Features
India turns to Norway’s water initiatives
India’s Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, is leading his country through sustainability and water conservation changes.
Last year, during his customary radio address on Indian radio station Mann Ki Baat, Prime Minister Modi called upon his people to make conservation of water a collective responsibility.
“We often hear that there might be wars due to scarcity of water in [the] future,” he said. “Therefore, we must assume our responsibility to conserve water and we must ensure conservation of water in every possible manner."
His efforts towards conservation saw him honoured with the United Nations’ Champions of the Earth’ award in October 2018.
During his acceptance speech, Modi dedicated the award to the invisible faces of India who contribute to conservation of nature. He said climate and calamity are directly linked to culture.
“It will be difficult to avoid calamity as long as concerns for the climate do not become part of the local culture.”
He said the honour belonged to tribal forest dwellers who play an important role in forest conservation, to the fishermen who abstain from fishing during the breeding season and to the farmers who are dependent on the seasonal weather cycle for their livelihood.
16/10/19
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Author
Emily Chantiri