E-Weekly-5/38
Green Earth Movement
An E-Newsletter for the cause of Environment, Peace, Harmony and Justice
Remember - “you and I can decide the future”
BIS Mumbai
BOSCO INFORMATION SERVICE # 4313
YERWADA PARISH GOES GREEN
by Parish Correspondent
YERWADA-PUNE, JANUARY 6, 2015: The 2015 calendar of Sacred Heart Parish,
Yerwada has as its theme ‘Becoming A Greener Parish’. This is not just a fashion
statement; the parish has made a serious commitment to become a Green Parish.
In fact, several steps have already been taken in this direction. The Indian Express
(Pune Edition) reporting on the Christmas celebrations in the parish said: “The
Sacred Heart parish in Yerwada will welcome a ‘green’ Santa this Christmas as part
of its eco-friendly campaign. The parish, which is the first among 34 parishes and
centres under the Diocese of Poona to launch such an initiative, will offer saplings
instead of bouquets at felicitation programmes promote kitchen gardens and use
recycled material for decoration.”
This green wave began with the Parish
Priest Fr. Anton D’Souza organizing a
session on environmental concerns for
the members of the Parish Council as
well as the leaders of all the Groups and
Associations in the parish. The resource
person,
Fr.
Savio
Silveira,
from
GreenLine Mumbai, highlighted various
environmental issues that we are
presently facing and then went on to
describe different practical steps that
the parish could take. Following this
session, a Parish Green Team was
constituted and a Green Plan drawn up
for the parish.
The ‘Green Parish’ inauguration was
held on December 7, 2014, during
the SundayEucharistic Celebration, for
which Fr. Roque Green, Judicial Vicar of
the Pune Diocese was the main
celebrant. “The earth was once a
beautiful and divine place. Over the
years, the human race has exploited its
The vocation of being a “protector”,
however, is not just something involving
us Christians alone; it also has a prior
dimension which is simply human,
involving everyone. It means protecting
all creation, the beauty of the created
world, as the Book of Genesis tells us
and as Saint Francis of Assisi showed
us. It means respecting each of God’s
creatures
and
respecting
the
environment in which we live. (Pope
Francis )
Page 2
natural resources beyond limit and polluted its rivers with factory waste and
chemicals. The air we breathe today is poisoned with burning plastic, waste
materials and pollution. The value of trees has been lost as they are being cut to
build concrete jungles” said Fr. Anton D’Souza, Parish Priest. He exhorted the
parishioners to take a ‘go green pledge’ and save the mother earth.
Complementing Sacred Heart Parish, Fr. Malcolm Sequeira, Vicar General of the
Pune Diocese, said this is a first such initiative in the diocese. He hoped that this
example will be emulated by other parishes too.
BOSCO INFORMATION SERVICE (BIS) MUMBAI
Don Bosco Provincial House,
Matunga, Mumbai - 400 019. INDIA
Email: bis@donboscomumbai.org
Website: www.donboscomumbai.org
News Blog: http://bismumbai.blogspot.com
PRESERVE THE TREASURES OF CREATION
This essay written by Kevin Dias, Std 9, won the first prize (9-11th std group) in the
Environment Contests conducted by the GEM E-Newsletter during the 2014 Diwali
vacation. – Editor
The world today is vastly different from what
it was before urbanization and
industrialization had taken its toll on the
world. Since the turn of the new millennium
the issue of the environment has suddenly
evolved into a widespread issue which is
greatly discussed throughout the world. The
plants, trees and flowers are life formed from
which god has created for us to enjoy its
beauty but it is now solely up to us and many
other organizations to protect preserve and
respect how fragile our environment really is.
One of the most evident problems associated
to the environment is the issue of logging of
trees, mainly in undisturbed places such as
the Amazon basin. Trees are considered the
lungs of the earth .They recycle all the
polluting carbon in the air and return oxygen
back into our atmosphere creating a stable
cycle of carbon in air atmosphere. However,
the impeccable rates which trees are being
cut down in our forests have grown to ever
increasing and alarming rates. As its names
suggests the world is slowly warming up and
without any notice the environment which
God has gave us will be slowly eradicated.
The daily lives which humans carry on about
every day are also a factor influencing on our
environment and global warming. By driving
cars that have a thirst for petrol we are
releasing carbon dioxide and further more
impacting on the world climate. We are
seeing a harsher climate and are the same
time less rain. If we want to preserve our
world we must take a stance on this issue and
take action for what is right, not carrying on
the actions that will lead to a desolate,
destroyed earth.
Pope John Paul II once said, “It is the task of
human beings to care for preserve and
cultivate the treasures of Creation.” The pope
is becoming aware of the environmental
issues impacting on the world today and is
enforcing that we must do something before
God’s creation is all but lost. He tells us that
we must show respect for the environment
and living our faith in relation with God’s
Creation.
It is duty however to help carry out actions
that will help cease the threats that are
present to our environment. Sensibly turning
of switches or not using cars are also other
ways to actively protect our environment.
Planting trees is one of the many steps that
we can all do. Perhaps one of the most
successful ways to prevent environmental
damage is to discuss to others the issues
relating the environment. This way people
can become informed and aware that there is
only one environment and it is our duty to
protect it.
Page 3
POEM
POLLUITION-FREE ENVIRONMENT
IMAGINE! IMAGINE!
This poem is written by Leander Carvalho, won the second prize (6-8th std group) in the
Environment Contests conducted by the GEM E-Newsletter during the 2014 Diwali vacation. –
Editor
A world without O2
“Air, air everywhere and not a molecule to breath”
Imagine! Imagine!
All the rivers, seas, oceans, lakes, ponds, streams, reddened and blackened with chemicals.
“Water, water everywhere and not a drop to drink”.
Imagine! Imagine!
The Earth is smothered with smelly garbage and toxic nuclear dumps.
“Land, land everywhere and not an inch to live on”
What is happening to the environment ???
Something needs to be done urgent--What we plant today, we will see when we are old and gray.
We need to become ‘Environmentally conscious’! Before it’s too late!!
My friends, what I meant, ‘Is to make our Earth Pollution free Environment.
SAFE DIWALI
This poem is written by Minolette Lemos, won the second prize (9-11th std group) in the Environment
Contests conducted by the GEM E-Newsletter during the 2014 Diwali vacation. – Editor
We spoil Diwali and our days
And the promise to stop our mean ways…
But our promise never last,
Because this Diwali you’ll again hear the blast…
It’s a way of lighting the sky, we say,
But it’s actually mother earth we betray,
Still there is time to stop this Friends,
And the Environment is not that difficult to mend….
Children’s fingers are burned, their eyes are burned, still you don’t realize the lesson to be learned.
Please stop doing such things.
Stop burning crackers and you’ll see the joy it brings…
This will also be a key solution,
In solving the environment’s Pollution…
So from this day start your RALLY.
And celebrate an ANTI-CRACKER DIWALI !..
