The coordinator for the Plastic Free Goa campaign in Ponda Taluka was Mr.Gurunath Khanolkar, a lecturer in P.E.S. College of Arts & Science, Ponda and also a coordinator of the NSS unit in the college. Mr. Khanolkar went about preparing the awareness and action campaign in a very organised manner.
In the villages he concentrated on an awareness campaign leaving it to the panchayats and gram sabhas to decide on the actual course of action, whereas in Ponda town he concentrated on both an awareness and an action campaign.
Mr Gurunath Khanolkar first met the BDO and requested for a meeting of the secretaries of all village panchayats of Ponda. Accordingly a meeting was held on 25th September. In this meeting it was decided that whenever a panchayat is having its meeting it would set aside some time for a discussion on the plastic garbage menace which is becoming a serious problem in villages as well. Mr Khanolkar would be informed of the dates in advance to enable him make a presentation on the subject. Each panchayat would invite other clubs, schools, village NGOs and local residents to the meeting.
Over the next two months Mr. Khanolkar contacted each and every village panchayat in Ponda taluka, attended their meetings and speaking to the people on the ill effects of throwaway plastic on human health, the animals and the environment, and suggesting a plan of action for moving towards a Plastic Free Goa.
The response of the people was very good. In terms of attendance, as reported by the panch members themselves, the quorum was often more than the numbers that attend even gramsabhas.
In many villages gramsabha meetings were also held. Here too people turned up in large numbers and Mr. Khanolker addressed the gatherings. In several of the gram sabhas resolutions asking for ban of plastics were passed (see list of resolutions provided in the annexures to this report). This is the people’s verdict and the people’s mandate against plastics.
Mr.Gurunath Khanolkar did a heroic job
organising the PFG campaign in Ponda. He is a busy man now as he is invited by other
municipalities and village panchayats to tell them about the evils of throwaway plastic
and plan a campaign for them.
On 2nd October in coordination with the Ponda Municipality and Goa Milk Producers’ Federation, a rally was organised in Ponda town to highlight the start of the PFG campaign. 200 participants walked from Ponda Municipality building to Ponda bus stand. The institutions and associations participating in the rally included:
• Inner Wheel Club of Ponda
• Lions Club of Ponda
• Sanatan Saunstha
• Almeida High School
• St.Mary’s High School
• Dada Vaidya High School
• PES College & Higher Sec. School
• GVMS College & Higher Sec. School
• Nirmal Vishwa
• Jaycee Club of Ponda
• Lok Vishwas Pratisthan, Ponda.
Plastic garbage was collected from Ponda bus stand and area around it. Participating in the clean up was also Mr. Ravi Naik, MLA & Deputy Chief Minister and Ms. Radhika Naik, Chairperson, Ponda Municipal Council. The entire programme interspersed with interviews with prominent Ponda citizens was recorded by Surekha Videos and was shown twice on the local cable network. The idea was to educate the people and motivate them not to use throwaway plastic bags.
The second big plastic clean-up drive was planned for December. PMC Chairperson took a keen interest in the drive. Ms. Nayak took the unprecedented step of addressing a personal letter to the citizens of Ponda municipality requesting their support for the clean up drive. The printed letters (in English and Marathi) sent to all citizens and business establishments of PMC went as personal request from the Chairperson to each and every citizen of Ponda to help accomplish the dream of Plastic Free Goa by 19th December 2000.
The citizens were requested to separate and store their plastic waste and then deposit it at a specific site identified for plastic collection for the ward. The citizens were also requested to contact and cooperate with ward committee and create awareness within their locality and to devise collection systems and ways of reducing plastic waste.
Sunday, 10th December 2000 was declared as the date for cleanliness drive all over Ponda municipality.
The letters were distributed to each of the households by 210 NSS volunteers of PES College, Farmagudi. The volunteers did not receive a warm welcome everywhere they went, yet it did not deter them. Cable scroll was also used to spread awareness of the drive. Besides this loudspeaker announcement was done by NSS volunteers throughout Ponda on 3rd, 8th and 9th December and again on 10th morning from 7.00 a.m. to 9.00 a.m. in all the narrow lanes and bylanes.
Everyone was fully geared for 10th December. According to the plan, each of the 10 wards had the elected councillor as the leader of the group. Each ward had about 100 students assigned to the ward along with their teachers plus one NGO. The list of students teachers and the NGO representatives was given to the respective councillors one day in advance.
Approximately 800-900 students turned up for the clean-up drive on that day. Many teachers accompanied the students. NGO volunteers were also on hand. There were many local citizens too who came in individual capacity. The municipality provided brooms, sticks with nails and 15 sacks per ward. One female sweeper and one male coolie per ward was deputed. The drive went on for three hours from 9.00 a.m.to 12.30 p.m.
The plastic garbage thus collected was dumped at pre-decided points in each ward from where the PMC vehicle collected the sacks and brought them to PMC premises. The total number of sacks of plastic waste at the end of the drive was 120. The plastic was then manually compressed under the supervision of the PMC and later transported to the North Goa plastic dump site.
Refreshments for the task force was provided by PMC and Goa Dairy jointly. Goa Dairy provided 1200 flavoured milk packets and PMC provided vegetable patties and bananas. The gunny bags were sponsored by Marico Industries.
The campaign received a mixed response from residents. Some had kept their plastic garbage ready for collection by the volunteers, a few others collected plastic from their houses and backyards during the drive on 10th. Yet others were indifferent and some even found it amusing.
