Approaching equity - Indiagovernance.gov.in

1. Contexti. ChildrenThe Preamble to the Constitution of India ensuresrights to all citizens to a clean environment. Due to theglobal economic slowdown, attention and political willfor tackling climate change and managing environmentalissues like land, minerals, forests, water, waste and pollutionand water has flagged dangerously. As the world’s averagetemperature rises year on year, the sea level also rises and thenumber of natural disasters increases. The poorest and mostmarginalised continue to suffer the brunt of these adversechanges in climate. A global ‘Green Revolution’ is requiredwith individual states taking long term decisions to ensurethat future generations live in a clean and safe environment.Children must be central to all strategies which affect theenvironment because they are the ones who will face theconsequences of policy decisions made today. Unless wemake dramatic changes in how we use energy, water, landand forests, we will lose the development gains of the pastand risk our own children’s future.ii. YouthThere is rampant abuse of nature on which the survivalof human beings depends and especially of the youth(irrespective of position, community, region). Consideringthe fact that the Right to Life gets precedence over the Rightto Development, our economic policies (and all industrialproject proposals) should adhere to environmental laws andregulations before even being considered for discussion orimplementation. We take this stand because human survivalis not dependent on industries of the modern world andalternative ways to give jobs to youth and create value in theeconomy can still be promoted.The inhabitants of areas in natural settings (includinganimals, birds, etc.) and their rights are not consideredbefore imposing economic decisions of urban human beingson them. Natural areas also contribute to the economythrough ecological balance and tourism. This imposition ofthe economic will of a few urban people on the vast majorityof rural people is not a symbol of a progressive society.Communities have always been identified by theirculture arising out of their interaction with their naturalsurroundings. Natural resources must not be viewedseparately from the rights of communities livingharmoniously with them. Economic and social planningfor the country must start with this premise. Repeateddisplacement and migration due to various factors willgive rise to a populace with little connection with theenvironment as it is not their own, thus making it evenmore difficult in the future to regulate their behaviour.There is a refusal to acknowledge and use traditionalknowledge and practices which can provide alternatives toproducts, services and professions and reduce environmentaldegradation. Even if there are alternatives, there is a lack ofpromotion of and awareness about these.35