Radio Sarang 107.8 FM of SAC Launch the Pot Compost Project along with Ramakrishna Mission
Mangaluru: Pot compost is compatible , requires less space, suitable for small families generating upto 2kg waste per day. It should be noted that Ramakrishna Mission, Mangaluru had undertaken the Swacch Bharath Abhiyan in response to special appeal made by the Honorable Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and for the last five years had put in lots of efforts to keep Mangaluru City Clean. Thousands of volunteers and cooperation from hundreds of NGOs, the Abhiyan did become a mass movement awakening a sense of responsibility among the citizens and the change all around is tangible,
To transform this awakening into a strong indelible habit among the people which will result in Swacch Bharath, Ramakrishna Mission had planned five different domains in the 5th phase. Appalled by the havoc caused to residents and environments at Pachchanady dumping yard where lakhs of tonnes of garbage caved in on houses and agriculture land, Mangaluru Ramakrishna Mission has taken an initiative to reduce wet waste going out of the city. The Mission has incubated a start-up — Mangala Resource Management Pvt. Ltd. — to handle wet waste generated from households in the city through the already established pot-composting method.
Focus was on training each and every awakened household to convert their waste into wealth through various means thus tackling the problem of waste generation in the root level by using Pot Compost. The Mission tried their best to keep Mangaluru Green and Clean, but most of all the mindset of the people needed to be changed. People need to use their common sense in keeping their surroundings clean, only then we can expect a clean Bharath, as well as Mangaluru.
Cleanliness plays a very important role in our lives. One who gives importance to cleanliness in his life not only leads a healthy life but also gains peace of mind. We need to compliment Ramakrishna Mission for instilling in the minds of people the significance of cleanliness. Their Abhiyan helped in rebuilding a healthier environment for the future generations. Along with cleaning the outer surroundings it is important to awaken and change the mind-set of the people. If a man can think selflessly towards resolving the problems plaguing the society, automatically all the problems get solved. Ramakrishna Mission’s Abhiyan became an apt platform in sowing healthier thoughts in the younger generation in the society.
St Aloysius College had a very good relationship with Ramakrishna Mission in their efforts to keep the college campus green and clean, through joint venture. And now, Radio Sarang 107.8 FM of St Aloysius College in association with Ramakrishna Mission launched their initiative of the POT COMPOST project in the college, on Saturday, 17 October 2020 . The programme began with a prayer by Misss Chinmaya, an old-student of SAC, followed by a welcome address by Fr Melwyn Pinto Sj, the director of Radio Sarang 107.8 FM. The project was inaugurated by chief guest Anand Kumar- secretary of Swachh Mission of DK Zilla Panchayat, along with Fr Melwin Pinto Sj-the Rector of St Aloysius Institutions; Fr Praveen Martis Sj-Principal of St Aloysius College, and Ranjan Bellarpady, Chief Co-ordinator of Mangaluru Ramakrishna Mission, Swacch Manas, Swacch Soch & Youth Programmes.
Speaking on the occasion, Ranjan Bellarpady said “Cleanliness is next to Godliness. Ramakrishna Mission conducted Swacch Mangaluru Abhiyan for five long years. Under the title ‘My Waste My Responsibility’, the Mission organised more than 250 programs on pot composting as a result around 5000 houses voluntarily converting wet waste into compost ! This pot compost technique also contributes towards rural empowerment. The Radio Sarang has taken efforts to create awareness on cleanliness by promoting pot composting technicians along with various radio programmes “. On a lighter side of vein, Ranjan said that not to make the pots remain as antique once people take them home, instead make use of them to create compost.
Rector Fr Melwin Pinto Sj in his speech said, “I am overwhelmed with this project undertaken by Radio Sarang. We need to save the planet, and projects like these only can help. We need to save the environment for the future generation. We need to always look for a change. We need to keep our surroundings clean just like we keep our homes clean. We need to make the World as our Own Home. The major objective of the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan is to spread the awareness of cleanliness and the importance of it. At St Aloysius Institutions we try to keep our campus clean and green. All of us live in a neighbourhood or surrounding. We must keep our surroundings neat and clean. This will help us to live a healthy life”.
Anand Kumar speaking said, “Keeping our surroundings clean will only help in the betterment of society. Waste or garbage should not be thrown anywhere, but only in trash bins. Throwing garbage all over the place will dirty our surroundings, pollute the environment. Controlling the use of plastic bags will help to keep our surroundings clean. One should use recycled and eco-friendly products like paper or jute bags instead of others. Littering causes land, air and water pollution. Greener surroundings look beautiful and reduce pollution. Dirtying our surroundings will cause harm to us. So, keep the surroundings clean, live happy and healthy lives”.
Fr Praveen Martis Sj complimenting Radio Sarang for taking up this pot compost project said, “The Pot Compost will benefit in many ways, like-Reduces Landfill Waste; Creates Nutrient Rich Soil; Helps to Reduce Gross Greenhouse Gas Emissions; Positively Affects Air Quality; Averts Garden Pests; Neutralizes Soil; Increases Biodiversity; and Reduces Erosion. Citizens should show interest in the Mangaluru model of pot composting that generates zero wet waste from households, with minimum investment. It intends to spread the initiative pan-India. Eliminating wet waste generation itself would go a long way in waste management. It’s a very good initiative taken by Ramakrishna Mission by introducing the pot composting concept, comprising three units of specially designed pots, which converts all kitchen waste into manure in 30 to 45 days without any external intervention. Let’s try to minimize our waste, since the landfills are getting full. Try to make use of Pot Compost to reduce waste reaching the landfill”
Winners in the “My Waste, My Responsibility’- a waste management contest that was organized by Radio Sarang, were presented with the prizes- the winners are- Preetham Ganesh-First prize; Prathveesh Dharmasthala-Second place; and Shree Parvathi-Third place. The vote of thanks was delivered by Roshan Crasta of Radio Sarang,and the programme was compered by Abhishekh Shetty-the RJ at Radio Sarang. Following the formal programme, Sachin Shetty, a volunteer at Ramakrishna Mission demonstrated how to use the pot compost. He said a thin layer of coco peat has to be spread on the dumped waste every night for faster decomposition.