Page 4
From,
Nithiya Sagayam
nithiyas@gmail.com
Federation of Asian Bishops Conferences
Dear Father Felix,
Happy New Year. I am a Capuchin Franciscan Friar from Tamil Nadu. I had been
following your emails and values with great happiness. I like the way you do things
and spread it out. Congratulations to you for your commitment towards good
governance and building a new society with values. I appreciate your creativity.
I had been working in the CBCI for 9 years and later with FABC for 4 years.
Presently I am the programme coordinator of All the Franciscan Families of India.
There are 52 Franciscan Religious Congregations with 163 provinces. There could
easily be around 150+ Provinces with at least 10 schools, each having a strength of
around 600-1000. Hence there is a great potential of reaching out to 10 lakh school
children who pass by our institutions daily.
I thought of requesting you for some guidance in this regard. How can we spread
the news of Environment among the school children?
If you have a good and committed team of volunteers and experts, you may also
help us similarly on other themes like
Peaceful living
Interreligious harmony
honouring the other through interpersonal relationships
care and concern for the poor and the neglected
enhancing the values of truthfulness and honesty
corruption free society
etc.
I will be more than happy to collaborate with you in this regard. I like to spread
your vision and mission to millions. Lets be in touch.
Yours
Nithiya ofm.cap
From,
samson aseervatham
axirvad@yahoo.co.in
Rag pickers should be organised and lend dignity to the profession .Those who
recycle the scrap from the rag pickers are making a fortune according to a scientific
study . They work hard never get their reward . Church has a crucial role to play in
this context .Rag pickers should fix a price for the scrap they sell. Thank you –
samson aseervatham
Page 5
Gujarat: Activist write to MoEF, want construction stopped STATUE OF UNITY PROJECT:
Cite a lack of environmental clearance, threaten to move court if queries not answered -Indian Exress - 20-1-2015
From: Rohit Prajapati <rohit.prajapati@gmail.com>
Activist write to MoEF, want construction stopped
STATUE OF UNITY PROJECT: Cite a lack of environmental clearance, threaten to move
court if queries not answered
Indian Express, January 20, 2015
The Statue of Unity is likely to face a legal hurdle with a group of environment activists set to move the
National Green Tribunal (NGT) against the state government’s ambitious project to construct the 180metre statue of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel at a distance of 3.2 km downstream of the Narmada dam on
an island in the middle of Narmada river.
The foundation stone of the project was laid by the then CM Narendra Modi on October 31, 2013, and a
work order of Rs 2,979 crore was given to Larsen & Toubro in October last year. Work on the
construction of the Rs 176 crore Shreshtha Bharat Bhawan, a part of the project, has begun and the
construction of the statue is likely to begin soon.
Activists have written to the secretary of the Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change,
asking him to direct the state government and the agencies involved in the construction of the project —
the Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel Rashtriya Ekta Trust (SVPRET) and the Sardar Sarovar Narmada Nigam
Limited (SSNNL) — to stop construction work with “immediate effect” in the absence of clarity on
environmental impact assessment of the project, or face legal action.
“We will look forward to your urgent action and also point-wise response to all our letters. Thus we call
on you to cease all Statue of Unity Project activities and not commence further work until the due
process of environmental clearance is undertaken. If project activities are not immediately stopped, you
will invite immediate legal action,” the activists wrote.
They have argued that the construction work on the project requires environmental clearance as it is
situated in an ecologically and environmentally sensitive zone and have said that being situated on the
boundary of the Shoolpaneshwar Wildlife Sanctuary, the project will put extra load on a geological fault
line area and will affect the river and the biodiversity also by bringing in lakhs of tourists to the
ecologically sensitive zone.
“This raises the issue of safety and stability of the project. The government claims to having conducted a
seismic hazard study of the project by its in-house Institute of Seismological Research, but the study is
not valid unless peer review is conducted. The study has not even been made public. We believe
construction activity is illegal in the absence of environment clearance from the union ministry as it
violates Environment Protection Act, 1986, and the Environment Impact Assessment (EIA) notification of
September 2006, as well as orders of the NGT and various other courts. We will take legal recourse so
that the government reveals its stand on an important aspect of the mega project,” said activist Trupti
Shah, who is one of the 22 activists who have taken the fight against the statue to court.
“We wrote to various government departments concerned four times and filed RTI applications but did
not get any clear information. So the only option left is legal recourse,” she said. A copy of the letter has
also been marked to L&T. The SSNNL maintains that the project does not require environment
clearance. Activists have maintained that the SSNNL is not the right authority to decide on the issue of
environment clearance.
The ongoing construction of Garudeshwar Weir downstream of the proposed site of the statue has
already been challenged by environment activists in the NGT for not seeking environment clearance and
next hearing is scheduled on February 4. The Union MoEF had in its previous affidavit before the NGT
maintained that the project never came before it for clearance. It has again stated that the project does
not require environment clearance as it is a part of the Sardar Sarovar Project.
Rohit Prajapati / Trupti Shah
37, Patrakar Colony, Tandalja Road,
Post-Akota, Vadodara - 390 020
GUJARAT, INDIA
Phone No. (O) + 91 - 265 - 2320399
Email No: rohit.prajapati@gmail.com
Page 6
Court unblocks Rs
2 crore for
Greenpeace India
Avantika Mehta, Hindustan
Times, New Delhi
Holding “different beliefs than that of the
government does not make (one) an
enemy of the state,” said the Delhi high
court on Tuesday while directing Centre
to release nearly Rs 2 crore of foreign
funding to Greenpeace India, which had
been blocked following a home ministry
order in June 2014.
While allowing the environment activists’
plea seeking a release of Rs 1.87 crore
sent by its parent organisation, justice
Rajiv Shakdher noted there was “no
material on record to restrict”
Greenpeace India from “accessing its
bank account,” or to explain why
Greenpeace International was on the
government watch-list. Calling the
government’s actions arbitrary and
unconstitutional, court observed the
home ministry’s actions — wherein the
NGO and its Amsterdam parent had
received no notice of the government’s
intentions to block funding — were
against the principles of natural justice.
“First you freeze the account, then you
investigate the case?” it asked the
Centre.
While Greenpeace is celebrating the
verdict as a “vindication of (their) work”,
MHA officers told HT that the ministry
will decide the next course of action after
examining the high court order.
In June 2014, an IB report submitted to
MHA alleged that Greenpeace India was
misusing foreign funds to hamper India’s
economic growth. Based on this, RBI was
directed to freeze all the NGO’s foreign
contributions from its parent
organisation and Climate Works
Foundation, and obtain foreign
contribution regulation act department
clearance before releasing any such
funds.
The directive had crippled the NGO’s
day-to-day functioning prompting it to
approach the High Court alleging the
government had acted arbitrarily.
Earlier this month, a Greenpeace India
activist Priya Pillai – known for her work
against Essar’s Mahan coalmines in MP –
was offloaded without warning at a Delhi
airport while on her way to an
international meeting with Greenpeace
International.
Green tribunal fines offshore company Rs 25 cr
for wrecking mudflats, mangroves in Raigad
By Sharmeen Hakim Indorewala, Mumbai Mirror
The National Green Tribunal in Pune has fined a Belapur firm Rs 25 crore for
environ mental damages resulting from the construction of their fabrication
yard project in Raigad district.
