Port Blair, Dec 21: ICAR-CIARI is observing Swachhta Pakhwada from 16th to 31st of this month. As a part of the 5th day programme on 20th December, various activities viz. demonstration on vermin composting of household wastes and organic kitchen gardening and cleaning of children’s park and residential area were undertaken in the vicinity of Type – I staff quarters. At the outset, Dr. T. Subramani, Dr. K.R. Kiran and Dr. V.K. Pandey explained the importance of composting in utilizing the wastes generated at household and demonstrated the vermibed preparation layer by layer in a cement tank after which earthworms were released by the Director, CIARI.
Next, Dr. K. Abirami and Dr. Soobedar Yadav explained the nutritional and economic benefits of growing kitchen garden and distributed planting kit comprising one grow out bag, 0.5 kg vermin compost and seedlings of vegetable, spice, flower and fruit crops to the residents. Then, all staff cleaned the nearby children’s park which was encroached by thorny bushes and handed it over to the residents in a usable shape. Later, Dr. M.S. Kundu explained about the environmental impacts of plastic bags and urged the residents to reduce its usage. Further, the staff along with the residents collected the plastic wastes in the vicinity and disposed them in dust bins.
Dr. A. Kundu, Director, CIARI during his speech, appreciated the staff for their overwhelming participation in the flagship programme of Government of India and applauded Dr. B. Gangaiah, Head, NRM Division for organizing such a useful programme of producing wealth from waste. All together, 100 staff and 50 residents participated in the programme coordinated by Dr. A.K. Tripathi, Mr. Bommaya Samy, Mr. Nehru Ram, Mr. Ali Akbar, Mr. Abbu Baker, Mr. Shyam Narayan, Mr. Vijay Rao, Mr. Jettu Lohar and Smt. M.N.V. Laxmi. Dr. I. Jai Sankar, Co-Nodal Officer of the Swachhta Pakhwada programme proposed vote of thanks.
