Now, borrow pots, spoons from Utensils Bank of Goa

Panaji, Sep 2 (IANS) Goans need not buy extra utensils to prepare large quantities of modak, a sweet dumpling served in Hindu households, for friends and family during Ganesh Chaturthi.

The Utensils Banks of Goa (UBG), a non-commercial, community initiative in the coastal state launched by Prerna Agarwal, claims the enterprise will help lower the use of disposables and cost of buying household utensils.

People could take steel utensils on loan from the UBG for festivities and events that require cooking and serving of food in large volumes.

"I was attending a small family function, where we were being served food in disposables. I realised these disposables were causing a lot of waste. That's when I decided on an initiative that could help people reduce the use of disposables," Agarwal told IANS.

In the past, people borrowed utensils from neighbours and relatives for such events, the UBG was a community enterprise inspired by this practice, she said.

"Utensils are given on a first-come, first-serve basis. The aim is to put across the concept that people can borrow utensils from the UBG instead of buying new ones. New utensils cost money and they are rarely used," she said.

The users can borrow plates, bowls, tumblers and spoons for a token payment.

"This model can be applied in many more things, like gardening tools and electrical appliances, but in small societies. Common home appliances, like washing machines, are widely used almost all over the world, so why not other appliances?" she added.