The children however have become more aware of the plastic garbage problem. And according to Mr.Naguesh Priolkar, a councillor of PMC, there is 10-15% reduction in plastic waste. The business community has not been very responsive and the PMC is planning to approach them again.
Garbage Management Committees have been set up in each of the 10 wards. The Committee members have reported that people sometimes tell them that they are wasting their time and that they should stop bothering about the garbage problem. This however has not lessened their drive to see Ponda clean.
The PMC has taken active part in the meetings of the Garbage Management Committees. The plan now is to employ casual labour on holidays etc. for house to house collection of plastic twice a week. The compostable waste will go to the general bins which will be collected by regular system. At present PMC dumps its waste in Curti Panchayat. PMC is in the process of acquisition of land at Khandepar for their own dump site.
The PMC has contacted 2 scrap dealers in Ponda who have agreed to take all their plastic waste except plastic bags which they are planning to send to North Goa plastic dump site. This plan will be put in place by mid-January 2001.
The PMC has also passed a resolution asking the government to ban plastic bags as they are convinced that the plastic garbage cannot easily be disposed off and to do it in a scientific manner means a lot of expense and planning. PMC finds it has also to clean up drains clogged by plastic bags at regular intervals which means extra time, effort and money, all of which are scarce commodities.
At this point it needs to be clarified that this was not the first time that Ponda has attempted to grapple with the problem of plastic waste. Ponda is indeed lucky to have many enlightened citizens who are willing to act in public interest too.
Architect K.D.Sadhale in one such person who has spent the past several years trying to persuade people to handle garbage in a scientific manner, for garbage is gold if properly handled.
Mr. Sadhale believes that garbage management should be a local initiative wherein small groups dispose their biodegradable garbage on their own. The non biodegradable waste can be collected house to house by PMC workers or ragpickers and whatever scrap they can sell should be sold. They should receive a small honorarium for this, which the municipality should collect from the houses. As far as plastic is concerned, Mr. Sadhale preaches the four Rs - Refuse, Reduce, Repair, Recycle.
Along with citizens of Khadpabandh and members of Nirmal Vishwa, he started a cleanliness drive where they used to clean the roadsides of Khadpabandh area every Sunday in September 1998. This went on for about five months and then the residents would come out of their houses to join them during their operation. This movement reached a stage where people used to sweep their area before Mr. Sadhale and his group arrived.
Another initiative was organised by Prof. Gupta of Engineering College, Farmagudi in Shanti Nagar. He along with his students had set up a novel system of collection. The sweepers of PMC were given the task of house to house collection of segregated garbage. The sweepers would go on a tricycle given by the PMC and residents would keep their garbage at the doorstep in the compound of their buildings, which the sweepers would collect. Each house paid Rs.15/- per month to the sweeper.
This system was subsequently discontinued for several reasons:
One, not all houses paid their dues; two, in the case of buildings, people on the ground floor complained of the smell from all the accumulated garbage; when it rained, the garbage would stink even more as it trickled out of the garbage bags and messed up the place. and finally, people found that segregating their garbage was pointless since at the dump everything was mixed together.
Another initiative that was the first of its kind in Ponda was the door to door collection of plastic waste in the Super Market area, organised by Dr. Kasturi Desai and others of Navnirman Abhiyan in 1995. The Directorate of Municipal Administration offered a small stipend to run the scheme. A local resident lent his vehicle for the collection. Subsequently neighbouring villages like Bandora and Curti were included in the scheme. Schools children also brought plastic waste from their homes and this was collected in the school compound.
Navnirman Abhiyan then approached the scrap dealers and sold the plastics at the rate of .75 paise per kg. but subsequently the ragpickers became indifferent to the scheme and in the monsoons it fizzled out altogether. Some of the plastic waste remained in peoples compounds till it was collected by GEF during the PFG campaign.
These experiences have shown that there are enlightened citizens everywhere grappling with intelligent and ecologically sound ways of handling garbage and what is needed is will power and action from the authorities. The time has come to take drastic measures to deal with the situation.
NGOs who participated in the campaign: Nirmal Vishwa, Rotary Club, Nav Nirman Abhiyan, Ponda Junior Chamber
Educational Institutions which participated:
1. Govt.Primary School, Shanti Nagar
2. Almeida High School
3. Dada Vaidya High School & Higher Secondary School
4. St.Mary’s High School
5. PES Higher Secondary School & College
6. GVM Higher Secondary School & College
7. Saraswati Higher Secondary School
8. Lokmanya Tilak Higher Secondary School
9. Kanakshi Higher Secondary School
Source: Gurunath Khanolkar, K.D. Sadhale,
Kasturi Desai, Naguesh Priolkar
Bandora and Madkai Panchayat had a meeting at the Bandora village panchayat on 27.9.2000. This meeting was attended by 23 people from various walks of life. Besides the Panchayat members, there were teachers from 6 Govt. primary schools, Anganwadi workers and some local people.
The Bandora Panchayat agreed to support the campaign and discuss the implementation in the Gram Sabha on 26.11.2000. All others present also extended their full support to the PFG campaign and they also felt that the Govt. should ban plastic bags completely.
At the Gram Sabha meeting on 26.11.00, a Resolution was passed asking the Govt. to ban plastic bags. It was also decided that schools be informed that children should collect plastic garbage and bring it to the schools from where the school authorities would take it to the Panchayat premises.
Accordingly, the primary schools collected plastic and brought it to Panchayat as and when they could. A total of 15 cement sacks of plastic were collected.
