Goa’s villages and cities face a growing crisis in garbage management, with waste strewn across streets and public spaces. Amid this, 26-year-old Bretel Fernandes, the youngest Sarpanch of Agonda village in South Goa, is leading a green revolution. Once plagued by tourist litter, plastic-choked roads, and cows feeding on garbage, Agonda is now a model of sustainability. Bretel launched a door-to-door awareness campaign, turning it into impactful action with strong support from the panchayat.
She expanded the village waste processing plant, installed solar-powered CCTV cameras to prevent illegal dumping, and partnered with a Mumbai-based agency to collect wet waste from restaurants for a monthly fee of Rs 5,000.
Students joined in too”participating in cotton bag-making contests and cleanup drives. Today, 17 locals are employed in waste management, and farmers benefit from organic manure, all funded by the village’s self-sustaining revenue model. The Government of India recognized this initiative on Environment Day 2024.
Bretel’s leadership proves that age is no barrier to impact. Her work sends a powerful message: one Sarpanch, one clean village, one vision for sustainable change.
