Youth gather to clean up after Zatra in Mapusa

Over 30 people got together for a community clean up drive at the venue of Bodgeshwar Zatra in Mapusa on January 26. The volunteers managed to collect over 30 bags of garbage and assist the municipal workers in cleaning up the area. The annual zatra venue outside the temple sees numerous stalls set up, and the entire area is littered by vendors and visitors.
This drive has been taking place for the last three years. Eco-entrepreneur Gaurav Pokle, who encourages people to live a zero-waste life and organises frequent clean up drives says, “It’s important to have these events to sensitise people to be a part of the solution, not the problem. If each one of us becomes a little more aware and takes responsibility for our surroundings, Goa won’t be littered at all. Despite it being a Republic Day holiday, several youngsters showed up in the early hours of the morning. “Every year more and more people show up, and it’s a great initiative. It’s good to see young people volunteer,” says Kenneth Rebello from Mapusa, who was at the cleanup. Kaniel D’souza from Guirim, who was also at the cleanup says, “We live on this planet and it’s our moral duty to take care of it. I hope we can sensitise people to avoid littering any place.”