In Madkai, Shri Navdurga High School collected plastic from its premises and around the school on 2 days i.e 2nd October and 26th January. The drive on 2nd October yielded 3 bags and drive on 26th January yielded 1 bag. The school is on a hill and at a distance from residential areas which explains why the quantity of plastic strewn around was not too much. The students prepared posters and shouted slogans against plastic Madkaim as they made a round of the village.
The NSS unit of Goa Don Bosco Higher Secondary School, Panaji held its 10 days NSS special camp at Madkaim from 21 Oct. 2000 to 30 Oct. 2000. 25 NSS volunteers took part in the camp. An anti- plastic rally was organised throughout Madkaim village. The rally started from Peaceful Society premises. A street play depicting the harmful effects of plastics on plants, animals and the environment was performed at many places along the way.
Source: D.M. Naik, Secretary, Bandora
Panchayat
At the panchayat meeting at Betoda held on 30.9.2000 around 35 people attended. Present at the meeting were representatives of 11 primary schools, Government High School, Ganaath High School, 8 Anganwadi workers, Mahila Mandal workers from each of the 4 neighbouring villages, and representatives of 4 youth clubs from the 4 villages under Betoda Panchayat.
After hearing about the PFG campaign they decided to have a plastic clean up in their village as well. Around 500 people collected plastic waste from from 22nd to 25 November in the villages of Betoda, Nirankal, Konchem and Codar. A total collection of 100 bags was picked up by the village panchayat on 27.11.2000 and kept in its premises till it was picked up by PMC on 10.2.2001.
On 22.10.2000 this panchayat moved a step forward when they resolved to ask the government to ban the use of plastic.
Source: Mr Joshi, Secretary, Bethoda Panchayat
Marcel Panchayat had a joint meeting with Betqui-Khanola panchayat on 29.9.00 at 3.30 p.m.at Tivrem.
From Marcel, besides the panch members the following attended: teachers of all 7 Government Primary Schools as well as Sharda English High School, representatives of Shree Devki Krishna Sansthan and local citizens.
From Khanola the following attended: teachers of 6 primary schools, lecturers from Government college, Khanola and, of course, the Panchayat members.
Everyone present felt that a law banning bags below 20 microns alone was not sufficient. There should be a ban on all plastic products and not only bags of certain thickness. There should also be provision for fines in the law so that the authority appointed can implement the law.
It was decided in the meeting that the Panchayat ward members would lead the collection drive in their respective wards. Along with them would be school children of that area and teachers. The Panch member was to inform all persons in his ward about the drive. Different dates were fixed for the ward clean up programmes, starting on 8th October and ending on 5th November.
Plastic garbage was collected from fields, roads, houses, open spaces. Snacks for the volunteers were provided by the Khanola Panchayat. A total of 10 sacks of plastic waste was collected.
Subsequently the Panchayat has also formed Garbage Management Committees wardwise.
In Marcel, although the Sarpanch assured that on 2.10.00 in the Gram Sabha meeting, the panchayat will work out a plan for a collection drive, this Panchayat was not able to plan a drive before 20th December as timings to suit the schools could not be worked out. They plan to have a drive in February 2001. Marcel village has however formed Garbage Management Committees for each ward.
Source: Mr Ashok Phadte, Secretary, Marcel
Panchayat; Mr Gavde, Secretary, Khanola Panchayat
The Village Panchayat of Priol invited 9 Government Primary schools and 3 Higher Secondary schools from the area to the meeting on 6.10.2000 to discuss action plan for collection of plastic garbage in the village of Priol. The Kunkale Sports Club and other local persons also were invited to this meeting.
The Shiksha Sadan High School, Mardol, informed that they had already held a plastic clean up drive on 2.10.2000. 55 students of Std.VIII took part. They made posters and placards and shouted ‘Say No to Plastic’ as they went around collecting plastic waste. 2 Teachers along with students picked plastic from every corner of Mardol that they spanned. They even put their hands into dirty places like gutters to pull out the plastic garbage. This waste would be sent to the Panchayat for onward disposal.
It was decided to have the collection of plastic waste in all wards on 12.10.2000. The Sarpanch was appointed as Coordinator for Priol village and the 9 ward members were appointed as sub-coordinators for 9 wards. The transport of plastic to Panchayat premises was to be borne by Panchayat.
As part of the awareness drive banners informing of the ill effects of plastic were put in public places. The gathering also felt that the Mardol market should ban the use of plastic bags altogether.
Source: Mr C.S. Gavde, Secretary, Priol Panchayat
A joint meeting of 3 panchayats of Quelem, Wadi Talavli and Durbhat was held at Mahalaxmi Sabhagriha, Quelem. A resolution asking the government to ban plastics was passed. It was also decided that each of the panchayats will arrange for separate meetings in their villages or in gramsabhas and decide upon a plan of action so as to organise a plastic collection drive in their villages. They would also individually discuss the issue of ban on plastic bags and urge the villagers to reduce the use of plastic bags.
The village of Quelem is only 10 minuites drive from Ponda. The village pays a very high ecological price for this proximity to Ponda. The panchayat reports of having received several complaints regarding the plastic bags coming from Ponda. The nulla which flows through Ponda town empties itself into the fields of Quelem village and the water finally flows into Durbhat stream leaving a whole array of plastic and other garbage in Quelem and Durbhat.
