Green Agenda for political parties
Hyderabad: The Council for Green Revolution (CGR) demanded that all political parties need to include green agenda in their manifestos. It released 'Sustainable Development Goals Integrated Manifesto' titled, ‘Preparing Telangana for a Global Change’ at Somajiguda here on Wednesday.
Speaking on the occasion, R Dileep Reddy, Former Commissioner (RTI-A), AP said that a committee of concerned citizens, comprising of environmentalists, policy experts, scientists and citizens against pollution group, drafted a ‘Green Manifesto’. The manifesto is intended for the political parties, contesting in upcoming elections, to include green agenda in their manifestos.
Prof K Puroshotham Reddy, an environmentalist, said, “A new poverty line would be defined, which will measure the cost of a basket of goods and services that individuals and families require to meet their basic needs and achieve a modest standard of living across the country. India ranks top in all the diseases, whether it be cancer or HIV. Food is like a medicine to all human beings, and therefore, everyone should get good food at an affordable price.” “An ecosystem is a mother, and we are the children living in it and should keep the state’s ecosystem pollution free. With elections in Telangana, it is time for the political parties to recognize the SDGs and reflect the same in their manifestos.” Reddy added.
Dr D Narasimha Reddy, an independent policy expert, said, “The manifesto addresses three key dimensions of ecological sustainability, diversity and equity. In the manifesto, we are asking for an integrated resource planning that interlinks livelihoods, green skills, equity, access, subsidies, quality of service and environmental sustainability internalizing impacts promoting climate-friendly energy sources and food systems. The policy expert said that use of natural resources, such as energy, human, water, land and ecology, should be through cyclical systems. Technology, finance, skills and capacities have to be turned and modified to suit the cyclical systems, he added.
Recently in Adilabad, children died because of the lack of drinking water and heat, he said. Various types of diseases can be seen at fever hospitals across the state. “We are witnessing an ailing (rogala) Telangana today,” he added. K Leela Laxma Reddy, president at CGR, Dr T Indrasena Reddy, scientist, Keshav Reddy, an environmental engineer, shared the purpose and aspects of the manifesto.