Page 7
The court held that Das Offshore Engineering
Pvt. Ltd. had failed to obtain valid
environmental clearances for their project,
which involved the reclamation of land and,
which in the process caused the destruction of
mudflats and mangroves at the site before
construction work started in 2009.
The panel, of Justice V R Kingaonkar and Dr.
Ajay A Deshpande, found that environmental
degradation resulting from the project
destroyed "flora and fauna, fishing activities,
spawning of fishes and aquatic life in the sea
area". The panel also mandated that Rs 5 crore
of the reparation be set aside to restore
mangrove forests in areas surrounding the
project site. Proceedings were brought against
Das Offshore, which fabricates, installs and
modifies oil and natural gas rigs and platforms,
by a former contractor of theirs, Naim
Hasware. In a complaint filed by his lawyer
Rajesh Joshi in 2011, Hasware claimed that the
company inflicted environmental damage
when it initiated a project in Raigad to
assemble and offload equipment required at
fuel extraction in Rajapuri Creek, an inlet of
the Arabian Sea. The contractor alleged that
the company began excavation and blasting
work at the site without prior permission
despite the use of explosives being banned in
that area; he added that several petitions to the
Maritime Board went unheeded.
The most glaring violation has to do with a
condition imposed by the State Environment
Department while granting the project
clearance in June 2010: it held that no land
development, including reclamation, should be
carried out at the site. This clause was removed
on January 31 two years later. The tribunal
held that that the expunging of this con dition
was illegal as it was not done with the consent
of the entire board. The Tribunal observed that
initially an application was made to the
Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF),
where certain issues concerning permission for
the project were raised. These included the site
being surrounded with mudflats and
mangroves and there being no justification for
the specific selection of the site. Moreover, the
project required both Enviromental Clearance
and Costal Regulatory Zone (CRZ) clearance.
"Without the issues raised by the MoEF being
addressed in any justifiable manner, the
project was granted approval by SEAC (State
Expert Appraisal Committee) and SEIAA(State
Environment Impact Assessment Authority),"
the Tribunal observed.
The Rs 20 crore from the punitive damages
imposed by the Tribunal will be credited to a
separate bank account by the State
Environment Department. The money will be
utilised for the creation of educational
programmes related to the environment, the
construction of solid waste facilities, sewage
management, public toilet facilities in small
towns and toilets for women on highways in
the state.
HC asks developer to deposit Rs 14 lakh to cut 70 trees
and plant 5 for each
Shibu Thomas,TNN
MUMBAI: In a unique order, the Bombay high court has directed a builder to deposit Rs 14 lakh—Rs
20,000 for each tree—for the 70 trees he plans to cut on a plot of land in Khopoli to develop a residential
project.
Jani Properties will also have to plant five trees for each tree it cuts to make way for the project. The order
by a division bench of Chief Justice Mohit Shah and Justice Burgess Colabawalla is to ensure the newly
planted trees are cared for.
The court was hearing a public interest litigation filed by a local resident who had challenged the Tree
Authority's sanction for the hacking down of 70 trees. Petitioner Manish Khavale claimed that the TA's
condition which asking the developer to deposit Rs 1,000 per tree was illusory. "After depositing Rs
70,000, the developer may not plant new trees and maintain them and can afford to have the deposit
forfeited," he told court. At this, the developer offered to increase the deposit amount.
Page 8
The HC ordered the firm to submit a report to the Tree Authority within six months. The judges said an
interest-free deposit of Rs 14 lakh will be made with the Khopoli Municipal Council for five years. "The
Tree Authority committee shall, from time to time, carry out inspection of the trees planted and
maintained and submit its report to the municipal council at least once a year," said the judges. After five
years, the authority will submit a report to the KMC, based on which a decision will be taken if the money
should be refunded to the builder.
The authority had granted the developer permission to cut 70 of the 110 trees on his property in July 2008.
It asked the builder to plant five trees and deposit Rs 1,000 for each tree cut, with the KMC. Khavale filed
the PIL claiming the permission to cut old trees were in violation of rules. The collector informed court
that the trees were to be cut on a private property, not government land, and the sanction was proper. The
HC gave its approval but after modifying the conditions.
Don’t pollute Ganga, says Modi
New Delhi, Jan 6 (IANS): Prime Minister Narendra Modi Tuesday made a public
appeal to not pollute the Ganga river while calling for a "time-bound, swift action
and single-minded focus to ensure it is made pollution-free".
Presiding over a high-level meet on the "Namaami Gange" project, attended by
union ministers M. Venkaiah Naidu, Nitin Gadkari, Uma Bharati and Prakash
Javadekar, besides top government officials, Modi made a public appeal saying:
"Ganga ko ganda na karein (don't pollute Ganga)". Modi said the 'Namaami Gange'
vision should focus on urban sewage and industrial effluents to check pollution at its
source.
A total 746 industrial units along the stretch of Ganga were identified as critical
pollution spots, of which pulp and paper, tanneries, and sugar industries accounted
for over three-fourths, a statement from the prime minister's secretariat said.
Emphasising the need to promote recycling of industrial waste water, Modi said the
industrial units should be motivated to stop pollution, failing which action should be
initiated within the framework of existing laws.
The prime minister also called for exploring the possibility of setting up modern,
environment-friendly crematoria along the Ganga through private initiative, the
statement added. The prime minister also gave the nod to "Ganga Vahini", a group
of volunteers to help clean the Ganga river.
Available
Educational PowerPoint Presentation (PPT) on
STOP WATER POLLUTION
SAVE OUR PONDS AND LAKES
Download this PPT from our website:
www.stfrancisxavierpanvel.in – GEM PPT section
Page 9
Pollution: NGT orders joint
inspection at steel plant
PTI Jan 15, 2015, 04.39PM IST
ambient air quality samples would be collected
and analysed... The samples would be tested
at the laboratory of the CPCB.
"The joint inspection team should clearly report
as to the quantum of extraction of ground
water by the industry, the cess payable and
amount of cess actually paid by the industry for
all these years. The team shall also verify if the
units have authorisation to deal with hazardous
wastes, if the same is found in the premises of
the unit," the bench said.
The Tribunal, in a 23-page judgement, took
strong objection to the air pollution caused by
the stainless steel plant and asked the industry
to show cause as to why it should not be
NEW DELHI: The National Green Tribunal has directed to pay compensation for polluting the
directed the central and Uttar Pradesh pollution environment.
control boards to jointly inspect Rathi Steel and
It has also directed UPPCB and the competent
Power Ltd's plant at Ghaziabad for alleged
authority under the Water (Prevention and
failure to take steps to control air and water
Control of Pollution) Cess Act, 1977 to issue
pollution.
notice to all the industries in Ghaziabad
wherever they were extracting groundwater
A bench headed by NGT Chairperson Justice
and were not paying appropriate cess in
Swatanter Kumar directed a team of senior
environmental engineers from Central Pollution accordance with the law.