The problem reaches its peak in rains and the villagers spend many hours trying to pull out plastic bags from the soil. They claim that with the quantity of plastic in their soil it has rendered the soil barren. Seeds do not sprout and if they do, they do not grow well. Hence the backbreaking and exhausting exercise to meticulously pick up every bit of plastic has to be carried out. Thus when Ponda town uses plastic, Quelem and places like it pay the price.
The plastic collection drive of Talavli was organised by Mahalaxmi English High School on 3rd October 2000. The V, VI & VII Stds. collected plastic from around the school. While the students of VIII, IX and X along with their teachers collected plastic from the roads, by lanes, gutters, nullas. The garbage filled 7 huge sacks of plastic.
Source: Mr Harish Chandra Naik, Secretary,
Quelem Panchayat; Mr M.T. Naik, Secretary, Wadi Talavli Panchayat.
Ameya High School’s NSS unit organised an intensive 10-day campaign. This camp was sponsored by Usgao Panchayat and NSS unit of Ameya Higher Secondary School.
The NSS unit of 30 students camped at Government High School, Davshire, Usgao. The drive started on 30th Oct. and went on till 8th Nov. The students distributed handbills prepared by them in Marathi in all the 11 wards of Usgao. Students also told the people to collect plastic from in and around their houses and hand it over to them. The students visited every ward twice in batches of 8. The Panch members assisted the NSS students by accompanying them to the different wards and introducing them to people in the village.
The students also had prepared a street play which was most successful as it drew a big crowd. This street play in which all 30 students participated, was performed every day in the bazaar.
Although the students sometimes felt discouraged that the response of the village folk was not very encouraging as people listened very casually, yet they persisted with their efforts to make people aware of the problem while at the same time setting an example cleaning up the village.
The students collected a stupendous 100 sacks of plastic during their 10 day PFG campaign.
Source: Subhash Jan, NSS Officer, Ameya High School
The Keri and Volvoi Panchayat members first called a Panchayat meeting on the subject of plastic followed by a Gram Sabha which was held on 22.10.2000 and was attended by 26 persons. The plastic garbage collection drive was fixed for 13.10.00.
The Sarpanch, Mr.Dattanand Gaude and the panchayat members involved the following organisations in the drive:
1) Mahila Mandal, Keri
2) Sattari Sports Club
3) Surashri Kesarbai High School, Keri
4) Govt. Primary School, Arla.
Around 50 students of Surashri Kesarbai High School participated with 3 of their teachers. 50 others came from the Mahila Mandal, Sattari Sports Club and local people. They collected plastic from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. with the panch members leading the drive in each of the wards. The garbage was kept at pre-decided points in each of the wards. A pick-up went around collecting all of it and this was brought to the Panchayat. Snacks were provided by Panchayat. The Govt. Primary School, Arla students cleaned up the area around their school. The drive resulted in a total collection of 7 large sacks of plastic waste.
Source: Mr Prasad Shet & Dattanand
Gavde, Keri Panchayat
After hearing Mr. Khanolkar on the subject of plastic waste the panchayat sent out letters to all the schools to attend the Gramsabha so as to involve the local people in the campaign. The gramsabha on 29.11.2000 decided to have a drive on 19.11.2000. The gramsabha records read : ‘People use plastics and throw them away. This plastic flies around and meses up the place. Hence the VP has decided to have a drive’.
On 19.11.2000 groups of children lead by teachers and VP members collected plastic waste the whole morning. The young taskmasters were joined by a couple of villagers. They were provided with refreshments by the panchayat. The group collected one tempo load of plastic The plastic collected from the area near the industrial estate yielded much more plastic than any other area of Boma. The VP picked the plastic and brought and stored it next to the panchayat office. This was later sold to the scrap dealers.
Source: Mr Lobhanand Naik, Secretary, Boma Panchayat
Report by Soniya Sirsat
Coordinator, Pernem Taluka
Ms.Soniya Sirsat, the NSS coordinator of Government College of Arts and Commerce, Pernem, took the initiative to organise the PFG campaign in Pernem through the NSS students of the college. In this drive she received wholehearted cooperation and support from the Principal of the college, Dr.M.M. Sangodkar, as well as other college lecturers who involved themselves in the planning and implementation of the campaign.
The Chief Officer of Pernem Municipal Council, Mr.A.F. Barreto also supported the drive and extended necessary facilities for the collection and storage of the plastic waste.
The campaign began in the month of September with a discussion session to apprise the NSS students of the problems of plastic waste. Thereafter campaign strategy was discussed and it was agreed that the campaign would be structured to fit in with the studies of the students, college timings and so on.
It was decided that the NSS volunteers would go house to house in the areas they reside in to educate them about the harmful effects of plastic. The students also distributed handbills and prepared posters & banners which were put up at the market entrance, and at different schools in the municipal and panchayat areas. The drive was also announced in all schools and churches.
People were asked to segregate plastic waste in their homes and also collect plastic waste from their immediate surroundings and keep ready for volunteers to take away. The collection day/s would depend upon the school / college timings and students ability to schedule the visits to the different localities.
On 2nd October the PFG programme was launched as volunteers along with the NSS officers collected plastic from market areas and public areas. After this the NSS unit planted trees in the Pernem Municipal Council complex. A small hoarding which read ‘Keep Goa Green was also installed. By the time the campaign ended on 14th December (i.e the last day the collection drive was organised in Pernem), all areas where people had collected plastic waste were visited and the garbage removed.
Plastic garbage was thus collected in Paliem, Asvem, Mandrem, Morjim, Agaravado, Corgao, Chopdem, Parcem, Dargalim, Naibaga, Mapem, Varconda, Nagzor, Torxem, Ibrampur, Alorna (altogether 16 places).
