Goa, a kilo of sugar for a kilo of litter: a recipe for sustainable development

The proposal of John Douglas Coutinho, a local environmentalist. He founded an NGO to collect waste and keeping the district clean. The local administration has recognized and rewarded the value of his initiatives, all self-financed.

Panaji (AsiaNews) - In exchange for the collection of a kilo of dry waste, the gift of a kilo of sugar, this is the latest initiative proposed by  John Douglas Coutinho, an environmentalist who lives in Chandor, in Salcete administrative division (in the State of Goa). For years he is has been committed to sustainable development in his city, because "it is the urgent need of our time, the biggest concern for the future of nature and the common good".

Thanks to his tireless activism, with the passing of the years John has earned the praise of the administration of his district. In late April he was awarded a prize by Goa Pollution Control Board. Six years ago, the man founded the NGO Ganv Bhavancho Ekvott (GbE), to clean waste from the district. Speaking to AsiaNews he says: "Today’s greatest evil is the lack of interest. We attempt to secure our future through a consumer society, but this way there will be no 'environment or nature' for people to enjoy. "

John channels half of his earnings into protecting the environment and the human person. He donated 300 thousand rupees of personal funds [4 thousand euro, ed] to renovating a center for the care of the children of his village. The structure was unsafe, infested by rats and without toilets. Thus reduced, it housed only two children. He completely restored the structure and now it is a welcoming and safe place for mothers and children (around 16), equipped with electricity and fans.

He then thought of how to keep mothers accompanying children at the center busy and so decided to hire teachers and create tailoring, sewing and embroidery classes.  The tailoring course lasts six months, after which they are awarded a certificate of participation, but only if they meet two conditions: Attendance of at least 80% of the classes and passing the final exam.

The activist was also instrumental in renewing and modernizing the Chandor club, for village meetings. The Chandor Club was open for 20 years but was in decay and abandonment. John urged residents to cooperate and collected 7.7 million rupees [over 102 thousand euro], used for the construction of a swimming pool, a gym, a recreation room with a pool table. The money was spent on the creation of a badminton court, a bar and restaurant.

What began with just two employees who were collecting waste door to door with bicycles, today GbE employs 100 people, half of them volunteers. They all work together to solve problems related to the environment, , air pollution, clean water, infrastructure, education and healthcare. They are also active in the social sphere, visiting the elderly, making  company for the lonely, teaching citizens not to litter.

John believes that his contribution "should transcend social, economic and religious barriers. At the center of human rights is the belief that everyone should be treated with dignity and as equals. More importantly: we have only one world. We can develop bigger plans in the world, but if we do not care for creation we will not have an environment to enjoy. We are destroying nature, which is a precious gift, and of which we are mere custodians. "

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