Control Board (CPCB) and Uttar Pradesh
Pollution Control Board (UPPCB) to inspect the "If such industry is causing any pollution i.e air
and water by their activity, show cause notices
unit and submit its final report clearly stating
whether the industry was complying with all the shall be issued by the Board within two weeks
from the date of this order and it should
directions issued by the Boards.
proceed with such industries in accordance
with law," the Tribunal said.
"The trade effluent (liquid waste), stack and
Govt won’t dilute key green laws: Javadekar
Courtesy: The Tribune
Vibha Sharma, Tribune News Service, New Delhi, January 15
The government has refuted environmentalists’ allegations that key green laws in the country
would be “diluted”. Environment Minister Prakash Javadekar says his aim is to improve and
smoothen environmental clearance processes by bringing in them “clarity and openness”
without compromising on green issues. Javadekar, who has indicated his keenness to bring
about amendments to legislations during the upcoming Budget Session, says he is still studying
the recommendations of the TSR Subramanian report and nothing has been finalised. “The
report has not been adopted, it has just been put on the ministry’s website for comments. How
can they (environmentalists) talk of dilution when the laws have not even been drafted? They
should wait for the final drafts before reacting,” he says.
Though the government is keen to amend green laws, these are unlikely to be introduced in the
form of ordinances. The government wants the laws to be discussed in Parliament, officials say.
Page 10
“The aim is to bring clarity in law and process and reduce the court’s intervention in matters
related to clearances. Linking the Subramanian committee report to laws is wrong. The report is
in public domain. Anyone can see it and give their opinion on it. The standing committee also
has its own opinion and rights,” said an official.
The high-powered committee under former Cabinet secretary Subramanian was set up by the
Narendra Modi government to assess the existing environment and forest laws and recommend
amendments “to bring them in line with changing times”. These include the Environment
(Protection) Act, 1986; Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980; Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972; Water
(Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974; and the Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution)
Act, 1981.
In a deposition before the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Environment and Forests,
Science and Technology recently, several environmental groups criticised the recommendations
of the panel as “counter-productive to the cause of environment”. The BJP-led dispensation is
already under attack for “diluting” laws such as the Land Acquisition Act and any change in
environmental laws is expected to be fiercely contested by the Opposition in Parliament.
Electronic waste from homes turning city into toxic
dump
Anahita Mukherji,TNN | Jan 8, 2015,
While pollution control boards have put in much effort into creating efficient
systems for the storage and disposal of hazardous waste generated by industries,
there is virtually no method whereby hazardous domestic waste is treated.
Batteries, cell-phones, old mixers and expired medicines find their way into city
landfills, where chemicals percolate into ground-water and rivers.
"Government pollution control boards across the country study and certify the
competence of various waste transporters and authorize waste-disposal plants for
large industries. But a very large proportion of waste is left out of this loop. This
includes hazardous waste generated at the household level," points out Shyam
Asolekar, professor at the Centre for Environmental Science and Engineering, IITBombay.
Hazardous waste dumped directly into dustbins or gutters includes old computers,
mobile phones, kitchen mixers and grinders and batteries for a whole range of
electronic devices such as wall clocks, wrist watches and scooters. They end up in
landfills. The chemicals that spew out of them are toxic. This is also true for printed
circuit boards for electronic durables.
"The outside casing of a battery gets rusted and crushed in landfills, and the
internal hazardous chemicals that come out of it leach into landfills," said Asolekar.
While vehicle battery dealers are now legally bound to sell new batteries only when
the old ones are returned, this is not strictly followed. It is a commercial activity
over which the government does not have full control. There is no assessment of
how many million batteries are manufactured and how many recycled in a particular
region.
Page 11
Another toxic component of domestic waste includes expired medicines that people
throw into their bins. Two or three pills thrown into a dustbin may not seem like
much. But cumulatively it works out to a huge quantity of chemical waste when
seen in the context of an entire city
Asolekar calls this a chemical assault on the city. He believes that a possible
solution to the problem would be the introduction of market forces into the system
of hazardous domestic waste disposal. "This could be done with the equivalent of
raddiwallas for e-waste. Because raddiwallas pay people for old newspapers, one
never finds entire newspapers lying around in landfills. Similarly, if people were paid
to dispose of e-waste, they would collect their old batteries and electronic
equipment and sell them instead of throwing them away. Transport mechanisms
could then be set up to take the waste to specialized treatment centres. I am aware
of only a handful of e-waste processing centres across India. The one in Bangalore
is doing a good job," says Asolekar, pointing to the dire need for India to have more
such centres. While selling people new batteries, shops, too, could offer a discount
when the old ones are returned.
In 6 months, Juhu to get city's
first 4-km cycling, walking
track along Irla
By Virat Singh, Mumbai Mirror
If the plan envisioned by residents for greening
Juhu gets off the drawing board, the neighbourhood
will be first to boast of a four-km long dedicated
cycling and walking space along the Irla nullah,
currently in a poorly maintained state. The Juhu
Vision Plan also aims to link three prominent
gardens located along the nallah to provide a
parallel 1.5-km long accessible green stretch.
Prepared by architect and Juhu resident P K Das in
collaboration with residents' groups, the plan is
being funded by local MP Javed Akhtar and
provides for 20ft-wide green walking spaces on
both banks of the nullah, starting from Club
Millenium to the end of PVR cinema under Phase I
- a stretch BMC had earlier planned on keeping
only for use by their vehicles to clean the nullah.
In its final avatar, this green corridor will extend
from Ritambhara College, Juhu to
SNDT University, Santacruz, and make it possible
for one to walk or cycle almost the entire distance.
"The work on Phase I has begun after much delay
due to holdups by various government agencies, but
now it's picking up steam. The concrete base has
been laid, and paving the two-km stretch on both
sides of the nullah is next. We have already
finalised the light fixtures to be installed, and the
landscaping will start in a month," said architect
Samarth Das of PK Das and Associate.
He added that the concrete cycling stretch has been
planned to accommodate BMC vehicles including
JCBs and trucks. "As part of the landscaping, we
have decided to green the mounds of earth kept on
the banks. We plan to build two inter-bridges to
connect both banks, besides seating arrangements,"
Das said.
"A continuous stretch of gardens will be achieved
by bringing down the boundary walls of two
gardens -one that was being maintained by Ronson
Foundation and Kaifi Azmi Park," said Ashoke
Pandit of Gulmohar Area Societies Welfare Group.
He added that the Kamla Raheja Garden on 10th
Road will be made a part of this stretch as well.
For many more such slogans (wordings) on environmental issues
Visit our website – www.stfrancisxavierpanvel.in
go to ENVIRONMENT RALLY – PLAN
Page 12
NMMC plans 1.5-km cycling
track around Nerul lake
B B Nayak,TNN
Navi Mumbai: The civic body in its Nerul lake
beautification drive has decided to invest Rs 17
crore to develop a fitness park around it. On the
plans is a 1.5-km cycling track, a 2.6-km jogging
path, an amphitheatre and an open air gym.
