by Fr Chris Ferreira for BIS Mumbai

To celebrate Women’s Day in an innovative fashion, Don Bosco Makarpura decided to felicitate the green warriors of the city – women garbage cleaners from the different shanties and poorer quarters of the city. On Sunday, March 9, 2025, Divine Child Seva Kendra and Dosti Samajik Unnati Abhiyan run as offshoots of Don Bosco Makarpura Social Development Ministry celebrated International Women's Day with these women from areas near Vadsar Petrol Pump, Rambaug, Vishwamitri, Pratap Nagar, Danteshwar, Navinagari, Rajiv Nagar, SMS, Susen, Manjalpur, and Manjalpur GIDC. Around 250 such women who work in the running of garbage collection points came to have a day of entertainment.

The chief guests for the occasion were Mr Gayatri Rajput -  the Police Incharge of the SHE Team, Makarpura Police Station, Mrs Alpaben Godia and Mrs. Sartajbanu Belim - City Mission Managers, UCD, and Mr Shaileshbhai Parmar – the Chief Coordinator of Drishti at Don Bosco Kapadvanj were the other Guests of Honour for the occasion. The program was inaugurated by these guests with the lighting of the ceremonial lamp. Following this, Fr Isaac F. Arakaparambil SDB – the Rector, Don Bosco, Makarpura, Vadodara welcomed the gathering, both the participants and the guests to the event. Following this, the guests delivered speeches that inspired the women present. T

The main resource person, Mr Shaileshbhai Parmar, provided valuable information on how women can work towards building economic self-reliance. Five newly formed Self-Help Groups were honoured with cash prizes by Dosti Samajik Unnati Abhiyan. These monetary benefits were presented by the esteemed guests, Ms Rajput, Ms Godia and Ms Belim.

Towards the latter half of the program, women from Manjalpur, Rajiv Nagar, and Tulsivan presented beautiful traditional dances reflecting the culture and colours of Gujarat. In the end, all the women enjoyed a delicious meal that brought joy to the underprivileged women who got a day of rest from their daily work of collecting solid waste in the city

Fr Isaac F. Arakaparambil SDB proposed the vote of thanks remembering every person who put in their mite to make this event a success. Dosti Samajik Unnati Abhiyan will continue to work with women from the city of Vadodara who come from underprivileged backgrounds.