gained greater importance after the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami.
Image Source: heal.org.in
After the tsunami, Siluvai Vasthian observed an important pattern along the coast. Areas where natural sand dunes remained intact experienced comparatively less destruction. Meanwhile, villages without sand dunes suffered severe damage from the waves. This made him realise that sand dunes were natural protective barriers that could reduce the impact of disasters such as tsunamis, cyclones, and coastal erosion. From this understanding emerged a strong mission to create awareness among coastal communities about the importance of protecting sand dunes.
One of the major challenges HEAL initially faced was the local practice of removing and selling coastal sand. In several villages, people collected and sold sand for very small amounts such as five or ten rupees. The sand was widely used for coconut cultivation. Sand was also used for construction activities including church buildings, playgrounds, and other local infrastructure works. For many villagers, removing sand was seen as a normal economic activity and not as an environmental threat.
Instead of approaching the issue through confrontation alone, Siluvai Vasthian focused on awareness-building and community participation. He believed that long-term environmental protection could happen only if people themselves understood the value of sand dunes. The first group he chose to involve was children. He introduced the concept of “Ecological Child Rights,” arguing that children have a right to live in a safe and protected environment. Through evening activity centres established in coastal villages, children were educated about coastal ecology, climate change, biodiversity, and environmental protection. These centres gradually became spaces where children learned the importance of conserving their natural surroundings.
HEAL’s environmental initiatives expanded across the entire coastal belt of Kanyakumari district, although regions such as Periyakadu, Mandaikadu, Chothavilai, Rajakkamangalam and Keezhamanakudy became important examples of the movement’s work. The organisation conducted awareness campaigns, public meetings, street plays, and village programmes to discourage sand removal. Through continuous engagement, HEAL attempted to change people’s perception of sand dunes from “wasteland” into “nature’s protective wall.”
At the same time, the organisation also considered the livelihoods of local communities. In these coastal regions, many families depended on seashell-related work. Shells collected from the coast were processed into lime, which was used for food preparation, whitewashing houses, and fertilisers. Siluvai Vasthian recognised that protecting sand dunes and coastal ecosystems was also important for sustaining the livelihoods connected to marine resources.
One of HEAL’s major contributions was its success in reducing public acceptance of uncontrolled sand extraction. Through sustained awareness programmes and community mobilisation, the organisation discouraged people from looting coastal sand for construction and commercial purposes. Children who participated in ecological activity centres often carried environmental messages back to their families, slowly influencing community attitudes. Over time, greater awareness emerged regarding the importance of sand dunes in protecting villages from sea erosion and climate-related disasters.
Despite these efforts, several challenges remained. Coastal erosion, climate uncertainty, development pressures, and continuing demand for sand still threatened coastal ecosystems. Financial constraints and the difficulty of changing long-standing social practices also posed obstacles to the movement.
References
R Arivanantham, “Save natural sand dunes in Rajakkamangalam,” The Hindu, 28 January 2015
https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/tamil-nadu/save-natural-sand-dunes-in-rajakkamangalam/article6828454.ece
V. Sundararaju, “How to save a coastal dune,” Down to Earth, 02 May 2018
https://www.downtoearth.org.in/wildlife-biodiversity/how-to-save-a-coastal-dune--60390
“Tamil Nadu: How to save coastal dune,” International Collective in Support of Fishworkers
https://icsf.net/newss/tamil-nadu-how-to-save-a-coastal-dune/
About the author
Lekshmi MK is a Research Assistant at the National Institute of Advanced Studies (NIAS).