It will be a boon for Happy Street enthusiasts, who
have to wait for Sunday to pedal on a stretch of
land without the fear of being mowed down by
speeding vehicles.
picturesque but will also be easy on the ankles of
serious runners.
Also part of the development plan is to clean Nerul
lake and erect light poles around it. "We also plan
to allow recreational fishing at the water body. But
The cycling track, which officials said will be ready it will be strictly monitored," said an NMMC
by August, is set to be 16-ft-wide and will encircle official.
the lake. The 2.6-km jogging track will have the
same width and will be open to runners from April. The park will be surrounded by a periphery wall to
keep out anti-social elements.
"Earlier, we had thought to allow cyclists on the
"Once a jogger enters the park he will see a huge
jogging track but decided to make two separate
paths. It will come up on the right of the main water statue—the jewel of Navi Mumbai. It will be a
body and on the opposite end of Palm Beach Road," round monument meant to depict the city. Very
close to that will be a 1,000-seater amphitheatre.
said Mohan Dagaonkar, city engineer.
We will invite student and professional groups to
This arrangement, however, is to not only conserve perform there," said an NMMC official. The civic
the depleting mangrove cover but is part of a wider body is also planning to build an open-air gym
similar to the one in Koparkhairane to complete the
plan to make the city more tourist friendly. "These
experience. "We also will provide parking for 100
tracks will appeal to our rapidly increasing expat
cars, so we can avoid traffic jams on weekends,"
population," said an official involved with the
said Dagaonkar.
project. The idea, sources said, was to use the
migratory birds as a tourist attraction, as they visit
This fitness zone will join the ranks of the
the lake every winter.
upcoming botanical gardens and the adventure park
in Parsik Hill in becoming ambitious projects
The jogging track, officials said, will use stamp
undertaken by NMMC to not only increase tourismconcrete that will give the track a wooden floor
related revenue but also to add to the green cover in
appearance. It will make the track not only
the city.
Now, kids from Vashi school to preserve city’s green
cover
Sameera Kapoor Munshi,TNN | Jan 11, 2015,
Page 13
Navi Mumbai: In a first-of-its-kind move, the
Vashi gardening department may lease out an
open space to Sacred Heart School to plant
trees and add to the city's green cover. The
preliminary plan involves leasing out space for
one year to let the children develop it into a
green belt.
are 20 fruit trees to be transplanted. If the civic
body allots them the space, it will help preserve
the saplings which have grown to a height of 1
meter," said Sharmila Fernandes,
headmistress, Sacred Heart School. She added
that they also plan to start organic farming in
the space between trees.
Students from an eco club of Sacred Heart
recently met the tree officer of Vashi and told
him that they wanted an open space to plant
trees. "The students were keen on developing
the open space as a Live Environment Science
Laboratory," said garden superintendent Vijay
Kamble.
Kamble said once the space is identified, the
proposal will be put with authorities for
approval. "Till now, we have allotted spaces
between dividers and on footpaths to NGOs
and the corporate sector but no schools were
ever part of such an initiative. The idea is to let
more schools take up the cause and help the
civic body in preserving the green cover," said
Kamble.
The students were given a project to cultivate
fruit trees at their homes in August. But lack of
space within the school premises prompted
them to seek help from the civic authority.
"There
The school authorities said that other schools,
too, should come forward undertake these kind
of projects.
Coconut waste power to light up Turbhe landfill
SANJAY BANERJEE,TNN | Jan 6, 2015
NAVI MUMBAI: The Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation (NMMC) and The Energy and
Resources Institute (TERI) are working on a project to generate electricity from coconut husk
that is segregated from municipal solid waste in the civic area. A biomass gasification plant will
recycle the husk for generating power to illuminate the landfill site at Turbhe. TERI has had
success with a similar project in Delhi and is hopeful of doing the same at Turbhe for NMMC. "If
it is working in Delhi, it should also be possible for us," said NMMC sources.
The landfill site is spread across 65 acres and its expected life expectancy is around 69 years,
according to the
environmental status report, 2013-14. Apart from preventing environmental degradation, this
project will help in converting waste to energy and meet the ever-increasing demands of energy
generation.
The civic body has tied up with TERI for its ambitious 'Eco-City'. According to the annual 201314 report, the major objective of this environment-friendly project — touted to the first-of-itskind in India — is to appropriately utilize and conserve the natural resources within the
municipal limits and promote sustainable development in the city. The initiative to generate
power is part of the refuse-derived fuel project through which the civic body plans to generate
combustible energy. The gasifire system, that it now proposes to set up, will primarily use the
coconut waste to generate power.
About 650 MT of solid waste is generated by NMMC per day on an average. Out of this 39 MT is
coconut waste, which is roughly around 6% of the waste collected every day. Sources said
handling of the landfill site has been given out on contract to an agency on a public-private
partnership (PPP) basis. The project would be handled by the same agency.
Page 14
A source from NMMC said, "We are one of the stakeholders when it comes to various projects
that involve effectively using the biomass and other waste generated in our civic area along with
TERI. As an outreach initiative, a biomethanation plant has been installed at the NMMC head
office to treat the canteen waste on an experimental basis."
The annual NMMC report stated, "Such measures shall provide a first-hand experience to the
citizens and also encourage them to adopt the same at the individual or community level."
The tie-up with TERI in the first phase of the project involves drawing a comprehensive action
plan for residential, industrial and government sectors with a multi-pronged approach to have
research, training, outreach and policy intervention for each of the three stake holding blocks.
Like Yoga, it’s time for an International Day of Safe Food
By Devinder Sharma
Wednesday, 07 January 2015 10:29 PM
Not only yoga, with health problems accentuating in the recent past, the trend is also
increasingly moving towards safe food. But while the popularity of yoga received a shot in the
arm when Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s suggestion of celebrating an International Day of
Yoga was accepted by the UN, safe food has yet to get a political backing. Although Michelle
Obama has taken to organic farming in the premises of the White House, and is known to serve
chemical-free food to guests, she has still not been able to convince the UN to have a special
day marked for safe food. Nevertheless, the preference and intake for non-chemical farm
produce has grown globally over the years, and is growing at a phenomenal pace.
According to the Soil Association’s Organic
Market Report 2013 sale of organic food has
grown by more than 25 per cent since 2008.
While in the US it is expected to grow at a
compound annual growth rate of 14 per cent
between 2014 and 2018; in India too, the
growth looks very promising. The Indian
organic food market is likely to grow by a
phenomenal annual compound growth rate of
19 per cent between 2012 and 2016.
Interestingly, not everyone keen on organic
food is banking upon an organic certification.
For several decades now I have seen farmers
in Punjab and Haryana, comprising the wheat
bowl of the country, keep a small patch of
cultivated land free of chemical pesticides and
fertilizers for home consumption. While they
drench the crops meant for the market with
whole lot of pesticides, they ensure safe food
for their own consumption.
