Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant on Thursday, 16 July 2026, met and congratulated the first batch of 30 Murtikars from across the state who completed a residential training programme in making eco-friendly Gomay Ganesh idols using clay and cow dung, at Bhagirath Pratishthan in Kudal. The event took place at Mahalaxmi, Altinho, Panaji, where the CM formally acknowledged the artisans' achievement and assured them of continued state support.

Context

The training programme was jointly organised by the Goa State Biodiversity Board and the Goa State Pollution Control Board as part of a broader push to promote sustainable alternatives to Plaster of Paris (PoP) idols. CM Sawant called it a 'meaningful initiative' and pledged continued backing for the Murtikars in taking the eco-friendly practice forward while preserving traditional craftsmanship.

The 30 participants underwent residential training at Bhagirath Pratishthan, a skill-development institute in Kudal, Sindhudurg district, learning to craft Ganesh idols from natural materials including clay and cow dung — a departure from the chemically treated PoP that dominates the commercial idol market.

Policy Backdrop

The initiative is rooted in a regulatory push that dates to National Green Tribunal (NGT) orders issued between 2014 and 2016, which directed states to restrict the use of Plaster of Paris idols and encourage clay-based alternatives during idol immersions to reduce river and coastal pollution. PoP idols dissolve slowly and release toxic compounds, posing serious risks to aquatic ecosystems.

Across India, state pollution control boards and biodiversity authorities have progressively run training and awareness drives combining regulatory pressure with artisan livelihood support. Goa's programme reflects this national pattern by formally linking local craftsmanship training to two statutory environmental bodies, lending it institutional weight beyond a one-off awareness event.

Stakeholders and Impact

The direct beneficiaries are the 30 trained Murtikars drawn from communities across Goa who now possess certified skills to produce and market eco-friendly idols. Their success has implications for the wider artisan community, as demand for natural-material idols typically spikes in the weeks before Ganesh Chaturthi.

Environmental stakeholders — including river and coastal conservation groups — stand to benefit if the trained artisans can supply a meaningful share of the idol market, reducing the volume of PoP entering Goa's water bodies during immersion. The Goa State Pollution Control Board and Goa State Biodiversity Board gain a visible, community-facing programme to complement their regulatory enforcement roles.

What's Next

CM Sawant's assurance of 'continued support' signals that the state government intends to expand the programme beyond this inaugural batch. Attention will now turn to whether additional training cohorts are announced before the next Ganesh Chaturthi season and whether the state issues formal guidelines on idol materials for the festival. The programme's long-term success will depend on market linkages and consumer uptake of the eco-friendly idols crafted by the trained Murtikars.