Media Release

Mangaluru, Jul 03: The ICYM of St Dominic Church, Ashoknagar teamed up with Rama Krishna Mission to organise an awareness programme on how to be responsible with waste disposal and the innovative way of creating manure using earthern pots as a part of the Laudato Si-(nature protection is my responsibility) campaign led by the Diocese of Mangaluru to create awareness among the residents about their duty and responsibility towards conservation of nature

The one hour programme was conducted on July 29 and 30 for the parishioners of St Dominic Church. The ICYM president Anisha Dsouza welcomed the gathering and the volunteers of Ramakrishna mission. The parish priest Fr Aquin Noronha, the assistant parish priest Fr Royston Lobo, vice president Richard Gonsalves and secretary Isac Furtado were present for the Program.

Fr Aquin Noronha in his address spoke about how we need to be responsible in disposing our waste in the right manner and when there is so much of food waste every day, we could put it to a good use when we are enlightened about the right methods of creating compost.

On Saturday, Umanath Kotekar- chief coordinator of Swachh Mangaluru Abhiyan and on Sunday morning Capt. Ganesh Karnik- mentor of Ramakrishna mission briefed the audience on the activities of Ramakrishna mission and how they have taken up projects of cleaning up the city . The volunteers identify “black spots” which are basically littered areas and have a cleaning drive and also see to it that a follow-up of the area is kept by regular monitoring.

One of the young volunteers, Sachin Shetty gave a detailed explanation on how to use the pots for making manure out of wet waste. He explained each step so clearly and also mentioned that by putting the waste to good use we could use the manure for our plants and also in future Ramkrishna mission is also planning to market this compost. Even the other dry waste could be collected in large plastic bags which the mission is working on to provide to houses and the revenue derived from recycling it could be given back to the families.

The parishioners were given feedback forms if they wished to receive these pots at a nominal rate of Rs. 500/- along with a bag of coconut husk and many were enthusiastic to join this. They also posed their doubts which were clarified by Sachin and Capt. Karnik. The Ramakrishna mission has already supplied these pots to over 1000 families and has bookings for over 3000.

At the end of the programme Mr. Ranjan- chief coordinator of Swatchha Manasu thanked the ICYM unit of St Dominic church, Ashoknagar and audience for encouraging them in this mission.

The programme was compered by Monica D’silva and Reshma Castelino, members of ICYM. Vote of thanks was given by Carlton Lobo, secretary of ICYM. More than two hundred people participated in the program.