The primary reason behind the
increasing consumer preference for
non-chemical food products are the
resulting health impacts. More and
more people now realize that most
babies born today carry persistent
pesticides and other chemicals in
their bodies. Lately, scientists have
found 21 different chemicals in
umbilical cord blood. With lifestyle
diseases becoming more and more
common, people are linking it to the
food they eat. So whether we like it
or not, the world is quietly moving
towards safe food.
I have also watched with interest a silent food revolution taking place. In the entire northwestern
parts of the country, more and more households are relying on organic wheat –
the Sharbati variety – coming from Madhya Pradesh. The organic wheat that is being imported
from MP comes with no certificate. It is only through goodwill and faith that people are willing to
pay a higher price for what they are told is a better quality produce. The atta
from Sharbati wheat is relatively expensive but people are willing to pay a price for healthy food.
Page 15
Several years back, India Today (Oct 15, 2007) had reported on its growing appeal in the
metros. In a report entitled Grains of Gold,
http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/Grains+of+gold/1/1561.html) it wrote:
"India's granary Punjab still produces the lion's share of the country's wheat. But when it comes
to taste, quality and other attributes, Madhya Pradesh's Sharbati tops the charts in demand in
the metros. The lustrous, golden-hued grain commands premium price, being re-christened
golden or premium wheat in wholesale and retail markets of Mumbai, Pune, Ahmedabad and
Hyderabad or simply, MP wheat in major North Indian markets like Delhi.”
The primary reason behind the increasing consumer preference for non-chemical food products
are the resulting health impacts. More and more people now realize that most babies born today
carry persistent pesticides and other chemicals in their bodies. Lately, scientists have found 21
different chemicals in umbilical cord blood. With lifestyle diseases becoming more and more
common, people are linking it to the food they eat. So whether we like it or not, the world is
quietly moving towards safe food.
This will require changes at two levels. First of all, there are essentially two kinds of improved
crops that have been developed by agricultural scientists: the high-yielding varieties (HYV) that
need chemical pesticides to be sprayed to take care of insects and pests; and the geneticallymodified (GM) crops that creates poison within the plant to kill certain kinds of insects, and at
the same time require potent chemicals to be sprayed from outside too keep the other pests
under control. Agricultural scientists need to now shift research focus towards organic breeding
of crop varieties, which means developing crop varieties that are responsive to organic farming
methods.
Secondly, it’s time that the government steps in to encourage farmers to move towards nonchemical agriculture. Every year, huge stocks of wheat in Punjab and Haryana are spoiled in
storage. At the same time, huge quantity of Sharbati wheat is imported from Madhya Pradesh to
meet the local demand.
You will agree it will make tremendous economic sense for the Punjab (and also for Haryana)
governments to encourage farmers to grow wheat without chemicals to cater to the growing
local preference rather than allow its chemically-infested wheat to rot. And I see no reason why
this can’t be done. If Punjab government can provide a subsidy of Rs 4,000 per acre for the
paddy farmers to shift to cotton cultivation, I am sure a similar amount can be provided to wheat
farmers to shift from chemical farming to non-chemical farming.
(Devinder Sharma is a distinguished food and trade policy analyst)
Available
Educational PowerPoint Presentation (PPT) on
ORGANIC FARMING
GENETICALLY MODIFIED FOODS
Download this PPT from our website:
www.stfrancisxavierpanvel.in – GEM PPT section
Container Gardening & Top 20 easy vegetables to grow at
home
Selecting a Container
Virtually any type of vegetable or herb should fair well in a container as long as it has enough
room.
As a general rule, select as large a container as possible. Small containers dry out more quickly
and need daily watering.
Planting Depth
Here are the minimum soil depths for healthy growth. Keep in mind that you can get by with less
depth if you use a self-watering planter.
4-5 inches: chives, lettuce, radishes, other salad greens, basil, coriander
6-7 inches: bush beans, garlic, kohlrabi, onions, Asian greens, peas, mint, thyme
Page 16
8-9 inches: pole beans, carrots, chard, cucumber, eggplant, fennel, leeks, peppers, spinach,
parsley, rosemary
10-12 inches: beets, broccoli, okra, potatoes, sweet corn, summer squash, dill, lemongrass
The Best Vegetables for Containers
Potatoes, chard, lettuce, cherry and tomatoes, peppers, eggplants, chives, lettuce, radishes,
basil, coriander, bush beans, garlic, kohlrabi, onions, Asian greens, peas, mint, thyme, pole
beans, carrots, chard, cucumber, eggplant, fennel, leeks, peppers, spinach, parsley, rosemary,
carrot, broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, radish, beets, broccoli, okra, potatoes, sweet corn,
summer squash, dill, lemongrass.
Plant Combinations / Companion
Planting
Plant that can be grown together (
Good Companions):
 Beans, carrots, squash
 Eggplant, beans
 Tomatoes, basil, onions
 Lettuce, herbs
 Spinach, chard, onions
Plant Combinations to Avoid:
 Beans with onions and garlic
 Carrots with dill or fennel
 Tomatoes or squash with potatoes
 Onions with beans and peas
FOR LIVE EXAMPLE
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FATHER REBELLO’S TERRACE GARDEN
Locating Your Container
Most vegetables require six hours of sunlight per day. Salad greens and herbs can usually get
by with less. Tomatoes, peppers, beans and other sun-lovers will appreciate as much sun as
they can get. If your yard is short on sun, consider putting your plants on caddies or adding
casters. That way they can be moved during the day or even later in the season as the angle of
the sun changes.
Wind is another factor to consider. Your plants will be happiest in a protected location where the
wind doesn't batter and dry out their foliage. Use the shelter of a building, erect a temporary
windbreak made from portable fencing or fabric. Arrange your pots so larger plants shield
smaller plants. Clustering potted plants together also helps to raise humidity levels, keeping
plants more productive.
Drainage
Drainage is key to keep plants from drowning. You want your pot or container to let excess
water out of the bottom, so your plants won't sit in water or soggy soil. Make sure your container
has one large hole or several smaller ones. You can usually drill holes if the drainage is
insufficient.
Soil
Quality potting soil is really important for vegetables. Mix some manure as well.
Water
Vegetables require a consistent supply of water to perform their best. Inconsistent moisture
causes lots of problems, such as blossom drop, poor root development, leaf curling, insect
problems and rot.
Manure
Plants need food to thrive, and their food is manure. If your soil doesn’t have manure already
mixed in, you’ll want to add it. Manure is especially important when you're growing vegetables
in containers. In fact, you just won't succeed if you don't use some kind of manure. There are
several reasons why manure is so important. First is that the growing medium in the container
has few, if any nutrients. So, your plants are totally dependent on you for the nutrients they
Page 17
need. Second is that containerized plants get watered a lot, and every time you water, you wash
some nutrients out of the soil. The third reason manures are necessary is that in a container
garden, you are packing lots of plants into a very small space. One 2' x 2' self-watering planter
might contain a tomato plant, two pepper plants, a basil plant and some parsley. That's a lot of
foliage to feed from a few gallons of "soil".
