Catholic Sabha, Diocese of Udupi Swchhatha Abhiyan, Free distribution of Multiple-use buckets etc &

By P. Archibald Furtado
Pics: Tolbert DSouza / Peter Lewis
Bellevision Media Network

Udupi, 02 Oct 2023: Today, on 2 October, the nation is paying tributes to the father of the Nation Mahatma Gandhi on his Birthday in different ways and one of the unique ways is spreading the awareness about a clean and healthy environment.

 

With the theme line – ’Swachhateye Seve’ & ‘Namma swachha parisara namma kartavya’ many socially concerned organisations arranged various programmes to bring necessary awareness, make the general public its importance and most importantly devoting the whole day involving in such movements…

 

Catholic Sabah of Udupi Diocese always in the forefront to educate masses and this year its unit in the Mount Rosary Church actively participated in two distinct programmes but aiming with same objective.

 

 

In brief, in the morning session Catholic Sabha , Udupi Pradesh organised a ‘Multiple use Bucket Distribution Programme’ in the Central Fish Market Udupi spreading the awareness to say no to Plastic bags and throwing them causing health hazards, damaging environment and spoiling the nature – its soil, fertility and blocking water flow system etc. About 200 multi-use buckets were distributed free of cost to the customers in the market and fisher-women too were very enthusiastic and appreciated the initiatives of Catholic Sabha.

 

Coming to ‘Catholic Sabah Mount Rosary Unit’ it joined its hands with Lions Club and other socially concerned platforms led by Mr Nandakumar at Govt Junior College, Kemmannu at 9.30 am.

 

The programme was a multi-event – Inauguration of renovated Hall, of the College by Dr Jerry Vincent Dias, MD Mandovi Builders, who contributed in various ways to the society and specially here for this project. MLA of Udupi Mr Yashpal Suvarna presided over the function.

 

To begin the program, the organisers paid rich tributes to Mahatma Gandhi the father of the Nation who always an inspiration and model to keep our surroundings neat, clean and healthier. The portrait of Mahatma Gandhi and another great son of Mother India, former Prime Minister Lal Bahadur Shastri were offered flowers and various speakers reminded the gathering the values, life and living of two great men and how those ideals still relevant to present day life…..!

 

Interestingly, every year Mr Nanda Kumar takes initiative to celebrate this day with Swachh Bharath Abhiyaan, involving all major Associations and the Village Panchayat and youth needs appreciation. Catholic Sabah President Mrs Rosy Quadrus and Members extended a helping hand and exhibited its solidarity with likeminded socially concerned people of Kemmannu – Kallianpur locality.

 

 

Later in the evening at 5.15, Catholic Sabah Udupi Diocese under its President Mr Santhosh Carnelio repeated the Bucket Distribution programme and Social Awareness. Veteran environmentalist and social worker Mr Joseph Rebello and Udupi Municipality Commissioner spoke on this occasion and led the free distribution of closed buckets to carry home fish, in lieu of dreadful plastic bags.

 

As Gandhiji repeatedly said, cleanliness is more than important than freedom and it must start from one’s home, let his 154th Birthday be an inspiration and reminder to cultivate habits of using dustbins, ban on plastic, nurturing greenery around and co-operating with the Health, Cleaning & Sanitation workers best possible ways….!!