CHEA organises Lecture of Parliamentarian on Concern for Himalayas and Youth


The well being of India depends on the well being of the Himalayan Region. Efforts to save the environment natural resources and culture of Himalayas region and its people are the need of hour and India calls on youth to initiate actions in these directions. Quality education, health services, effective transportation and well established infrastructure are the key to initiate development in the Indian Himalayan region and to check the out migration.
Mr. Tarun Vijay, an eminent writer and thinker on Himalayan issues as well as Member of Parliament including member of many parliamentary committees, expressed these thoughts while speaking as the key speaker and chief guest of the Environmental Awareness Programme and Prof. S. L. Shah Memorial Lecture of the Central Himalayan Environment Association (CHEA) on September 13, 2014 at Nainital, Uttarakhand. Delivering the memorial lecture Mr. Tarun Vijay shared his grassroots experiences in the mountains and expressed his concern that the Himalayan region is yet to attain the attentions from various levels of the Governance. He talked about the recent interventions taken by Prime Minister Mr. Narendra Modi to meet the developmental aspirations of mountain regions and its people.
Dr. P. P. Dhyani, Director of GBP Institute for Himalayan Environment and Development express his concern on involving youth in emerging research issues in the Himalayan region. He shared the initiative taken by his institute to bring youth researchers from the 12 Himalayan states in country to a common platform and to given an opportunity to discussion issues of mutual concern and collaborative in research. Prof. S. P. Singh Chair of Excellence, Forest Research Institute emphasised on valuation of the ecosystem services emanating from the Himalayan region and supported the view point of Mr. Tarun Vijay for involving youth in the developmental interventions and environmental safeguards.
Dr. Pushkin Phartiyal, Executive Director, CHEA shared that during 2014 the association organised environmental awareness competitions in five categories for students that included painting, caption the photograph, story writing on environmental issues etc. An exhibition of the award winning entries was also organised at the event which was inaugurated by the Chief Guest Mr. Tarun Vijay. Prof P. D. Pant, Secretary of CHEA informed the house that in all 1,094 entries were received from all the schools in vicinity under all the five categories and winners were awarded with a memento and certificate. Prof Shekher Pathak, Mr. Anup Sah, Dr Subrat Sharma, Dr. Ashish Tewari, Dr. M. S. Pal, former Member of Parliament and others gave away the prizes.
The memorial lecture was attended by large gathering representing sectors of academia, social workers, students and people concern for Himalayan environment and development.