Tips for Growing in Containers
 Clay pots are usually more attractive than plastic ones, but plastic pots retain moisture
better. To get the best of both, slip a plastic pot into a slightly larger clay pot.
 Avoid small containers. They often can't store enough water to get through hot days.
 Add about 1 inch of course gravel in the bottom of the container to improve drainage.
 Vegetables that can be easily transplanted are best suited for containers. Transplants can be
purchased from local nurseries or started at home.
 An occasional application of fish emulsion or compost will add trace elements to container
soil.
 Place containers where they will receive maximum sunlight and good ventilation. Watch for
and control insect pests.
Courtesy: face book forward
Three Bishops from USA meet Dr things are run under the latter's
Heggade – discuss service initiatives administration.
Daijiworld Media Network - Beltangady (SP)
Beltangady, Jan 7: Three bishops from the
United States of America, Sudarshana
Devadhar, Warner H Brown, and Sandra L
Steiner
Ball,
met
Dharmasthala
Dharmadhikari, Dr D Veerendra Heggade, on
Monday January 5, and had an exchange of
information with him about the way the
Dr Heggade explained to the team about
certain unique traditions of the temple like
the process of doing justice in case of
family feuds, 'Hoyilu' system of coming to
conclusions, issue of settling vows undertake
between persons or families in the name of
Lord Manjunatheshwara, system of four
kinds of donations, etc.
The entourage went through the temple
premises, Sri Kshetra Dharmasthala Rural
Development Project, Manjusha museum, car
museum, Shantivana naturopathy centre,
Annapoorna Hall where devotees are served
food, etc, and expressed their deep sense
of
appreciation
for
the
initiatives
undertaken in the name of the temple.
On behalf of the temple, Dr Heggade
honoured the Bishops.
Let down by PM Modi, catholics write to archbishop
Thursday, 8 January 2015 - 8:00am IST | Agency: dna
Ashutosh Shukla
The catholic community, whose vote seems to have played a crucial role in city, where
the BJP won three seats in the assembly elections, is disappointed with the party. And the
reason is the recent "Ghar Wapsi" programme. The Church in the City (CIC), the political arm of
the community, which had met chief minister Devendra Fadnavis, state BJP vice president and
Shiv Sena leaders in June to seek clarification on the parties' Hindutva agenda and
development plank, has written a letter to their Archbishop.
The letter is said to be based on the feedback the community is getting from its members.
Addressed to the Archbishop, it states that he should make a strong statement on the issue. The
way it's written, it's partly addressed to prime minister Narendra Modi.
Page 18
"Mr Modi, our PM, we had great faith in you that you will advance the nation towards
development and progress. That is the reason we broke our secular traditions and voted you to
power. Now, in return, what have we got from you? Your deadly silence while your Sangh
Parivar is having a field day," reads the letter.
"We have been backstabbed. When we met them (Fadnavis and Sena leaders), we were
convinced of the 'development and progress' agenda towards the community. Now, there is not
even a word. The community also needs to strongly come out as there is unease among its
members," said Willie Shirsat, chief secretary of CIC who has written the letter. CIC PRO Savio
Joseph said, "Keeping quiet would mean we have not raised the issue. IfArchbishop speaks
up, it gives a different meaning altogether."
Archbishop Oswald Cardinal Gracias said, "I will categorically state there is no forced
conversion within the Catholic Church in India. The Ghar Wapsi programme seems to have
elements of 'forced re-conversion'. We strongly disapprove of any attempts to disrupt the peace
among communities by such programmes, which are causing anxiety in the minds of community
members, threatening to disturb the integrity and harmony of our country."
BJP's city president Ashish Shellar said, "We are not part of Ghar Wapsi nor do we appreciate it.
Protection of minorities is the government's priority, we will not let them down. At the same time,
freedom of everybody is paramount as per constitution."
Government will protect
minorities: Najma Heptullah
She was replying to a question about growing
concern among the minority communities following
communal statements.
New Delhi: Union Minority Affairs Minister Najma
Heptullah Wednesday said the central
government wants a "tranquil" atmosphere in
the country and will protect the minorities.
During an interaction with women journalists at
the Indian Women Press Corps here, Heptullah
also said comments by "individuals are
immaterial".
"In a country of 1.2 billion, many people say
things just to come in the limelight. The
government's aim is to create a tranquil
atmosphere," she said.
She was replying to a question about growing
concern among the minority communities
following communal statements by the Bharatiya
Janata Party leaders and conversion
programmes being reported.
"Minorities need not be concerned, the
government will protect them," she said.
Asked about the proposed anti-conversion bill
being talked about, she said: "There are already
so many laws... if there is a consensus on any
law, it's up to the lawmakers to decide. I will
abide by my party's decision."
The minister said Prime Minister Narendra Modi
in his Independence Day speech and Home
Minister Rajnath Singh on several occasions
have given assurances that the interests of
minorities will be protected.
"The prime minister's speech from Red Fort is
the most important of all his speeches. He
assured minorities, he will not keep repeating it.
It is the responsibility of the home minister to to
give confidence of safety and security (to
minorities) and the home minister has always
come forth to do so.
"There is no shift in government policy, if some
individual is saying something it is immaterial,"
Heptullah said.
"If I start reacting to all statements nothing will
happen, I want to focus on my work. Once the
minorities see the result, they will be satisfied,"
she said.
"I hope in a country where all of us live as
friends, we will continue to do so."
On union minister Sadhvi Niranjan Jyoti's
comments which created an uproar in
parliament, the minister said: "I told the
minister that the comment was not in good taste
and the prime minister also disapproved of it."
Asked about reservations for minorities,
Heptullah said the constitution did not allow it
and the government was focusing on providing
skill training so that they can get jobs in private
sector.
"According to constitution, there cannot be
religion based reservations. Some state did that
and it is always stopped by the court. Moreover,
there are not many job in government sector,"
said the minister.
"We are providing skill training to minorities so
that they can get jobs in private sector. By
March, 10,000 youth will be trained for ready for
jobs. If they want to be entrepreneur, loans will
be provided," Heptullah added.
IANS
Page 19
Kolkata: Lessons from Loreto Sealdah ....MM 19 Jan pg 19
How a gutsy Irish nun transformed a Kolkata
institution into a haven for the underprivileged
One of the most powerful drivers of the CSR movement could well be the thousands of
schools dotting the country.
http://www.mumbaimirror.com/columns/columns/Lessons-from-Loreto-Sealdah/articleshow/45936519.cms
Schools enjoy what most corporate houses do not. They possess scale; a single school in excess of a
thousand students is probably the equivalent of 20 medium-sized companies in that pin-code. They are a
benevolent command economy; one instruction can make the entire school fall in line within
minutes.They are idealistic; they believe they can make the world a better place well before cynicism
creeps in. They represent an efficient three-tier decision implementation pyramid (headmistress, teachers
and students), enhancing effectiveness over multi-tiered management structures.
A few decades ago, Sister Cyril of Loreto Sealdah in Kolkata leveraged these realities in a lateral way.