The garbage thus collected was brought to the central location allocated by the Chief Officer, which was a large pit behind Municipal Council where it was temporarily dumped before it could go to the North Goa plastic dump site. The C.O also permitted the use of his office vehicle when it was necessary to make trips to distant places.
Altogether the students collected a total of 2 truckloads of plastic litter during the campaign period.
To motivate students to collect as much plastic garbage as possible the Principal of Bhumika High School, Paliem, announced a prize for the student collecting maximum amount of plastic.
Another school, Bhagvati High School went further than just having a plastic collection drive. The students of this school made paper bags and distributed them amongst shopkeepers free of cost.
In Mandrem, People’s Higher Secondary School, Panaji had an NSS camp from 30 October to 8 November wherein cleaning Ashvem beach of its plastic litter was one of the projects taken up during the camp.
As a result of the drive it ws found that many of the shopkeepers from the Pernem town have stopped giving plastic bags to their customers. Many people also reverted to earlier habits of carrying cloth bags for marketing.
Discussions were also held with the municipal authority regarding the formation of the garbage management committee which would oversee this work in future. The PMC has set up a Garbage Management Committee which has observed that:
The dustbins are not in proper condition. In certain corners, there are no dustbins. Minimum 8 dustbins are required in each ward in 4 places — 1 for biodegradable and one for non-biodegradable waste in each place.
The Pernem Municipal Council also states that it needs a vehicle (lorry/truck) to collect the plastic generated. The hand carts are difficult to operate as the wheels are having a metal rim which has rusted. To add to the woes, the roads are in very bad shape.
Names of schools that participated:
1) St.Joseph’s High School, Pernem
2) Bhumika High School, Paliem
3) Bhagvati High School
4) New English High School, Pernem
5) Mt.Carmel’s High School, Arambol
6) Ramakant Khalap School, Mandrem
7) Parcem High School
8) Keri Primary School
9) Viscount High School, Pernem
10) Asvem Primary School
11) Morjim Primary School
12) Nagzor Primary School
13) Torxem Primary School.
Names of Higher Secondary Schools & Colleges that participated:
14) Kamleshwar Higher Secondary School, Korgaon
15) Government College, Pernem
Tiracol/Keri:Father Roland heard about the plastic
free Goa campaign from Soniya Sirsat, On his own initiative he convinced the parish
council to have an ant-plastic drive in Keri and accordingly announced in the church that
they will come to collect plastic from all the houses and that all should collect their
plastic litter and keep it ready. 
Plastic waste collected in Pernem. Mr A. F. Barreto, Chief Officer of Pernem Municipal
Council, took a personal interest in seeing that the campaign was a success. Pernem is
considered a "backward" taluka. However, despite this, it did not lag behind the
more"developed" talukas like Bardez in the quantity of plastic waste it
produced.
Tiracol saw a clean-up on 9th November & Keri was cleaned on 21st November with the
Parish Priests and local people collecting the plastic waste. The two half-day drives in
each place amounted to 1 pickup of plastic.
According to Fr Roland, Tiracol should have one bin only for plastic and Keri will require 3 bins for plastic waste only.
But when Fr.Roland was told about the system being followed in Dona Paula where the garbage is collected door to door, he said he will talk to people and reconsider the collection system.
Source: Fr. Roland
People’s Higher Secondary School, Panaji conducted their NSS camp at Mandrem from 30 Oct to 8 Nov. under the guidance of NSS programme officer Ashraf Ali Khan.
Projects like cleaning of the Ashvem beach from its plastic, village survey, cleaning the school campus, cleaning the temple surroundings, AIDS awareness programme, evil effcts of drugs were taken up.
Educational Institutions which participated in the campaign:
1) St.Joseph’s High School, Pernem
2) Bhumika High School, Paliem
3) Bhagvati High School
4) New English High School, Pernem
5) Mt.Carmel’s High School, Arambol
6) Ramakant Khalap School, Mandrem
7) Parcem High School
8) Keri Primary School
9) Viscount High School, Pernem
10) Asvem Primary School
11) Morjim Primary School
12) Nagzor Primary School
13) Torxem Primary School.
14) Kamleshwar Higher Secondary School, Korgaon
15) Government College, Pernem
Report by Mr. Sanjeev Kadkade
Coordinator, Bicholim Taluka
The PFG campaign was organised in 10 places in Bicholim by Lions Club of Bicholim. The Lions Club in fact had a drive against plastic a year earlier, in September 1999, when Mr. Ramakant Shetye, ex-President of Lions Club of Bicholim inaugurated the movement by declaring the Lions Club premises as "Plastic free zone". This was stressed at all meetings.
In September 2000, a huge rally was organised by the Lions Club in association with NSS students of Zantye College of Commerce. The rally was flagged off by Mr. Suresh Zantye, Industrialist and Lions Club Director at 10.00 am from Kadamba bus stand.
150 students along with Principal Mr. Sakardande and staff members went around the various municipal wards of Bicholim town distributing handbills among residents and business establishments. Posters and banners informing the public of the hazards of plastic were also prepared.
The rally was very effective as the students made an effort to bring awareness against the use of plastic in the busy market complex area. People reacted positively and appreciated the efforts of NSS students and Lions Club.
On 2nd October, paper bags were distributed free of cost to shopkeepers in Bicholim and they were requested to use these instead of the plastic carry bags. Lions Club of Bicholim sponsored the bags.
