“India is a fast-developing country, but its development needs to be inclusive, equitable, ecologically sustainable and morally desirable without compromising the planet’s health,” said Raksha Mantri Shri Rajnath Singh at an event organised to mark the 90^th birth anniversary celebrations of noted writer and environmentalist Sugathakumari in Pathanamthitta district of Kerala on January 22, 2025. He asserted that the country’s consumption should be need-based and not greed-based, stressing that behaviors need to change to ensure sustainability. There is a need to do away with the ‘use-and-dispose’ economy, he said.

Raksha Mantri described Sugathakumari as not just a poet but a conscience-keeper of the society as her work, imbued with emotional empathy, humanist sensitivity, and moral alertness became a vehicle to address societal & environmental concerns. He added that in Kerala, known for its lush greenery and rivers, she emerged as a fierce protector of the ecosystem and her remarkable contribution to ‘The Save Silent Valley’ movement was a defining moment in the history of environmental activism.

Shri Rajnath Singh pointed out that India’s constitutional makers were aware of the great ancestors’ thoughts and deep respect for nature, which is why a directive to protect, improve and safeguard the environment was established. He further stated that the Indian constitution made it a fundamental duty of all the citizens to protect and improve the natural environment and have compassion for living creatures. “Humanity was to be the trustee of natural resources but never the master. Nature was never to be exploited but revered, worshipped and utilised without wastage. We, as human beings, were supposed to be the intelligent species. But we took many wrong turns in our journey. Thankfully, we had people like Sughatha Kumari ji who served the Mother Nature like her true child,” he added.

Raksha Mantri enumerated the green initiatives taken by the Government, under the leadership of the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, such as Mission LiFE which envisions replacing mindless consumption with a mindful circular economy; ‘Pro-Planet People’ to enable environmentally-friendly behaviors; National Green Hydrogen Mission to make India the Global Hub for the production, usage and export of Green Hydrogen; Green Credit Program to focus on tree plantation on degraded forest land parcels, and ‘Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam’ campaign, a unique nationwide tree plantation initiative.

Throwing light upon the idea of climate justice, Shri Rajnath Singh highlighted that with ‘Sabka Sath Sabka Vikas Sabka Vishwas’, the government is working towards the green initiatives and the target of Viksit Bharat by 2047 will only be achieved when these goals are accomplished. He added that this will ensure Aatmanirbharta through clean energy and serve as an inspiration for the global Clean Energy Transition. “Despite our developmental needs and contributing minimally to global warming historically, we remain committed to a sustainable and climate-resilient future. Our commitment to save the environment has started yielding positive results. The ‘India State of Forest Report’ which was released last year in December, showed that the total forest and tree cover of the country has been continuously increasing,” he said.

Raksha Mantri highlighted the significant statistical figures achieved by India’s current climate policies, terming it as an achievement considering that India is now the fifth-largest economy in the world, a fast-developing South Asian country. He underscored the fact that while developed countries are bickering over semantics, India as a responsible power is taking swift action to fight climate change. “At the Mahakumbh 2025, the Miyawaki technique is being used for tree planting. Dense forests have been created at various sites across Prayagraj to ensure clean air and a healthy environment for the millions of devotees,” he stated.

Shri Rajnath Singh mentioned that the world is facing the challenge of Global Warming, the increased frequency of heatwaves, floods, droughts, and incessant rains is affecting a large number of people in the country. The recent floods in states such as Kerala, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand and Sikkim are glaring examples of extreme weather events resulting from climate change. He shifted the focus on the resilience of human beings and their ingenuity in the past which proved that they can create and innovate different solutions to deal with any kind of climate challenge or crisis.

Raksha Mantri added that the governments and international organisations across the globe have taken various measures to come up with innovative solutions to transition towards a low-carbon development strategy and deal with the challenge of climate change. But highlighting the negative side of the challenge, he mentioned that the adaptation is very complex and needs a multi-stakeholder approach where institutions & communities come together to mitigate, adapt and build resilience.

Shri Rajnath Singh prioritised making both strategy changes at a corporate level and behavioral changes at an individual level for the benefit of the environment. He mentioned that the right to a healthy environment and to be free from the adverse effects of climate change are fundamental rights, failure to take measures to adapt and mitigate climate change would lead to catastrophic results. “We need to carry forward the ancient wisdom and the lives of people like Sugathakumari,” he said. Raksha Mantri expressed gratitude to former Governor of Mizoram Shri Kumman Rajshekharan and his team for organising the event.

 

VK/Savvy/KB

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