The Ban on Plaster of Paris idols in Nagpur city A case study by Mayuri Kumbhar
Objective
Punaravartan is a campaign to recycle soil after the immersion of clay Ganesh idols. The Shadu soil of immersed idols is collected and returned to the sculptor free of cost. A total of 57,116.6 kg of soil has been collected from Pune and Thane in this campaign
in the year 2024 and given to idol makers for free recycling. After the incredible success of this campaign this year, our aim is to reintroduce circularity into the Ganesh festival and make it completely zero waste.
In this regard, the city of Nagpur has successfully implemented a total ban on POP ( Plaster of Paris ) idols. How did they achieve this?
This article analyzes the movement from past to present through a deep study on ‘Ban of Plaster of Paris Idols in Nagpur. We interacted with Mr. Suresh Pathak, President of ‘Paramparik Murtikar v hastkala karagir sangh Maharashtra Pradesh’ and a valuable contributor for elimination of POP Idols in Nagpur.
Methodology
All the discussions were done through mobile calls. The call is recorded in audio format with the consent of the participants.
History
Around 2002, PoP idols started appearing in the markets. Before that, clay idols were made everywhere in Nagpur. Traditional and interested artists started making POP idols. POP started to dominate the market due to its advantages such as short production time, low cost of production, low manpower, unskilled labor, limited space, simple, attractive and attractive colors, cheap selling price made consumers and idolaters alike fall prey to the idol of POP.
Mr. Suresh Pathak ( also a freelance journalist ) studied various aspects of the problem,and concluded that the encroachment of POP can endanger the future of traditional idol makers and pollute water. He started this movement to ban POP idols by keeping in mind the difference between Pop and soil and the severity of the side effects caused by POP.
Organisations such as Vishwa Hindu Parishad, Hindu Janajagruti Samiti, Lotus Cultural, Hastshilpi Seva Sahkari Sanstha ,Grahak Sanrakshan Manch , Nisarga Vigyan Mandal, Lotus Cultural and Sporting Association came together to form ‘POP Murti Virodhi Kruti Samiti’. POP idols contain gypsum and the chemical paints used contain Barium, and Lead which are harmful to living creatures. The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) issued guidelines for idol disposal in 2010 which discouraged the use of plastic, POP and thermocol. The guidelines were revised after taking feedback from stakeholders and now emphasize the use of naturally occurring clays and colors instead of synthetic paints. This movement was started in Nagpur before this CPCB guideline almost as soon as POP started to enter the market. This early intervention prevented the POP from becoming totally mainstream. The movement was started with the cooperation of local organizations and the Municipal Corporation only joined hands later after the CPCB guidelines were issued. Local eminent citizens started saying that this movement is not only for the sculptors but for the protection of the society and for the safe future of the society.
Campaign Activities
Activities conducted by the group included
- Eco-friendly festivals were organized in many schools to introduce them to school children. Children’s interest in traditional sculpture was created through the competition. This activity was implemented in around 65 schools in Nagpur. It included some municipal schools and some private schools.
- A workshop was conducted for 300 teachers in Nagpur district with the joint cooperation of ‘Nisarga Vigyan Kendra’, ‘Pop Murti Virodhi Idol kruti samiti’, ‘Hastashilpi Seva Sahakari Sanstha’ and Tarun Newspaper Bharat with the aim of educating teachers along with schools. In that, they were given a demonstration on how POP idols and clay idols are made and how they decompose, and what and how they affect the environment. The workshop was held in the auditorium of Tarun Bharat.
- An awareness campaign was undertaken to make Ganesha devotees desist from Plaster of Paris idols. The then minister Deepak Kesarkar launched POP and clay idols and awareness campaign at Ganesha temple on the hill in Nagpur and Saibaba temple at Chhatrapati Chowk.In order to change the mood of the devotees and create interest in the clay idol, the volunteers wore posters and banners and created public awareness. Under the initiative “Sankalp Ganesh Bhakta” at Jagrut Devasthan Hill Ganesh Mandir in Nagpur, 15000 Resolutions were filled by Ganesh devotees in 6 days.
| Year | Event | Led by | Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2002 | Launch of campaign | Suresh Pathak | Slow build up of awareness |
| 2006 | Petition for a ban on POP idols | Andha Shradda Nirmulan Samiti | |
| 2010 | CPCB Immersion Guidelines | Central Pollution Control Board | The movement in Nagpur got enthusiastic. |
| 2011 | Aurangabad High Court | High Court decided that henceforth the idols of the gods and goddesses will not be made of plaster of Paris | |
| 2012 | Appeal to the Mayor of Nagpur | Led by Suresh Pathak | Notification by Nagpur Municipal Corporation to ban POP idols completely |
| 2013 | Appeal to the Ministry in Mumbai | Ministry of Urban Development of the Government of Maharashtra | The Ministry of Urban Development of the Government of Maharashtra approved this Act in 2013 |
| 2024 | Appeal to Dy Chief Minister | Suresh Pathak | Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Phadnavis promises to implement ban on POP idols across Maharashtra |
2020 Establishment of Paramparik Murtikar and Hastakala Karagir Sangh.
Directive Principles of Central Pollution Board issued on 12 May 2020. And the Nagpur Bench of the Bombay High Court in 2021 ordered a complete ban on the production, sale, storage of POP idols and ordered the state government to announce a policy for banning POP idols.