This exercise was repeated on 19th December, Goa Liberation Day, when the Lions Club distributed 500 paper bags to shopkeepers inorder to give them an alternative to plastic bags.
The Lions club also organised awareness programmes in educational institutions. In November a lecture was organised for teachers from various schools at Lions Club Gymkhana Hall. These teachers were then instructed to convey the contents of the lectures to the students of their respective schools during free periods. In this way it is hoped that through the young citizens the message of reducing the use of throwaway plastic will percolate to the society. The names of participating schools are listed in the annexure.
In all, the following 10 places were reached out through schools:
1. Latambarcem 2. Mulgaon 3. Maulinguem 4. Mayem 5. Lamgao 6. Vithadeo 7. Naroa 8. Pilgao 9. Carapur 10.Bicholim
An exhibition on how plastic harms was conducted on Novo Somar, which is a festive occasion and the exhibition was attended by 1000 people. Exhibits, models, paintings prepared by students from Shri Shanta Durga High School, Bicholim were displayed at the school.
The general response of the people was good and they appreciated the effort made by the citizens to keep Bicholim taluka free from plastic. In fact many people in Bicholim taluka use cloth bags as they carry a lot of weight from distant places and hence plastic and paper bags are not found to be suitable. However the trend of the packaging industry to sell most items in plastic and the recent habit of shopkeepers to give goods in plastic carry bags, whether the person asks for it or not, is contributing to plastic waste finding its way to even remote areas of the countryside where no arrangements even exist for collection of any garbage.
8. SattariReport by Sanjeev Barve
Coordinator, Sattari Taluka
The Sahyadri Nature Club has been concerned with the impact that unscientific disposal of garbage has on the natural surroundings. Therefore when the club members came to know of the PFG campaign, SNC resolved to also participate in the same by first creating awareness among the people about the plastic menace.
As a first step, the members of the nature club members themselves decided to segregate their plastic waste at home so that it would set an example among the family members and neighbours.
They also had an awareness programme in the schools as a result of which 4 schools have kept special sacks in which plastic waste is to be dumped. The school children have been asked to collect the plastic waste they see around them, to separate the plastic wastes in their homes and to dump the plastic garbage from time to time in the sacks. The Sahyadri Nature Club has undertaken to collect the sacks fom the schools when they are full and replace with new sacks.
The villages in Sattari are generally not littered with plastic waste as is seen in the main town Valpoi, where on bazaar day ie. Tuesday a lot of plastic is seen flying around. Later the municipality sets fire to it along with the general garbage clean-up. This is also the day when villagers carry back to the surrounding villages a lot of cheap plastic bags which are freely distributed along with market purchases by many vendors and shopkeepers.
Besides the Margao and Cuncolim Municipalities, there are 27 village panchayats in Salcete taluka. In order to plan a taluka level drive one formal public meeting and one formal meeting with all the panchayat representatives were held. However several meetings were held individually with the panchayat, municipal and other government authorities and numerous discussions with NGOs and citizens who would make the drive happen.
It was first decided to select a date on which trucks would be sent around the taluka picking up plastic. However this was eventually not found to be feasible as the municipal trucks are busy within the municipal area itself and in any case not more than three villages could be covered in a single day.
Eventually, private transport (tempos/rickshaws) had to be organised for transportation of garbage collected in the different villages, the cost of which was borne by GEF.
The villages in which a PFG drive was carried out was chiefly due to the motivation of the local village coordinator, or the NSS units of the colleges/schools. Villages in which anti-plastic drives were organised included: Assolna, Velim, Chandor, Navelim, Betalbatim, Seraulim, Benaulim, Loutolim, Colva and Majorda. In all these villages there was involvement of and support from the panchayats.
A lot of people were not merely happy to help in the effort to remove plastic waste from their surroundings but they were also eager to see more such collection drives organised and expressed willingness to join such programmes whenever organised.
Most of the plastic collected was dirty, the bags were of varying thickness and unless these are sorted and washed the scrapdealers are not keen on taking the same for recycling.
Though Margao responded to the drive somewhat late, due to opposition to the allotted collection site raised by a local school, the drive eventually held on 17th December here was on a very huge scale involving all local schools and colleges, NGOs and of course the Margao municipality.
Awareness has most definitely been created but the campaign will have been futile if it is not followed by diciplinary action (at the manufacturer and marketing level) because free distribution of throwaway plastic items has most definately become a habit which needs to be discouraged.
It is disheartening to see plastic bags being freely used once again after the initial scare created by the 15th August ban on bags below 20 microns; in fact it appears that the use has increased after the so called "Environment Friendly" plastic have invaded the market. Earlier, if one refused plastic bags some shopkeepers appreciated the gesture, but now the shopkeepers actually try to convince the customer the plastic bag being distributed is safe and environment friendly.
The positive side is that these plastic bags will not have to be sorted colour-wise if the recycling schemes come to fruition since they are all transparent and are probably of similar thickness.
Ms Eulalia Alvares
Coordinator, Salcete Taluka
There were three separate events relating to the anti-plastic drive in Margao city.
The first was an anti-plastic rally and poster competion organised by Astagandha and Lions Club on 30 September. About 18 schools from in and around Margao participated in the same. Representatives of Asthagandha, Lions Club, Lokmata, Nehru Yuvak Kendra, Bailancho Ekvott and GEF participated in the rally which went around the garden and market area of Margao. A vehicle with a sound system for announcements followed the procession. 500 leaflets explaining the issue of plastic waste were distributed on the way .
