RESPONSIBLE COLLECTION OF NIRMALAYA- VASCO (2010)
We participated in the “RESPONSIBLE COLLECTION OF NIRMALAYA” at the pandals at Baina Beach, Vaddem lake and Khariwado on the 2nd and 5th day of Ganesh Chaturthi, helped respectfully take nirmalaya and separate it at the SITE, segregated and donated coconuts and other food items to the lesser privileged, the flowers and garlands for composting and collected all non-biodegradable to proper recycling stations.
Ganesh Chaturthi is a festival celebrated with passion in Goa. As the festivities
catch on, so does the wish to participate in it better…better gifts, better décor,
better lighting, better gifting, better crackers, better idols…
Much of the ways in which our celebrations occur, we must appreciate how much
a ‘handover’ effect it has on our surroundings. Nature, the Earth sculpted into the
figure of God and worshipped, is adversely affected in these days. At the time of
immersion, along with the faith and purity of our devotion, we also give to the
earth POP and chemical painted Idols, thermacole and plastic adornments of the
Mandal and Nirmalaya that chokes and slowly spreads harmful chemicals into
the waters, be it of the sea, rivers, lakes or your own backyard wells. When Wet
or dirty, the non-biodegradable waste (such as plastic) cannot be recycled and
lands up into a landfill.
Fortunately, our state, Goa is a pro-environment state with people who are
deeply connected to their roots. In the past years the Government of Goa has
banned sale of POP Idols, encouraged local artisans through special workshops
and last year stationed bins for collection of nirmalaya at immersion sites.
This project is an attempt to review the attempts of the past and to see how
we can further refine these efforts for the health of the people and the planet…
One of the main things that must be taken into account here is also the religious
sentiments of the people that have reservations to put their sacred nirmalaya
into a bin, however well intended.
It is observed at the time of segregation, the contents that are generally found in
the nirmalaya are food items such as coconuts and fruits, flowers and garlands
mixed with plastic and thermacole.
In an effort to continue to make the process of refining the ways in garbage is
collected and recycled thus making the process more and more eco-friendly,
while keeping in mind the sentimentalities of the people, the following proposal
is put forward.
The Nirmalaya Recycling Project is divided into 3 parts.
PART ONE: AWARENESS AND EDUCATION:
1. Creating awareness about the ecological aspect of the festival, laying stress on
the significance of it in relation to the earth.
2. To propagate the adverse results of our past nirmalaya visarjan practices
3. To inform and educate as many people through media and word of mouth
about the RESPONSIBLE NIRMALAYA COLLECTION PROJECT PRIOR to the
visarjan days.
4. To join hands with as many like-minded volunteers, who would spread the
word trough Posters, local TV, Newspapers, Private publications etc, Schools,
Sarvajanik Mandals, Temples etc.
PART TWO: COLLECTION, SEGRAGATION AND RECYCLING OF NIRMALAYA
1. Identify an area for collection. Erect a pandal keeping in mind its accessibility
and visibility on the day of visarjan.
2. To station at least 3 workers and volunteers who would stand there and
respectfully take nirmalaya and separate it at the SITE.
3. To segregate and donate coconuts and other food items to the lesser
privileged, the flowers and garlands for composting and collect all non-
biodegradable to proper recycling stations.
PART THREE:
1. Water testing before and after the visarjan. This would be essential in
building a base of information and education for all future nirmalaya
recycling and creating a base of using NON-TOXIC water colors for Ganesh
Idols.
2. Experience sharing of all volunteers/workers, public reactions and
recommendations for the future.
THE SPIRIT OF THE CAMPAIGN:
The individuals and organizations involved in this campaign
1. Respect the religious sentiments of the people during this festival
2. Understand that change in the mindsets of the public will take its
time and that force or criticism is not the way to create that change.
3. Approach this campaign with an attitude of Respect, Perseverance and
Enthusiasm.
4. Have offered their individual strengths be it voluntary work and funds
because of their personal need to see this change together.
