12 Feb 2024  |   03:51am IST

Birthday tradition: Chandor’s Menino ‘Minush’ Gomes gifts village with clean-up drive

Recognising his dedication to keeping the village pristine, the Panchayat has appointed Minush as a ‘Garbage Supervisor’—a role he fulfils out of pure love for his community, without expecting any payment

JULIO D’SILVA

CHANDOR: In Chandor village, birthdays aren’t just about receiving gifts—they’re about giving back to the community. And there’s one man leading the charge: Menino Gomes, affectionately known as ‘Minush’ or ‘Moon’.

For the second year running, Minush celebrated his birthday on February 1 by rolling up his sleeves and cleaning up his beloved village. This year though, he wasn’t alone. With around 25 well-wishers, including members of Ganv Bhavancho Ekvott led by President John Fernandes helping him, Minush tackled the twin villages of Guirdolim and Chandor-Cavorim.

In a show of support, Fiel Babazinho Dias, a member of the Chandor-Cavorim Panchayat, joined Minush in the clean-up efforts. Recognising his dedication to keeping the village pristine, the Panchayat has appointed him as a ‘Garbage Supervisor’—a role he fulfils out of pure love 

for his community, without expecting any payment.

Minush’s passion for cleanliness however extends beyond birthday gestures. He’s known for confronting fish vendors who use plastic bags for their wares, seizing the banned ‘potis’ and advocating for the use of reusable containers instead. “I fail to understand why people buy fish in a plastic bag when they go home and dump it in a container to clean it. Why use plastic when we can easily collect the fish in containers?” he questions, highlighting the need to reduce plastic waste.

Born to the late Anton Piedade and Nelly Gomes, Minush made the selfless decision to leave his overseas job to care for his ailing mother, showing his commitment to his family and community.

But Minush isn’t just about cleanliness, he’s also big on sports and fitness. An avid football enthusiast, Minush manages a local team called Sun, Moon, and Stars, which play in smaller local tournaments. His love for football sees him very often 

pressuring the panchayat to keep the only football ground in the village in usable condition so the youngsters can play there. So, whether he’s cleaning up the streets or advocating for better sports facilities, Minush is a shining example of how one person’s dedication can make a world of difference in their community.