Children shouted slogans in English, Hindi and Konkani in turn and carried out posters made by them. Traffic police organised the traffic so that the rally could be carried out smoothly. The Dy. Collecter was also present and lent his support to the March. The rally ended at Lohia Maidan where the students were given refreshments. Some of the dignitaries then addressd the gathering on the need for such campaigns in Goa. Among those on the dais were Mr.Digambar Kamat, Minister, Mr. Sanjit Rodrigues, Dy. Collecter, representatives of Asthagandha and Lions Club of South Goa. Prizes were then given for the best poster and best slogan.
The second event was on the inaugural day of the PFG campaign, 2nd October, when NSS Programme Officers, Glancy Borges of Carmel College, Joao Alfonso of Rosary College, G.M.Naik of Salgaoncar College and Florence Rebello and Edwin Baretto of Shri Damodar Commerce College together with NSS students of all four colleges and PFG South Goa Coordinator Eulalia Alvares launched a plastic garbage clean-up cum awareness programme commencing at Margao Municipal Garden.
NSS volunteers cleaned the Municipal Garden and segregated the plastic from the paper waste. One sack full of plastics (plastic bags, straws, wrappers, ice-cream cups, coca-cola cups, plastic string, lots of sachets and plastic packets and mineral water bottles) was collected from the garden area.
The students then went off in four directions visiting houses and shops in the vicinity speaking to the people about the environmental and health problems associated with throwaway plastics, and requesting them to avoid using plastic bags as far as possible and to segregate their plastic waste from the biodegradable garbage for collection at a later date. They also conducted a survey on the garbage disposal system in parts of Margao as part of the NSS programme.
The third event was the biggest. It was a huge plastic garbage collection drive held on 17th December which covered the whole of Margao city and involved students, activists, Municipal authorities and local citizens all with one goal — to clean up their city. It certainly made a big impact on every citizen of this town.
The drive was meticulously planned by Mr.Chikkodi, Chief Officer, Margao Municipal Council and executed with the assistance of the MMC councillors and the full dedication and cooperation of GEF. The drive was also actively supported by Margao First and Lokmata. Several schools and NGOs participated in the drive.
There were several preparatory meetings:
one of the major meetings was on 11th December which was attended by the MMC councillors,
and members of the participating NGOs where Mr.Chikkodi explained the programme to those
present. 
A big haul of waste
plastic collected in Margao. A significant role in the plastic collection drive in the
city was played by Asthagandha, Lions Club Lokmata, Nehru Yuvak Kendra, Bailancho Ekvott
The plan was to contact schools and ask them to send 100 students each to help with the collection drive. There would then be more than a thousand students available on that day. This job was assigned to the GEF. The councillors assisted by NGO volunteers from their ward were to make groups of the students and assign them to separate streets. Sacks, sticks, gloves, caps were to be supplied by GEF. A banner was to be displayed in every ward. Announcements regarding the drive would be made for 3 days around the city by GEF. Refreshments and transport for the students, volunteers and municipal workers would be organised by the councillors and NGOs.
Around 20 schools and colleges were contacted for providing students for the drive. Due to busy schedules, some schools could not participate while others sent students from 8th and 9th standards only or Scouts & Guides.
On 17th December everyone assembled at 8 am in front of the Municipal building and in the presence of distinguished persons including Mr.Digambar Kamat, Minister for Urban Development and Power, Ms. Kamalini Painguinkar, Chairperson of MMC, Mr. Sanjit Rodrigues, Dy Collector, Salcette, the drive was launched. MMC Councillors, students assigned to each group and volunteers took off in different directions with Mr.Digambar Kamat leading the first group of children to pick up plastic waste. Volunteers from the SSY, Youth Hostel, South Goa Public Interest Action Group, Nehru Yuvak Kendra, GEF, Lokmata, Margao First and other groups participated in the event.
All 16 wards under the supervision of the respective ward councillors were covered. The most heartening part was that councillors worked alongside the students and volunteers to clean out the plastic from their area. 3 tempos were employed to move groups of students and other volunteers to the various wards to which they were assigned. Municipal workers and supervisors were also assigned to the various wards for assisting with the plastic collection.
Refreshments comprising flavoured milk, vegetable patties, samosas and bananas were provided to the students, volunteers and municipal workers.
That the programme went smoothly was entirely due to the efforts of Mr. Chikkodi, Chief Officer who supervised every detail and Mr.Arabekar, Sanitary Officer, who handled the nitty-gritty of the operation. By 12 noon the collection programme was brought to an end. Municipal workers however, worked till 3 pm to collect the plastic from the various collection points and pack it in sacks.
The participation of students and teachers through their educational institutions and of volunteers (both Govt. and non-Govt.) in the drive, in spite of hectic schedules, was much appreciated.
Two hundred and eighty sacks (three truckloads) of waste plastic were collected.
To cover the cost of the programme, the councillors themselves each contributed Rs.500 and the Chairperson Rs.1000 towards the programme. Councillors, Shri Sadanand Naik and Shri Caitano Barbosa provided two tempos and two trucks respectively. When some bills had not been settled after the drive due to shortage of funds, Councillor Estelle Lobo contributed additional Rs.1,500/- towards the same.
Others who contributed cash included: Longuinhos Beach Resort, Colva, Margao First, GEF, ICICI Bank, Lions Club of Rawanfond, South Goa Action Group and individual citizens. All assistance is gratefully acknowledged.
