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INITIATIVE ASSAGAO
The "Initiative Assagao" involving the Adoption Village by St. Xavier's College, Mapusa, was launched recently. Miss Nalisha Lin Maria Dantas, from Assagao, a Xavierite, welcomed the guest and the audience assembled in the Assagao Church Hall. The chief guest for the programme was Fr. Heinencio D'Souza, Parish Priest of the Assagao church. The guest speaker was Miss Defny Lobo, a faculty member of the Goa Foundation, Mapusa. This is the first programme in a series of planned activities in the environmental realm.
Ms. Defny Lobo, spoke on different aspects of cleanliness and transformation of waste into a marketable commodity. The Biodegradable and Non-biodegradable could be separated by means of identification. The method of vermicomposting, segregation of garbage, proliferation of earthworm etc. were explained. She stressed on how each of us can build a vermicomposting unit at home and can get rid of garbage and at the same time yielding a good manure for the plants. If the idea is implemented on large scale then the manure can be sold as it consists of less chemicals and is in demand in the market.
The production of earthworm was also explained. The sale of earthworm has a good market and can be taken as a hobby which will give good returns.
Mr. Joaquim Alphonso from Saligao who had accompanied the resource person also shared his personal experience. He said that vermi-composting is a simple technique which does not require much investment. At the end of the talk, questions were invited from the audience which were lively and interactive. The vote of thanks was proposed by Mr. Pradeep Morajkar, co-
ordinator for the "Initiative Assagao" programme.
After the programme a huge rally consisting of two hundred N.S.S. volunteers from St. Xavier's College and some locals, under the direction of Mr. Dharma Chodankar and Mr. Edwin D'Souza moved in the interior of the village with placards to infuse the cleanliness habit. The people in the village turned up in large numbers to witness the rally. The students took active part in the programme. The rally ended at the church premises at 1.30 p.m.
Subsequently the Xavierites distributed 150 plant samplings to the local people and 100 some near the Hindu Crematorium. The variety of samplings consisted of Badam, Ashoka, Jackfruit, Mango, Awala.
