Unique initiative for spreading awareness

Navi Mumbai: Noticing the increasing pollution caused to the environment due to immersing POP Ganesh idols in water bodies during Ganesh festival, some NGOs working towards creating awareness to protect the environment, have taken initiatives to stress on making and using eco-friendly Ganesh idols.

TWIGG and Recyclekaro together have made special efforts and decided to reach a wider base of people by spreading awareness about celebrating eco- friendly Ganesh chaturthi through a website ‘www.greenbappa.com’. They have tried to compile information about different kinds of idols available, their advantages, eco friendly decoration, how to make them and the best ways of immersion.

Chaitra Yadavar, a member of TWIGG informs, “There is no denying the faith and the love we all feel about Ganesha but we must equally be concerned about the impact of our actions on the environment. We strongly feel about the unnecessary harm done to our environment while celebrating this joyful festival. Hence we created a platform and have tried to include all the information about eco-friendly Ganesh idols in the website so that the visitors get to know everything about celebrating Ganesh Chaturthi in an environment friendly way and our purpose is fulfilled. I hope once they go through the website they will find all they wanted to know about it.”

"The USP of our website are the eco- friendly decorations made of paper, which we ourselves have designed to suggest to people that they can make something attractive, themselves by using basic materials like paper and cloth. These can be made in about 1 and half day to 2 days and we are promoting alternatives like these instead of buying thermocol decorations which cannot be decomposed after they are thrown away. We took around 3 months to ideate, write, edit and photograph/collect data, edit the film for the website," she added further.

These NGOs try and promote eco-friendly ways of celebrating festivals epically Ganesh Chaturthi every year. They are promoting the Eco-friendly idols of Ganesha made up of Shaadu and Paper mache which people can opt for instead of Plaster of Paris (POP).

Rajesh Gupta, Member of Recyclekaro adds, “For those who have already booked idols of Ganesha in advance and still wish to try celebrating this festival in eco-friendly way, can use the eco-friendly decorations made up of paper and jute. There are various ways of celebrating the festival in an eco-friendly way which one will know by visiting our website. And one can also help us by spreading about the good deed and the website to people they know.”

PS: I loved the Ganesha on the home page of the website.

Kindly spread it to others and form a chain so that maximum people come to know about it and at least some of them try to implement the ideology.

Apply for a liquor permit before being caught

Liquor permit is necessary for the purchase, possession transport, and consumption of liquor. Any person above the age of 21 years is eligible for obtaining the liquor permit for preservation and maintenance of his health. Purchase and drinking without a liquor permit is an offence under Bombay Prohibition Act 1949.

One who desires to purchase foreign liquor and country liquor for possession transport, use and consumption shall apply under Rule 70-D of Bombay Foreign liquor Rules 1953, issued under Bombay Prohibition Act 1949. Recently the excise department declared that stricter action will be taken on illegal possession, transport, use and consumption of liquor. This article will help you understand the eligibility, procedure for applying for consumer permit and the action taken by the Excise department.

A person above the age of 21 years who desires to purchase foreign liquor for possession, transport and use, consumption shall apply for the licence.

Where to apply?

A person can apply at the Office of the State Excise, Old Custom House, Mumbai. Contact no: 022-22664801 OR to the Excise Officer, Rajya Utpadan Shulk Bhavan, 2^nd Floor, Chendani Koliwada, Meeth Bunder Road, Thane (E) Contact no: 022-25320050

Procedure:

An application in prescribed form has to be submitted by the person, which will include his or her details like name, address, birth date etc along with the address proof and two photographs. The permit will be issued immediately within 15 to 20 minutes.

A person can get consumer permit either for a year at Rs 100 or for life-long at Rs 1000. With this permit, he or she can maximum purchase 2 bottles per week. In case of any function or programme, every vine shop is authorised to issue a temporary permit for one day at Rs 5. With this permit a person a purchase one bottle liquor of 750 ml.

Punishment:

Minimum punishment for the offence is 6 months imprisonment and/or fine of Rs 2000. In case of serious offence, the punishment can be Rs 25,000 fine and imprisonment for a year or so. Following can be the offenders:

- Any person caught dealing in foreign/ liquor without permit or licence

- Any person purchasing liquor for consumption without permit or expired permit

- Any person possessing consumer-permit caught with more than 2 bottles per week

- Any person purchasing liquor and reselling it

“The Excise department earns good amount of revenue from the liquor shops. The department earns almost Rs 15 to 17 Lakh per month. We have given targets to shopkeepers, which they fulfil every month,” informed M S Wardhe, Superintendent Excise Officer.

Ramnath Shankar, a vine shopkeeper at Nerul said, “The Excise officer have caught minor as well as major offenders. It is good for the consumers as well as vine shop owners to hold a proper permit before purchasing or selling liquor.

'Disability is nothing,' says Parikshit Dilip Shah

Panvel: Parikshit Dilip Shah, a 17 year old, suffering from Osteogenesis Imperfecta with Multiple Deformities proves this saying- Impossible itself says I M Possible, right by overcoming all his hitches. He is a student of V.K. Junior College, Old Panvel and is currently appearing for HSC examination, Commerce stream. He scored 80.46% in SSC and wishes to achieve 75 to 80% in HSC examination.

For HSC exam, the college has made special arrangement for him by providing a bed so that he can lie down and write his exams. But a writer has been appointed for writing his Organisation of Commerce and Economics papers as they are very lengthy.

Background:

Osteogenesis Imperfecta (OI) is a congenital disease i.e. it is present at birth. All people with OI have weak bones, which makes them susceptible to fractures. Persons with OI are usually below average height.

