"Sunday Haat" in Seva Kendra Calcutta

On Sunday, September 28, 2014, the Urban Agricultural Unit of Seva Kendra Calcutta 

organized a "Sunday Haat". Mr. Eugene Gonsalves, President of the All India Catholic Union 

and member of the Governing Board of Seva Kendra Calcutta inaugurated the "Sunday 

Haat". After breakfast, Ms.Maria Fernandes led the gathering in prayer. Fr. Franklin 

Menezes explained the purpose of "Sunday Haat" and urged the people to implement urban 

agriculture in their homes. Mr. Nilangshu Gain explained the importance of urban 

agriculture and informed the gathering that every Sunday between 9 am and 12 pm one 

can come and buy garden fresh vegetables, mushrooms, seasonal fruits, country eggs etc. 

The people can also come to Seva Kendra Calcutta and receive hands-on-training on 

making small gardens at home. One can come and buy seeds, saplings, pots, manure, pest 

controllers, farming tools etc.

Seva Kendra Calcutta and Caritas India join hands to raise funds for the flood affected people of Jammu and Kashmir

Seva Kendra Calcutta’s efforts in water

conservation through Rooftop Rainwater

Harvesting

The following news report was published in ‘The Herald’, Vol. 150 (CL) No. 29. July 18-24, 2014

Fr. Thomas Carlo, SJ reported the following:

Seva Kendra Kolkata to celebrate 40 years’ of its establishment came up with a novel idea of constructing a Roof Top Rain Water Harvesting System. Its inauguration took place on July 12, at their premises in the presence of about 100 persons – laity, clergy and religious. Fr Dominic Gomes, Vicar General of Calcutta Archdiocese, led the prayers asking God to bless the Management and staff of Seva Kendra for their good work in the Archdiocese, to reach out to thousands of people who are deprived of their basic needs. He also blessed the rain water harvesting tank and the assembly. Fr Gregory Monteiro read a passage from the Gospel of St John in which Jesus asks the Samaritan woman for a drink of water. 

Fr Franklin Menezes, Director of Seva Kendra, presented a PowerPoint presentation indicating our obligation to conserve water. He said 97% percent of earth’s water is saline and only 3% sweet water. Seva Kendra has taken the first step to build a roof top water harvesting system. We have to sacrifice our garden so that we can provide space for the water reservoir, he said. We have built an underground tank with reinforced concrete and girders which can hold 125,000 liters of water. The rain water although it is 100% pure, passes through several layers of filters before dripping in to the storage tank, he added. 

Raj Kapoor Sharma from the Irrigation and Waterways department was there to inaugurate the system. He switched on the plant and a pump started pumping water from top of the Centre pavilion. He also explained on the urgent need of conserving water. It is the duty not only of the Government but also of every citizen of the country, he insisted. 

Maria Fernandes, Vice Chairperson for West Bengal Minority Commission was present together with a few other dignitaries. A group of children performed a dance; depicting nature’s crave for rain and the gratitude over its arrival.