We, human beings have explored our environment and natural resources by one or other means for our daily life, living and comforts. A remarkable progress has been made by our community since the stone era to current twenty first century. We have witnessed fulfillment of maximum desire and comfort of life. In this progress, our mother earth and the environment has always accommodated, supported and tolerated the changes made by us. However, the continued ignorance to the environment has already shown its adverse effect in many region of the earth and also predicted a cascade of unfavorable conditions for the living organisms for various other parts of the world. These adverse effect and unfavorable conditions are now generally known in various names such as extinctions of wild life, pollution, unusual weather change, global warming etc… . Within the common understanding and general scientific knowledge all of us know that the primary causes is “deforestation” . Furthermore, we all know if these situations continue and stay uncontrolled, it will be harder for human being and many other organisms to sustain life on earth. Thus, being the supreme animal on the earth, it is our sole responsibility to awake and control the situation before it becomes difficult to regulate.
The practical scenario of the problem:
Looking into the matter, it seems true that maximum people are aware of the deforestation and its cascade of unfavorable situations. However, no one is able to contribute towards the remedial approach of the deforestation. This inability involves a wide range of factors viz. ignorance, hectic life style, lack of encouragement, no immediate economic gain etc…. In our country this has been given under the responsibility of Forest Department and other government agencies. But we should know that forest department and the government agencies is not alone living on the earth and enjoying the benefits of human progress. We all individuals are living within it and it must be the responsibility of each individual to contribute towards the various available remedial approaches. However, it seems difficult for each individual to contribute because many have their individual inability.
The Idea/ Solution:
Solution:
According to me, in this case the role of “Voluntary youth as a team” looks promising. With the support of government and/or partnership with various other private organizations a special voluntary dedicated “Tree Clubs” can be formed at village, panchayat and city level. These motivated Tree Clubs at their free time like on Sundays or evenings will be joining hands with the forest department for plantation. They will be locating the bare land of government. Government may facilitate the permission for plantation in these lands by the “Tree Clubs members”. After complete plantation these teams will also take care of that specific plantation area for at least 3-4 years before handing over to the Forest department or Government. These voluntary Tree Clubs can work within their proximity. Forest department and other Government officers may help and facilitate the necessary infrastructure and provide guidance to the “Tree Clubs” for plantations. If these “Tree Clubs” made from of a group of local peoples, they may also help in further spreading the awareness among the people within their locality. Though, plantation in the bare land will be the initial objective of the “Tree Clubs”. If successfully worked these clubs may also to work in spreading the awareness on restoring of forests.
Extension of Solution:
This idea can also be implemented at school or college level. Each schools/educational institutescan be advised to form a compulsory “Tree Clubs” which with the help of school administration and government officials will undertake the above work as a passion. I remember, when I was a child of class 5th at our village school, our school teachers used to assign all individuals a plant to take care of it. We used to water the plant daily & it was taking hardly 15 minutes of a day. It will be praising, if the educational institutes can encourage this workforce with some kind of certificates to the students.
Possible Outcome/ Conclusion:
It is almost clear plantation and restoring of forest is one of the sure shot solutions to the problem of environmental consequences. However, we are lacking the motivation and finding it difficult to execute at an individual level. Furthermore, we are relaying only on the forest department for sustainability of our own environment. In this case the unity of Youth will certainly help. We may be able to create a young, motivated, enthusiastic workforce for sustainability of our own environment. People says “Youth can bring change in the society”, I believe we together can make it happen.
This idea is a crude one; it may be refined before implementing. I will be really happy if Government or some expert inputs in improving this.
Idea in a nutshell
1. Government can direct educational institutes to take up a “Student Driven Tree Plantation Program in Government lands”.
2. Government can also direct Panchayats and municipal corporations to constitute these tree clubs.
“How can we dream of a better earth without better environment to live?”
Let’s take the responsibility to plant trees and Spread the message.
Thanks for reading! Don’t forget to give your comment below.
Thanks for reading! Don’t forget to give your comment below.
P.S.: This suggestion is already received from me by Prime Minister’s Office, Government of India
Ref.: PMOPG/D/2017/0197100 Dated 02/05/2017
Ref.: PMOPG/D/2017/0197100 Dated 02/05/2017
Dr. Prabodha Kumar Meher 