Parikshit was born in Gujrat and was a very active, brilliant and fun-loving boy since childhood. In 2003, after his father passed away, I along with Parikshit migrated to Panvel. As compared to Gujrat, we hardly faced any problems here; not even during his admission at V.K. School in Old Panvel. Even after being a disabled child, he was admitted to a normal school, for which I thank the principal of the school K.D. Mhatre, said Vijaya D. Shah, Parikshit’s mother.

By defeating his shortcomings, Parikshit surfs internet regularly, playing chess, makes greeting cards, writes poems and jokes. He has been awarded for writing excellent poems on themes like India, Indian citizens, nature etc and making beautiful greeting cards. “He was able to sit and also play cricket till he was of 13 years but after that as his head gained weight, his spine could not bear its weight and is bedridden now,” shared his mother.

One factor that makes him stand out from all the Gujratis is his fluent Marathi ascent. The reason is that he goes to a Marathi medium College and has many Maharashtrian friends. He was admitted to this college as it was the nearest from his residence.

When Parikshit was very young, his bones used to get fractured regularly; either due to mishandling or because of his mischief. He is so weak that till date nobody, except his mother, has touched him. His mother said that he will be able to sit and walk after a major operation, but the problem is that his bones are so weak that the operation cannot be conducted at the moment. Hence they have to wait till his bones gain enough strength for the operation. At present, Parikshit has to visit his doctor once in a year.

Support system:

My mother is my spinal cord and I wouldn’t have survived without her. There are many people who have greatly supported me like my teachers and friends but to name a few, my maternal uncle and aunt, K.D. Mhatre, have played a great role in my life. “In fact after Parikshit’s SSC results, many unknown people came to visit us and helped us emotionally and financially. I would like to thank all of them,” added Parikshit’s mother.

Dream:

“I have not thought of a long term achievement but, at present my dream is to score well in HSC exam,” said Parikshit.

Message to all:

No matter what, nobody must think negatively because if there is a will there is a way. We are fortunate to get this life and must appreciate and live it to the fullest. One must face every situation with a smile.

Parikshit is an extremely hardworking boy and has prepared well for his exams. This 17 year old can be an idol for all the other disabled people who have given up hopes and think they are incapable of pursuing things like the normal people.

Sterilization centre shut, dogs cry for shelter

The dog sterilization centre in Sector 27 Vashi has been closed from past 15 days because of the bad condition of the building. The corporation had given the sterilization centre to In Defense of Animals (IDA) an NGO on contract basis on 26th July 2006 but one month back, the centre received a notice from the corporation to shut the centre and stop bringing animals for treatment or operation at the centre.

“Immediately after getting the notice we stopped operating animals at the centre but started a new van service for animals from 8th September. Whenever we get calls on the helpline number 9320056585/ 32681419 we take the van to that area along with the medicines and treat them on the spot. But we have only one van and we get atleast 10 calls daily. Therefore it becomes difficult to reach every place,” informed Dr Pradeep Londhe, IDA doctor at Vashi centre. “Earlier we used to bring the animals after treating them but now due to no space, we have to leave them where we treat them,” he added.

When contacted NMMC Health officer Dr Paropkari to know whether the corporation has provided any alternative place to IDA, he said, “NMMC has not given them any other place and I have no idea when the work will begin.”

Goodicia Vaidya, Manager of IDA centre, Deonar informed, “Other than Vashi we have a centre at Deonar and Lonawala where we not only treat injured animals but also keep them till they completely recover and get well. Now as the Vashi centre is shut, we feel helpless many times. People call us with a hope to help the needy animals but we are unable to help every caller. Even we need help from NMMC as we require a centre at some other place in Navi Mumbai so that we can treat the city animals and provide them shelter as it becomes difficult to carry them from Navi Mumbai to Deonar.”

Due to the poor condition of the building, there is a fear of the slab falling and injuring anybody. Hence the centre is closed but when the reconstruction work of the building will begin is a question for the IDA doctors as well as NMMC officers.

Artificial Rangoli- a new way of decorating your doorstep

Festival means celebration which brings along a lot of preparations. Diwali has arrived and everybody is busy preparing for the festive like making special Diwali food items, purchasing decoratives for homes, buying new clothes etc. And one such important factor is making Rangoli, which is done at every door step during Diwali.

There is a unique relationship between the festival of Diwali and rangoli as rangoli spreads the joy of colours during the festival of lights. The entire objective of making rangoli in Diwali is to welcome Goddess Laxmi and remarking the day to be extremely auspicious. Rangolis can be of any size, from the size of a doormat, to that of an entire room.

But most of the times people fear that the rangoli they prepare by putting in so much hard work and time doesn not take a moment to get spoiled. Secondly everybody doesnot have so much time to dedicate to the rangoli. Here comes this article in picture which can come to your rescue.

Making rangoli with various powder colours and glitters is the most traditional method but with time, various other types of rangolis can be seen today including stickers, rangoli made out of flowers and artificial rangoli. Artificial Rangoli does not include powder colors and hence the

name.

Mrs Arati Chauhan, a resident of Nerul says, "Artificial Rangoli can be made out of anything like plastic flowers/leaves, dried leaves, lace, live plants, sequences etc. This type of rangoli not only looks beautiful but it also reduces the risk of being spoiled. One can use a plate and decorate it with decoratives (which are mentioned as well as not mentioned above) and then place it on a chavrang, which can be kept anywhere as per a person's wish."

Recently few differently abled people from Sharan, NGO at Vashi also prepared a beautiful artificial rangoli for selling. It was made using card board, colorful papers, tiny mirrors, laces and sequences. It was an eye catching material. (The one on the right)

Hope, this article has given you some idea on how to make an Artificial Rangoli.

beautiful bandra!!