In this changing situation, the traditional sculptors were organized and made them aware of their rights and authority. Based on the five-point program of art, culture, religion, environment and employment, the association of traditional sculptors and handicraft artisans was established, and the POP Idol Ban movement was accelerated through a local sculptor representative by visiting Mumbai, Satara, Sindhudurg, Ratnagiri Nashik along with Vidarbha. As a result, social workers from Mumbai Rohit Joshi and Adv. On the initiative of Ronita Bhattacharya, a Public Interest Litigation was filed on 26th July 2024 to ban POP idols in the entire Maharashtra.
Suo Motu PIL filed in Nagpur High Court dt. 27 Nov.24 Commenting that the Nagpur Municipal Corporation is doing a satisfactory job while settling the case, the way to go to court has been left open if found guilty in the future.
Response from artisans
To convince the artisans, the group emphasized on how to differentiate real sculptors from POP producers by going to their settlements to educate them, and offering them protective schemes for sculptors by the Municipal Corporation. They also established good relations with the corporators and solid waste management department and introduced innovative schemes for the artisans. These addressed the challenges faced by the artisans such as lack of space, assistance for exhibition and sales.
The traditional sculptors of Nagpur, who worked with clay , realized that POP is harmful to the environment and did not make the shift of material. Hence, the success of complete ban on POP could be achieved in Nagpur.
POP factories in Nagpur closed down on their own due to the cooperation of citizens and sculptors. No agitation or conflict as required to stop them. The people’s movement grew to such an extent that the POP industrialists themselves closed the factories. Now in these 10 years, not a single pop idol factory will be found in Nagpur districts, this real success has been achieved through this people’s movement.
This campaign was started at a time when the encroachment of POP idols from external suppliers prevented the traditional local sculptors from getting their due prices. The sculptors had to bear tremendous losses and the rest of the idols had to be taken back.The POP idol movement has given Nagpur a new identity as a hub for eco-friendly clay idol production.In Nagpur idol makers are making 500 to more than 5000 idols in a season. The idol is also exported to other cities in Maharashtra including Gujarat, Chhattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh. There are no idol factories in Nagpur district but many sculptors are doing this business as a home industry.
Utilization of farm and mine soil
An important point to note is that the soil used in Nagpur is locally available. Soil from fields, ponds, riverbanks and mines is used to make idols. Sculptors here have no smell of Shadu mud.Only professional sculptors use sand clay for model making. So the cost of clay idols is not very high.
Legal journey
In February 2011, the result of the POP ban petition filed by the Andha Shraddha Nirmulan Samiti in the Aurangabad High Court came, in which the High Court decided that henceforth the idols of the gods and goddesses will not be made of Plaster of Paris and instructed the state government to impose the ban. Due to this decision, the movement in Nagpur got vigor and enthusiasm. On the basis of this decision, in 2012, Sri Suresh Pathak appealed to the Mayor of Nagpur Sri Anil Sole to ban the POP idols completely. He prepared a notification with the Nagpur Municipal Corporation accordingly. Nagpur is the first city in the whole of India to pass a POP ban law in 2012 and it was sent to the Ministry of Urban Development in Mumbai. The Ministry of Urban Development of the Government of Maharashtra approved this Act in 2013. According to this notification, the process of banning POP idols in Nagpur city was started. The then Health Director of Nagpur Municipality Dr. Milind Ganaveer took his own initiative and made a plan by making a public announcement to stop the POP idols coming out of the city at the vehicular crossing. PoP Murti Anti Action Committee had made its volunteers available at 13 nakas of Nagpur city. All systems were on alert for 24×7 action through the Central Task Force of Manapa. Several vehicles found with POP idols were sent back.
Impact on market
Due to public awareness and creative programs of the organization through local self-government bodies, NGOs, print and paper media, the demand for eco-friendly clay idols increased. To avoid being cheated by POPI idols, customers (Ganesha devotees) started coming directly to traditional sculptors’ residences to buy idols at home, and now the sculptors’ residences have become idol sales centers. Result: The shops of traditional sculptors disappeared from the market.
According to the Nagpur Municipal Corporation, an average of 2 lakh 60 thousand idols are installed in Nagpur itself during Ganeshotsav every year. Nagpur creates more than 5 lakh clay Ganesha idols which are also exported to other cities.
Sales and Marketing support
Traditional sculptors initially took the idols to the market and sold them. But this changed from the year 2013-14. Chitnis Park was made available free of cost to provide clay idols of traditional sculptors at cheap rates in association with Municipal Corporation, Maharashtra Pollution Board and Association. In view of the expansion of Nagpur city, the extent of the market, eco-friendly clay idols are easily available everywhere, apart from this, the municipal corporation took the initiative to provide space for stalls at low cost to the idol makers.In 2013-14 Nagpur Municipal Corporation, MPCB and sculptors of Nagpur organized a sculpture exhibition and sale at Chitnis Park. The aim was to make the idols available to the customers at a cheap price.
Regulation and Registration Process
In Nagpur, efforts are underway to provide eco-friendly idols in different areas. Now registration is done for an eco-friendly idol stall. Apart from that, if found unregistered, they are investigated and if a POP idol is stalled, a fine of 10,000+ is levied. There are 400 sculptors registered in Nagpur and 750 others combined. 75% of these sculptors make local clay idols. Shadu soil is used in very small quantities. A sculpture competition is held every year to encourage sculptors. And new ideas are encouraged.
Contact:
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Shri Suresh Pathak – Paramparik Murtikar Aani Hastkala Karagir Sangh, President 9028398788 , 7888129751.
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Shri Chandanlal Prajapati – Working President 8830832844.