Former HRD Minister roots for sustainable development

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, September 22

Former HRD Minister Dr Murli Manohar Joshi presided over a seminar on ‘The global issues concerning environment, water and their potential solutions’ at the PU here today.

The event was organised by the Panchnad Shodh Sansthan, in association with the Environment Department, PU, and the Chandigarh Administration.

Joshi laid emphasis on rooting for sustainable development. He said it was not possible unless focus is shifted to sustainable consumption. He said he had been saying this for the past 30 years that each individual as well as the country on a whole should limit its consumption.

He further said: “Resources of our planet are finite hence infinite growth on a finite planet is not possible. We are already seeing its consequences in the form of fire engulfing Amazon and glaciers melting faster than ever before, resulting in increased sea levels.”

On global warming, he said: “Due to the increase in average temperature across the world, the planet is witnessing several disturbing patterns such as untimely floods, droughts and desertification of soil in many places.”

On the second day of the seminar, he answered the queries of participants. Joshi said mankind should tap resources, but not exploit it. He equated the relation between mankind and nature to that of a Mother-son. He said the human race should move forward in harmony with nature.

On GDP, Joshi said: “The very concept of measuring growth on the scale of GDP is a sham. How can we say that an increase in GDP implies increased growth when it doesn’t include societal indicators such as education and healthcare.”

He said the rate of increasing GDP is directly proportional to the rate of decay of natural resources because it ultimately puts the pressure to produce more and more. Also the countries having higher GDP rates are the ones suffering from increased levels of crime, drug addiction and depression issues. “Therefore, we must focus on Global Happiness Index and not on GDP,” he added. He even gave the example of Bhutan, which has totally discarded the GDP and is rather focusing on GHI.

Joshi also questioned the West model of development. He said Indian civilization has got all answers to modern-day problems. “We must focus on low-cost indigenous technology base on low energy, low capital model,” he commented. He reiterated that we should not imitate the westerners, rather focus on our strengths and build upon them. He added that India can become a world leader by adhering to its cultural and vedic values as well as moving ahead in the field of technology.

Other dignitaries present on the stage were former Lokayukta justice Pritampal Singh, PU Vice-Chancellor Raj Kumar and the executive president of the Panchnad Shodh Sansthan, Dr KS Arya.