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Poor can’t be burdened with fight against climate change: Mahajan
United Nations: In a strong message to the developed nations, Lok Sabha Speaker Sumitra Mahajan has said that sustainable development and a victory in the war against climate change cannot be attained on the backs of the poor.
“The burden of sustainability cannot be placed on the poor,” Mahajan said. “Livelihood concerns of the underprivileged cannot be compromised for lifestyle interests of others.”
Addressing a session of the Preparatory Committee for the Fourth World Conference of Speakers of Parliaments on UN Millenium Development Goals (MDG) and the future agenda Monday, she said: “Our efforts to mainstream sustainability will remain hollow unless we are able to confront the issues of inequity in consumption of global resources and reducing the unsustainable ecological footprints of the developed countries.”
India has been under pressure from developed nations to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions even though it could put its poverty fighting programmes at risk. Though India is often portrayed as the third worst emitter of carbon dioxide, after China and the US, its per capital output of carbon dioxide is only 1.7 tonnes against 17.6 tonnes for the US in 2010, according to the World Bank.
Mahajan reiterated Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s concept of saving the environment by promoting frugality and respect for nature.
“Indian traditional wisdom emphasises a culture of frugality, of doing more with less, of taking only as much as required from nature and of no wastage,” she said.
“In India, we worship earth, water, air, fire and space which are the five elements of nature. These ideals need to be embraced if we are serious about combating climate change and sustainable development.”
Warning that persistent poverty in many countries was “not only politically untenable” but “also economically unviable and morally indefensible”, she highlighted the global clamour for development. The elections that brought the BJP to power “symbolised a great yearning for growth and development by the people of India”, she said.
“Ending poverty must be the central and overriding objective of the new development agenda for the post-2015 period,” she said.
The preparatory committee is meeting here ahead of the World Conference of Speakers of Parliament to be held next year in the run-up to the UN Summit which is expected to set new development goals to follow the MDG. One of the issues that the speakers’ conference will take up is promoting gender equality.
Speaking at another committee session on mainstreaming gender equality, Mahajan, who is the second woman to be the speaker of the Lok Sabha, said: “India was among the early pioneers of gender empowerment. Our freedom struggle and subsequent political evolution has given women equal political rights, including at the grassroots level.”
Now, she said, “India is fully committed to the promotion of gender equality and for utilising enabling technologies, in particular information communication technology (ICT), for the empowerment of women.”
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Dr. Abhishek Verma Dedicates a Shelter in Memory of His Mother, Veena Verma, at KGMU; Inaugurated by Daughter Nicolle Verma
World-renowned business tycoon Dr. Abhishek Verma has supported Foodman Vishal Singh’s Hunger-Free World mission. In memory of his mother, Late Veena Verma, who was a 3 term Rajya Sabha MP.
Dr. Verma dedicated a state-of-the-art free permanent shelter for the attendants of patients at KGMU Medical University, Lucknow, under the aegis of Vijay Shree Foundation. His daughter, Nicolle Verma, inaugurated the shelter.
During the event, Foodman Vishal Singh honored Nicolle Verma by presenting her with a memento. Mrs. Nidhi Sharma and Avantika Yadav, associated with the organization, welcomed her with garlands. Following this, Nicolle Verma distributed essential items to the attendants and also handed out fruits. She became emotional remembering her grandmother on her birth anniversary.
On this occasion, she also inaugurated the “Veena Verma Sevalaya” in memory of her grandmother, Veena Verma, to serve the attendants. She expressed, “I feel proud that my family is engaged in nation-building as well as social service. Today, in collaboration with Vijay Shree Foundation founder Foodman Vishal Singh Ji, I feel immensely proud to dedicate this shelter for the poor, helpless, and needy attendants of patients battling serious illnesses like cancer. I am honored to be associated with the Hunger-Free World Mission for humanity.”
Inspired by the continuous humanitarian service provided by Vijay Shree Foundation over the past 17 years, Nicolle Verma donated 10 lakh rupees to support the cause. The purpose of this donation is to ensure that services continue for the needy attendants of patients suffering from severe illnesses in hospitals, as facilitated by Foodman Vishal Singh.
It is noteworthy that Dr. Abhishek Verma’s family has a legacy of public and philanthropic service. They are helping millions to carry forward the values and service work of their parents. On the occasion of his mother’s birth anniversary, Dr. Abhishek Verma dedicated this state-of-the-art permanent shelter at Lucknow Medical College to serve the attendants of patients through the Vijay Shree Foundation.
Supporting Foodman Vishal Singh’s Hunger-Free World mission, Dr. Abhishek Verma assured that he would continually support keeping this flame of humanity alive. He also promised to assist in providing medicines to the helpless patients.
Continuing her grandmother’s legacy of service, Nicolle Verma personally served food to the needy patients and attendants. She said, “It is our good fortune to have received the joy of doing this noble work today through Foodman Vishal Singh. I have taken another step forward in carrying my family’s values and cooperation by joining hands with the Vijay Shree Foundation. My father taught me to serve and help the needy, and I feel happy when I bring a smile to someone’s face.”
On the birth anniversary of the late Veena Verma, the event organizer, Vijay Shree Foundation founder Foodman Vishal Singh, said, “We feel proud and happy that Dr. Abhishek Verma, a globally renowned business tycoon, has extended his support to uplift our country from the hunger index. Today, on his mother’s birth anniversary, he inaugurated a state-of-the-art permanent shelter at Lucknow Medical College, which will always be helpful for the needy attendants of patients. It is a pleasure for me and the organization to receive the affection of Mr. Verma.”
The event was attended by General Manager Verma Family Office Hemant Garg, Sonu Rajput, and the organization’s volunteers, including Sandeep Singh, Parmeshwar Ji, Prashant Rao Gautam, Balram Singh, Ramesh Chaudhary, Suman, Jeetu, Anil, Suraj, Vinay, Manish Bhadauria, Manas Mehrotra, Vivek, Apurv, Happy, and others.
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