Source: Eulalia Alvares
The PFG campaign in Assolna and Velim were made possible through the efforts of Mrs.Lea Coelho from Assolna and Fr.Olavo Diniz of St.Roque High School, Tolecanto, and Marcus D’Silva, the Sarpanch of Velim. While Lea handled Assolna, Marcus took care of Velim and Fr. Olavo of Tolecanto. Lea got announcements about the anti-plastic drive made in the churches. She also contacted schools to get student participation in the drive. She got handbills printed in English and Konkani. The translation of the handbill from English to Konkani was graciously done by our Konkani teacher, Porfiro Silva-Lobo. She also went house to house explaining the campaign to people and requesting them to keep plastic garbage aside for separate collection during the drive which was fixed for 15th November.
In Velim, Fr.Olavo Diniz announced the drive in the church and motivated the children of St.Roque High School to actively participate in the drive.
On 15th November, the school students of St.Anthony High School and Regina Martyrum High School accompanied by the Sarpanch, Ms.Maggie Dias and volunteers from the village commenced the clean up drive in Assolna at 10 a.m. The adult volunteers and 2 labourers cleaned the market area. Children were not allowed to clean this part as the team felt it was too dirty for children to put their hands into. Children cleaned areas in different vados of Assolna.
Some people had kept their plastic garbage ready for collection and this was picked up by the volunteers. Outstanding work was done by the Andrade family of Assolna, father and sons aged 13 to 16, who collected 9 sacks of plastic bottles.
The Assolna drive yielded 1 pick-up load. Similarly, Velim too yielded 1 pick-up load thanks to the efforts of Marcus D’Silva. Mr.Philip Neri, MLA, covered the printing, transport, gloves, sacks, labour charges. Refreshments were provided by Lea and Maggie, Sarpanch of Assolna.
GEF assisted by Russel Vaz coordinated the arrangements for collecting the plastic from both the villages and later taking it to the dump site.
Another drive which was planned for 19th December unfortunately did not take off as labourers were also not ready to do this job. Lea says the plastic is back on the streets, gutters and market places — places they had cleaned with their own hands. Some shopkeepers accustomed to throwing plastic on the streets continued to do so right after the drive. When questioned, they said they had no alternative.
The villagers also complain that hotel garbage finds its way into the village under cover of darkness. "It’s just not fair," say the residents: "They do their business and we get the trash".
Source: Mrs Lea Coelho
"In a small campaign" as Mr.Subodh Prabhu, Secretary of Village Panchayat, Benaulim describes it, "we collected 30 sacks full of plastic." The Panchayat has therefore decided to have a bigger campaign on 26th January, involving local people and other groups.
The campaign which yielded 30 sacks of plastic was held on 19th December, with involvement of 100 students of Holy Trinity High School and Panchayat members. They cleaned an area of 2 kms. around the Panchayat building. The sacks of plastic were then taken to the Cuncolim dump site by Goa Environment Federation.
Mr.Prabhu says that a lot of plastic is generated due by the tourism industry. Plastic is found in the beach areas behind sand dunes also. The tourism department makes attempts to clean the area but it requires much more manpower and regular cleaning exercises if the coastal areas are to be kept free from garbage and plastic waste.
Source: Subodh Prabhu, Secretary, Benaulim Panchayat
Betalbatim had two separate garbage collection drives — one which covered the entire village, the other which was held on the beach area only. The PFG campaign in Betalbatim village was coordinated by Mr.Averthanus Barretto, with assistance from the members of the panchayat, Basic Christian Communities (BCC) and NSS students of Shree Damodar College of Commerce and Economics, Margao. The clean up drive was fixed for 19th November.
The NSS students took up the task of informing every house in each of the 7 waddos of Betalbatim, about the PFG campaign.
The BCC also explained to its members in all its meetings the reasons why it is necessary for people to participate in the campaign and what exactly is required of the villagers.
By 19th November, most people were aware of the anti-plastic drive and were ready to cooperate in one way or another. On the morning of the 19th, Mr.Averthanus Barretto, Dy.Director of Sports, Mrs. Afonso, Sarpanch of Betalbatim, Ms. Florence Rebello, NSS Coordinator, Dr.I Bhanu Murthy, Principal and Ms.Auda Viegas, GEF Coordinator addressed the students on the importance of the campaign and the reasons for having this campaign.
Thereafter 120 NSS students went around different parts of Betalbatim collecting plastic from the roads and other public areas. Simultaneously they also picked up plastic garbage from houses that had kept it aside for collection. Some residents gave the students used plastic disposable syringes lying around where the needles were neither covered or removed.
The sacks of plastic waste collected by the students were neatly stacked at pre-arranged points and when collected they were a full tempo load. They were taken by GEF to the Cuncolim dumpsite. Refreshments for volunteers were given by panchayat. The sacks were purchased by the local NSS unit.
Another clean-up of plastic waste was organised in the coastal area by another set of players. The Jolly Boys Club of Betalbatim along with Nanu Beach Resort, local taxi drivers and local residents cleaned the beach of Betalbatim on 10th October, laboriously picking up all the plastic water bottles, carry bags and other throwaway items they could find on the sand.
The Resort General Manager, Mr.Sasi Kumar, assured the people that such cleanliness drives would be held every month during the tourist season. The taxi drivers have taken the responsibility to advise people coming on the beach to refrain from littering the place with plastic. The genuine desire of all persons who profit from the tourist industry and also those who are residents in the area to keep their coastal village clean was more than apparent in this drive.
Source: Ms Florence Rebello, NSS Officer,
Damodar College