Goa’s silent green bodyguards to have their place in the sun

Janu Ghurko Gaonkar is a
traditional healer. He lives in a very remote inaccessible area in South
Goa He is the doctor. Wherever he goes, he becomes his clinic. He is the
caregiver, the nurse, the healer and the tribal dotor A
traditional medical practitioner, Gaoankar derives his expertise from his
in-depth knowledge of local flora and fauna, He doesn’t charge for his services
though people do give him donations at times. He works as a farm labourer to
get by. Suryakanth Gaoankar
another grass-root eco champion produces natural colours and advocates its use
during holi instead of chemical colours besides doing extensive biodiversity
documentation work in North Goa. These are people you may
not meet at ‘events’ or inaugurations. Nor do they hold press conferences or
put up posts on social media. Literally hidden from the world in some cases or
very low profile in all, these biodiversity champions basically do this one
simple thing- use the earth and its resources to promote sustainable living.
Their method is to take from the earth to either heal or rejuvenate and give
back to the earth in equal measure. Today, these soldiers of
the earth along with village Bio-Diversity Management Committees of villages
will be awarded by the Goa State Bio-Diversity Board, which has announced the
“Goa State Biodiversity Conservation Awards for the Year 2020”. “This has been
given in appreciation of exemplary contribution in the field of conservation of
biodiversity, ecology and environment” the Board mentioned in a release. The awards are being
conferred in the categories of best Biodiversity Management Committee (BMC),
one each from North & South Goa & in the individual Category for one
individual each from North & South Goa. In addition special appreciation
prizes have been  conferred to 4 BMCs. Pradip Sarmokadam Member
Secretary Goa State Biodiversity Board said this award was being given to
people who did not get a regular salary and were out of the formal sector and
also importantly had not applied for the award. This year he said it was
heartwarming to have someone like Janu Gurkho Goankar a traditional healer who
was a tribesman and Suryakant Gaonkar who had documented wildflowers and made
colors which were natural and could be used during Holi. He had also
prepared drinks from his knowledge that could be served on various
occasions.  Suryakant Gaonkar, he said was an employee in a local factory
and had devoted his spare time to learn about the wildflowers. Janu Gurkho
Gankar, Sarmokadam said, practised traditional medicine and provided relief to
thousands of people in his area. Sarmokadam said he was a boon to the people in
his area. The Agarwada Chopdem has
been awarded the best Biodiversity Management Committee (BMC), from North Goa
for making the People’s Biodiversity Register of their village, efforts for
identifying a potential biodiversity heritage site in the village. The BMC of Shrishtal village
gets the award for the best BMC in South Goa, mainly for declaring a
biodiversity Heritage site – “Ghodyapik- Gulem” as well as for
its overall efforts on biodiversity like curating a comprehensive People’s
Biodiversity Register. One can only hope these awards enthuse others
to follow in the footsteps of these selfless foot soldiers.