This campaign is an inclusive, optimistic, transparent process that
invites participation from all Organizations, individuals, schools,
colleges, clubs, children, adults, teachers, ganesh mandals etc. to help
spread the word.
The project was done with the help of Roopa Bandekar (Earthworm), Lalita Joshi (MES College), Kevin (MES College), Daji Salkar, Shammi Salkar, Namdeo Chopdekar (Patanjali Yoga), Anju Gulati (Navy), Vasco Watch, MMC, Roshan Gunjal ( Inner Wheel Club), Dinesh (Visnsan Graphics)
We have donated an LCD projector to MES College Zuarinagar Goa to coincide with the official visit of the District Governor (RID 3170) Rtn Mahesh Raikar. Also present were AG Rtn. Rtn. Nikhil Lawande. The LCD projector will be used by the teachers to improve the quality of education in classrooms. The project has been completed under the 
The Rotary Club of Dabolim Goa is focused on improving the employ-ability of students from lesser privileged sections of society. Our Education Projects are thus helping selected schools by improving infrastructure, training of teachers and providing teaching aids. The teaching aids donated by Rotary will help improve the education imparted to students. In the last few months, we have donated a 
We distributed about 450 plant saplings to residents of Velsao Panchayat area and nearby. Occassion graced by Sarpanch of Velsao, Ex Sarpanch of Velsao Laurance and Father of Velsao Church.
Our Club distributed foot and hand operated sewing machines to poor and needy women on the occassion of Independence Day.
Also present at the function were Urbano Rodrigues – Sarpanch VP Bogmalo Chicolna, Laxuman Kaulekar – President Gomantak Dhangar Samaj Onnati Mandal and member VP Bogmalo Chicolna and other members of VP Bogmalo Chicolna Arun Naik, Shalini Lucas and Sebastiana D’Cruz.
One difficulty faced by teachers was the difficulty in motivating students to study, especially students from poor families or with parents who are uneducated or not available at home to spend time with the child.
As a part of our focus on Education, we donated used reading material to one of our partner schools – Yuvak Sangh School, Sada, Vasco. The books and magazines will augment the school library, and will be used by the children.
The Rotary Club of Dabolim, in association with Young Indians (Yi) Goa Chapter, organised a free distribution of plant & tree saplings at the Chicalim Panchayat on Sunday, 18th July ’10. Nearly 500 saplings were distributed to the people of Chicalim and surrounding areas. The saplings included trees like Gulmohar, Cassia Fistula, Neem, Ashoka as well as fruit bearing trees like Mango, Guava, Jamun, Almond, Kokum and Custard Apple. Even decorative plants like Ixora, Golden Duranda and Hibiscus were among the saplings distributed.
We have donated a laptop to Anjuman H. I. High School, Baina, Goa. The laptop will be used by the school teachers to improve the quality of education in classrooms in conjunction with an LCD projector that the school is procuring independently. The project has been completed under the 
We have completed the construction of Toilet Blocks at our second partner school in Goa.
We have completed the construction of Toilet Blocks at one of our partner schools in Goa. The toilet blocks were inaugurated by AG Rtn. Shankar Kirlaparkar on behalf of the District Governor Rtn. Gurudatta D. Bhakta. Also present were the School Management, and Rotarians from the Vasco da gama and Dabolim clubs. At Yuwak Sangh School, Sada, Goa, the Toilet Blocks project will benefit 229 people – 119 boys, 90 girls and 20 teaching and non-teaching staff members.
Toilets have been provided under 
We have completed the construction of Toilet Blocks at 2 of our partner schools in Goa. The toilet blocks were inaugurated by AG Rtn. Shankar Kirlaparkar on behalf of the District Governor Rtn. Gurudatta D. Bhakta. Also present were the School Management, and Rotarians from the Vasco da gama and Dabolim clubs.
Mormugao Municipality along with Rotary Club of Dabolim are taking the initiative forward to promote an Eco friendly holi. We helped organize a demonstration to make eco friendly holi colours from material available at home.
