Adoption of sustainable lifestyle can preserve environment for future - Jharkhand Agriculture Minister

Ranchi : Jharkhand Agriculture and Animal Husbandry Minister Badal Patralekh Said that we should adopt sustainable lifestyle to preserve environment for future during World Environment Day Programme at Project Building, Jharkhand Secretariat in Ranchi on Monday.

 The Department of Forest, Environment and Climate Change, Government of Jharkhand, Jharkhand State Pollution Control Board (JSPCB) and Centre for Environment and Energy Development (CEED) jointly organised an event in Ranchi which marked the celebration of World Environment Day-2023 to inculcate the Mission LiFE based environmental conscious lifestyle in society.

 A campaign booklet on the Mission LiFE was unveiled by Shri Badal Patralekh, Minister of Agriculture, Animal Husbandry and Cooperative and senior officials of state government departments. 

It is mention-worthy that the Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC), Government of India had envisaged to run a month-long public campaign on Mission LiFE to increase mass awareness in every state.

Similarly, a statewide campaign was conducted in Jharkhand in all districts which reached out to one lakh people directly, fostered a sense of responsibility towards the mission's purpose and encouraged millions of citizens to imbibe the values of the LiFE’s actions in their daily life.

Agriculture Minister Patralekh said that, “We need to inculcate the socially and environmentally responsible lifestyle to save the mother planet. Individual steps can also make a big difference. The mission LiFE makes everyone trustees of the environment and responsible for nurturing and preserving it. The Jharkhand Government is committed towards taking formidable steps for environment conservation and sustainability based inclusive development in the state.’

Elaborating about the overall approach of the campaign, Dr. Sanjay Srivastava, IFS, Principal Chief Conservator of Forest (PCCF) and Head of Forest Force (HOFF), Department of Forest, Environment and Climate Change, Jharkhand said, “Mission LiFE as a global initiative is contributing to minimise the effects of climate change and take a lead towards a sustainable way of life to achieve the development goals. Mission Life believes that even small acts, when multiplied by millions of people, can transform society. The Forest Department will continue the momentum built by the campaign through taking climate mitigation and adaptation measures for contributing to the low carbon economy in the state.’

Indian Forest Service (IFS) and Chairman of Jharkhand State Pollution Control Board Shashikar Samanta said that, ‘If we want to move towards a low-polluting and greener society, we need to adopt sustainability based principles and humane values in our life. The Mission LiFE resonates this through emphasising citizen engagements and collective responsibilities. We will continue to take solutions driven measures and motivate key stakeholders to contribute for a better environment and society.’

CEO of CEED Ramapati Kumar said that ‘It is our responsibility to do everything to nurture a sustainable planet that provides a home not just for us, but for all life on earth. A vibrant, fair, and regenerative future is possible which requires collective conscious lifestyle and everyday steps for the well-being of the environment.” He further added that CEED is committed to provide support to the government agencies in promoting awareness on sustainability related issues through wider usage of data and science.

Director, Research & Development, CEED  Dr Manish Kumar said that, "The best practices and the suitable ways of air quality management and zero waste management in the state. 

In the end environmentalists, representatives of Gram Sabhas and community workers were felicitated for putting efforts and support for conservation of the environment. 

The Mission Life campaign has been widely supported and endorsed by notable civic bodies, civil society organisations, educational institutions, women & youth groups and citizens across the state.