After initiating a massive campaign to spread the message of eco-friendly Holi by using natural colours for the past three years, the social forestry department (SFD) is on the back foot this year with no funds to prepare 'Fagun' natural Holi colours.
The good initiative launched by ex-director of SFD Prakash Thosre is lacklustre this time with the Nagpur Circle, comprising six divisions in Gondia-Bhandara, Chandrapur, Gadchiroli, Wardha and Nagpur, failing to take steps to popularize eco-friendly Holi.
"This year we are not going to prepare any natural colours and hence there would not be any stall to market these colours. Our job is not manufacturing but we'll seek help of 250 eco-clubs in the district schools to spread the message of eco-friendly Holi," said SS Patil, deputy director of Nagpur Division.
During the past three years, the SFD promised to market natural colours on a large-scale to eliminate use of chemical colours. But, the eco-friendly Holi campaign seems to have died down. There is lacklustre response due to exams.
However, despite poor publicity, ND Chaudhari, divisional forest officer (DFO) with Bhandara FDCM, is upbeat. He says that for two years the chief minister and his deputy have been inaugurating natural Holi colour stall in mantralaya.
This year too chief minister Prithviraj Chavan will inaugurate 'Fagun' natural Holi colour stall on March 19. Rangpanchmi will be celebrated on March 20.
Chaudhari says that since ages Holi used to be celebrated by using various colours and aroma of flowers. But cheap chemical colours are playing havoc. These colours can lead to blindness, cancer, allergy, asthma, genetic mutation etc.
Chaudhari explained that black chemical colour contains oxides and can cause failure of renal functions, green colour with copper sulphate develops allergies of skin, eyes and blindness. Silver colour contains aluminium bromide causing cancer. Besides, blue colour contains Prussian blue and affects the skin. Red colour is constituted with mercury sulphide which may cause cancer.
The DFO says that eco-friendly colours can be prepared at home by using flowers and various material from the kitchen itself. Colours can also be prepared by drying marigold, sunflower petals and then mixing it with rice powder.
The good initiative launched by ex-director of SFD Prakash Thosre is lacklustre this time with the Nagpur Circle, comprising six divisions in Gondia-Bhandara, Chandrapur, Gadchiroli, Wardha and Nagpur, failing to take steps to popularize eco-friendly Holi.
"This year we are not going to prepare any natural colours and hence there would not be any stall to market these colours. Our job is not manufacturing but we'll seek help of 250 eco-clubs in the district schools to spread the message of eco-friendly Holi," said SS Patil, deputy director of Nagpur Division.
During the past three years, the SFD promised to market natural colours on a large-scale to eliminate use of chemical colours. But, the eco-friendly Holi campaign seems to have died down. There is lacklustre response due to exams.
However, despite poor publicity, ND Chaudhari, divisional forest officer (DFO) with Bhandara FDCM, is upbeat. He says that for two years the chief minister and his deputy have been inaugurating natural Holi colour stall in mantralaya.
This year too chief minister Prithviraj Chavan will inaugurate 'Fagun' natural Holi colour stall on March 19. Rangpanchmi will be celebrated on March 20.
Chaudhari says that since ages Holi used to be celebrated by using various colours and aroma of flowers. But cheap chemical colours are playing havoc. These colours can lead to blindness, cancer, allergy, asthma, genetic mutation etc.
Chaudhari explained that black chemical colour contains oxides and can cause failure of renal functions, green colour with copper sulphate develops allergies of skin, eyes and blindness. Silver colour contains aluminium bromide causing cancer. Besides, blue colour contains Prussian blue and affects the skin. Red colour is constituted with mercury sulphide which may cause cancer.
The DFO says that eco-friendly colours can be prepared at home by using flowers and various material from the kitchen itself. Colours can also be prepared by drying marigold, sunflower petals and then mixing it with rice powder.
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