This Irish-born principal of a prominent school in an under-privileged neighbourhood would notice how,
even as it offered premium education to the well-to-do, an even larger community of girls literally
adjacent to the school's gates would never be able to access its educational facilities. So Sister Cyril
resolved that she would provide these children with an English-medium education for free.
What Sister Cyril was proposing was unique.Most schools would have grudgingly agreed to provide free
after-school supplementary classes; no school would have agreed to provide under-privileged girls with
real-time education.Most schools would have had parents protesting about the social mismatch; Sister
Cyril was stubborn enough to stand her ground, which sent out a Morse that `You may take your children
to another school if you want, but this is what I will do!' The accountants could have pointed out
infrastructural inadequacy and revenue squeeze; Sister Cyril felt that a combination of cross-subsidy,
space modification and teacher adjustment would prove effective.
It pays to be occasionally pig-headed. Loreto Sealdah may have started as a drop-in school for underprivileged children but after a four-yearold Project Rainbow student was raped on the pavement outside.
Sister Cyril put her boot down: the girls would be provided residence as well. Residence? Where was the
space in the middle of a crowded Sealdah to house more than 700 girls? So Sister Cyril re-used class
rooms for the education of under-privileged once the main school was finished for the day.Then came the
accommodation argument; Sister Cyril got the children to slide desks against the wall that would
transform a classroom into a living room. Then came the food issue. The older girls helped prepare meals
and the following morning these children rearranged classroom desks, had a bath in the school toilet,
slipped into fresh uniforms and were off to study.
You'd think that such an arrangement would have been a dream story. Read what happened instead: the
children missed the freedom of the streets; their usual complaint was `Aa make roj shokale chaan korte
bole aar baire jete daai na!' (We are asked to have a bath every day and are prevented from stepping out).
The teachers were `educated' to Bengali slang. Parents stepped up their opposition to the idea of street
children studying shoulder-to-shoulder with their own.
Page 20
Sister Cyril turned on the charm offensive; she appealed to the parents' sense of charity; she arranged
funding from Ireland and Switzerland; she roofed and tiled the terrace to create a single-roomed `home'
for 700 children; she convinced fee-paying students to become teachers; she re-designed the school timetable so that girls from Classes V to X would invest two hours each week as a part of their work education
commitment.
What started as a cottage experiment in Kolkata's seasoned academic environment is now a case study. Of
Loreto Sealdah's 1,250 students, 700 are from the streets. What was considered as an idea destined to fail
has been extended to six Loreto schools in Kolkata. What used to be a neighbourhood spilling over with
street children is now near-free of this reality.
The individual success stories that Loreto Sealdah has turned out are inspirational. Padma's father died
when she was three; her mother worked as a domestic help; she collected free khichdi from Mother
Teresa's House to sustain the family. The durwan at Loreto Sealdah put in a word, Padma was enrolled in
Project Rainbow (the name by which Loreto Sealdah ran the project), completed her school, proceeded to
her Masters and went on to work with Vodafone.Her elder sister Mandira was similarly educated and is
now settled in Dublin.
Another student Shireen confessed she would have to discontinue because the family resources needed to
be saved for food instead.She was absorbed into the Rainbow programme, passed her Madhyamik and
Higher Secondary exams, graduated from Loreto College and joined AMRI Hospital as a cancer
documentation specialist.
Time then for the schools of the country to draw inspiration from a gutsy Irish nun and wake up to an
opportunity sitting literally at their doorsteps.
SRI LANKA : Pope greeted by 40 elephants
Colombo, Sri Lanka, Jan 13, 2015 (CNA/EWTN News via CNUA) In all, there were
40 elephants that the Sri Lankan authorities decided to include in Pope Francis’
welcome ceremony upon his first visit to the Asian nation. The elephants came from
the Buddhist temples of Colombo, where they were extravagantly dressed up for
the occasion and were among the first to greet the Pope when he came out of the
open-air Pope Mobile. Elephants have been an important part of the Sri Lankan
armory for the last 2,000 years and the tradition was even continued during the
nearly 150 years of British Colonial rule. Elephants hold an important role in the
religious practices of the Sri Lankan people. They are often seen in Buddhist
temples or in pictorial expressions of faith. The Sri Lankan Elephant is the largest
of the three subspecies of Asian elephants, reaching more than 11 feet in height and
up to 12,000 pounds in weight. During his opening speech in the mainly Buddhist
country, the Pope stressed the importance of building peace and respect among
religions. “Whenever people listen to one another humbly and openly, their shared
values and aspirations become all the more apparent,” he said.
Page 21
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Bible study groups, SCCs or other parish
groups. Can be used for written/oral or
individual/group quizzes
Visit our website- www.stfrancisxavierpanvel.in
go to BIBLE QUEST section
If you are an animator or leader of a group,
and looking out for resource materials to
keep your group occupied in creative,
innovative and productive ways - your search
ends here!
VISIT OUR WEBSITE
www.stfrancisxavierpanvel.in
There are plenty of resource materials like
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Page 22
WANTED HELPING HANDS- Courtesy: Daijiworld.com
For more appeals visit – www.daijiworld.com - charity
Rama Yane Ganesh(43),
Kukkaje House, VPO – Kedia,
Mani, Karnataka 574253
Ramesh Roshan(39),Nisarga Dhama
Layout,Kalasa Post, Moodigere Taluk,
Chikkamagaluru
Thursday, January 08, 2015
Thursday, January 15, 2015
Rama Yane Ganesh(43), is a Cancer
patient. He has been diagnosed with
Adenocarcinoma Lung with SVC
Thrombosis
and
is
now
on
Chemotherapy.He is under treatment at
KMC, Attavar, Mangalore. He has two
small daughters.His family has requested
for donations from generous people for
his medical treatment.
Ramesh Roshan(39), S/o Antony,is suffering from Recurrent
Carcinoma of Retromolar Trigone (Cancer). He has
undergone Surgery and Radiotherapy at A J Hospital,
Mangaluru. At present, he is on Palliative Chemotherapy.
The cost of treatment was approximately Rs 6,00,000/- (Rs
Six lacs).
His wife Pramila has stated that they have to spend more than
Rs.40,000 per month for his treatment. They are poor. He
was working as a driver. They have two daughters.They have
taken loan and are unable to repay it. They are hoping to
Bank account details:
Account Holder Name:: Rama Alias receive help from donors. Your donations may please be sent
to their following bank account:
Ganesha
Account No. 114301011000964
IFSC Code: VIJB0001143
Vijaya Bank, Mani Branch
Rajalakshmi Building
Mani – Karnataka 574253
Telephone No.: 91 95355 64495 (sister)
Bank Account No.: 34318147352
Name of the Account holder: Pramila (wife)
State Bank of India,
Kalasa Branch,Car Street
Chikkamagaluru.
IFSC Code: SBIN0017851
Telephone No.: 91 94487 24869
Published by Fr Felix Rebello
c/o St Francis Xavier Church, Panvel
Tel: 2745 5556, Email:panvelchurch@gmail.com, gemenewsletter@gmail.com
website: www.stfrancisxavierpanvel.in
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