Team Herald
PANJIM: As many as 388 clay Ganesh idol makers will be given an enhanced subsidy of Rs 200 per idol subject to maximum 250 idols per artisan.
Goa Handicrafts Rural and Small Scale Industries Development Corporation Chairman and MLA Pravin Arlekar on Friday said that the State government had decided to double the subsidy for artisans from Rs 100 to Rs 200 on each clay Ganesh idol so as to discourage people from buying Plaster of Paris (PoP) idols, which are harmful to the ecology.
Stating that though Ganesh idols made of PoP were banned in the State, Arlekar said that these idols were brought in the markets much before Ganesh Chaturthi, and appealed to the people not to buy them as it was causing water pollution during immersion as PoP idols do not get dissolve quickly.
Arlekar also disclosed his desire to increase the subsidy amount for clay Ganesh idol makers from Rs 200 to Rs 500 per idol from next year.
Meanwhile, Goa Forward Party (GFP) president and MLA Vijai Sardesai has urged the government to take additional measures to ensure comprehensive monitoring and accountability to stop import of PoP Ganesh idols.
Sardesai said that it was crucial that every idol entering the State is thoroughly documented with the name of the manufacturer, the distributor or supplier, the batch number of the idol and the vehicle number transporting it. Proper record-keeping will not only help in tracking the origins of these idols, but also in holding the parties responsible, accountable if PoP idols are detected
post-immersion.
Given that PoP idols may not be easily identifiable until after they have been immersed in water, establishing a dedicated helpline for complaints is imperative, he said.
Sardesai also urged the government to support and promote the local artisans who create eco-friendly clay idols. Each locally made idol is tagged with a unique barcode or QR code provided by the Goa Handicrafts Development Corporation as it will empower customers to verify the origin of the idol and support the local craftsmen.